One thing that drives me crazy is the car touch screens and buttons that are used to control things like the air conditioning and volume. I have to literally look away from the road just to figure out which button to press. I get so frustrated and end up pressing everything just to see what would change. From what I understood in Norman’s reading, it is the failure of signifiers and mapping. I used to think they were the same thing, but with all of his examples, he made it clear that affordances are what actions are possible, while signifiers are what show those actions to the user. The car buttons do not communicate their function, and their icons are quite confusing. I think this could be improved by adding clear labels, rearranging icons, or even having words instead of icons, so I could predict what will happen before I press it.
I can apply Norman’s design principles by making sure the buttons actually look clickable and that the interactive elements and directions stand out visually so users do not have to guess. I will incorporate mapping, where the controls match their results spatially and conceptually, so that people can predict what will happen. I noticed that when mapping is unclear, I hesitate before acting because I do not trust what will happen. I would also probably prioritize feedback or make sure to show a loading animation or confirmation message so people know their action worked. I think I would also design my sketches with the assumption that users will make mistakes, by including undo options or very clear instructions. The reading made me realize that good design isn’t about the visual aesthetics of something, but about making sure people understand how to use it; otherwise, it would be really annoying to use.