Norman,“Emotion & Design: Attractive things work better”
This reading really made me think about how design doesn’t just shape what we see, but also how we feel and act. Norman’s main idea is that attractive things actually work better because they put us in a good mood. When we feel happy or calm, we think more clearly and creatively, but when we’re stressed or frustrated, we make more mistakes. It’s interesting how something as simple as how a product looks can change the way our brains approach problems.
What I found most interesting is how emotion can affect performance. I’ve definitely felt that before. When something looks well-designed, I automatically assume it’s easier to use, and I’m less frustrated when it isn’t.
This idea made me think differently about my own projects. I usually focus on getting the function right, but Norman reminded me that appearance and emotional impact are just as important. A design that feels good to use can make people more patient, creative, and willing to explore it which is exactly what good design should do.
Her Code Got Humans on the Moon
This article made me realize how much impact one person’s focus and persistence can have. Margaret Hamilton led the team that wrote the software for the Apollo moon missions, at a time when very few women were in computer science. What stood out to me was how seriously she treated her work, seeing programming not just as a task but as a new discipline worth perfecting. She built systems that could handle errors before they even happened, thinking carefully about every possible failure. While others dismissed her concerns, she stayed confident and made sure the software could handle anything that might go wrong.
The part that impressed me most was when she wanted to include extra code for a mistake that everyone said would never happen, and later it did during Apollo 11. Because of her planning, the astronauts were able to land safely. That moment showed how much preparation and humility matter in great work. Hamilton’s story made me reflect on how important it is to imagine every possibility, even the unlikely ones, and to stay confident in your ideas even when others doubt you. It reminded me that success often comes from quiet persistence and from caring enough to get the details right.



