Ebook The design of everyday things this is a starter kit for good design. It is intended to be enjoyable and informative for everyone: Everyday people, technical people, designers, and nondesigners. One goal is to turn readers into great observers of the absurd, of the poor design that gives rise to so many of the problems of modern life, especially of modern technology. | BUSINESS / PSYCHOLOGY E ven the smartest among us can feel inept as we try to figure out the shower control in a hotel or attempt to navigate an unfamiliar television set or stove. When The Design of Everyday Things was published in 1988, cognitive scientist Don Norman provocatively proposed that the fault lies not in ourselves but in design that ignores the needs and psychology of people. Alas, bad design is everywhere, but fortunately, it isn’t difficult to design things that are understandable, usable, and enjoyable. Thoughtfully revised to keep the timeless principles of psychology up to date with everchanging new technologies, The Design of Everyday Things is a powerful appeal for good design, and a reminder of how—and why—some products satisfy while others only disappoint. “Design may be our top competitive edge. This book is a joy—fun and of the utmost importance.” —TOM PETERS, author of In Search of Excellence “This book changed the field of design. As the pace of technological change accelerates, the principles in this book are increasingly important. The new examples and ideas about design and product development make it essential reading.” —PATRICK WHITNEY, Dean, Institute of Design, and Steelcase/Robert C. Pew Professor of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology “Norman enlightened me when I was a student of psychology decades ago and he continues to inspire me as a professor of design. The cumulated insights and wisdom of the crossdisciplinary genius Donald Norman are a must for designers and a joy for those who are interested in artifacts and people.” —CEES DE BONT, Dean, School of Design, and Chair Professor of Industrial Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University DON NORMAN is a co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group, and holds graduate degrees in both engineering and psychology. His many books include Emotional Design, The Design of Future Things, and Living with Complexity. He lives in Silicon Valley, California. Cover image: Jacques Carelman
