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on August 31, 2016
This book is more of an INTRO or PRE-101 to user/human-centered design. Norman is really good at introducing concepts and painting it with examples. I only wish that this book picked our brains more. There could have been many times he could have displayed the information in fun, amusing, and even trivial ways. It felt like he was giving us the cheat-sheet without doing what great teachers do: use creative means to present the information. This book is a primer, so if you are expecting some sick UX skill-based tips and tricks, you are out of luck. The text is foundational information that helps create a thought-leading designer. In a classroom setting, using this book would be fantastic. It lends some great inspirational food-for-thought for the aspiring designer. There are many broad concepts, each with endless possibilities for lesson plans and teaching material.
on December 21, 2016
A UX researcher's or designer's bible. If studying human factors engineering, human computer interaction, or any other related field; your professors, peers, and colleagues will reference this book and Don Norman. I keep this on my desk at work and continue to use it when explaining heuristics to clients, engineers or data scientists.
on February 26, 2017
The beginning of this book was a series of amazing revelations for me as a software engineer. It's a veritable cascade of interesting and useful information. My brother's a cognitive scientist, though, and he didn't find it particularly insightful, or that it covered anything he hadn't heard before. So I suppose its usefulness is context dependent.
It runs out of steam about halfway through, but the writing is good enough to carry it along to the end. If you're and engineer by trade, it's worth a read to get a better handle on how people will interact with your engineering. A designer could probably pass on it, though.
It runs out of steam about halfway through, but the writing is good enough to carry it along to the end. If you're and engineer by trade, it's worth a read to get a better handle on how people will interact with your engineering. A designer could probably pass on it, though.
on October 27, 2013
Finally I got a chance to read this amazing book. Don Norman treats design very methodically and shows that good design is not a black box but something even more analytical people can understand and apply.
There are many important lessons but I found the concepts of discoverability, affordance, signifiers, feedbacks, mappings and constraints a simple, yet a powerful model to understand design.
I am not a designer by a far stretch but I can now appreciate good vs bad design with a deeper understanding of the designer's intent in building something. Even of design is not your field, you will greatly benefit from the book and you will realize that design is not just a touchy feely topic.
Although, I would have to say that for a design book, the images are not printed very well (in the paper back edition). And the during introducing the core concepts, in the first chapter, the author forgot to include 'constraints'. Also the order of these terms keep changing though out the book. This does not align well with the mapping concept the author so strongly professes.
However, now that this edition is out, don't get the previous version, since this one has far more relevant examples including hand held devices. As an additional resource, there is also a design course on udacity offered by Don Norman.
There are many important lessons but I found the concepts of discoverability, affordance, signifiers, feedbacks, mappings and constraints a simple, yet a powerful model to understand design.
I am not a designer by a far stretch but I can now appreciate good vs bad design with a deeper understanding of the designer's intent in building something. Even of design is not your field, you will greatly benefit from the book and you will realize that design is not just a touchy feely topic.
Although, I would have to say that for a design book, the images are not printed very well (in the paper back edition). And the during introducing the core concepts, in the first chapter, the author forgot to include 'constraints'. Also the order of these terms keep changing though out the book. This does not align well with the mapping concept the author so strongly professes.
However, now that this edition is out, don't get the previous version, since this one has far more relevant examples including hand held devices. As an additional resource, there is also a design course on udacity offered by Don Norman.
on May 14, 2017
The overview of design principles described in the first half of the book are interesting. I certainly became more aware of the kinds of poor design choices outlined and certainly learned a few things that will be helpful in my communications and systems development role at work.
The explanations of the psychology behind product interaction are, to me, poorly organized and explained. Further, if you've read any psychology or behavioral economics before, there's little to be learned here.
Finally, the writing itself is fairly poor. I read nonfiction almost exclusively, so I don't think it's the technical nature of the content; it's just not very engaging. The personal anecdotes, as other reviews have noted, often feel forced and a little self-congratulatory. A better editor would have helped, too. There were quite a few instances of small annoyances such as using "less" where "fewer" was needed, or an overabundance of "as a result" towards the end.
I'd recommend reading it, but not spending too much time doing so. A quick read will provide just as much use as a more careful reading.
The explanations of the psychology behind product interaction are, to me, poorly organized and explained. Further, if you've read any psychology or behavioral economics before, there's little to be learned here.
Finally, the writing itself is fairly poor. I read nonfiction almost exclusively, so I don't think it's the technical nature of the content; it's just not very engaging. The personal anecdotes, as other reviews have noted, often feel forced and a little self-congratulatory. A better editor would have helped, too. There were quite a few instances of small annoyances such as using "less" where "fewer" was needed, or an overabundance of "as a result" towards the end.
I'd recommend reading it, but not spending too much time doing so. A quick read will provide just as much use as a more careful reading.
on March 18, 2017
I am learning UX Design and heard this book was a must have. After reading the first 4 chapters I see why it is a must have. Mr. Norman spent a life time figuring this stuff out and does a great job sharing it; thus improved the field of UX Design. Everyone who is going into UX Design has to have this book.
on July 20, 2016
I am currently an engineering student so perhaps I am biased, but I think this is an excellent book. I would argue that the thought processes involved are extensible beyond engineering or what most people consider to be design. I would recommend this book to anyone thinking of studying engineering, anyone involved in design processes in industry, and as a gift for your cousin who is always complaining about how poorly the things around him are designed.
P.S. If you enjoy this book, I would recommend a podcast called 99% Invisible that is produced by Roman Mars.
P.S. If you enjoy this book, I would recommend a podcast called 99% Invisible that is produced by Roman Mars.
on March 13, 2016
I was referenced to this book as a must-read in user design. I must say I'm not disappointed. The book does not go technical. It explains principles and does it very convincingly. Everything is backed up by great practical examples: real life events and stories the author has previously experienced. Mr Norman's credentials in this field are impressive and reading his book you are receiving some well refined solid knowledge of how things are. I had worried the examples in the book might be a outdated given the original edition was released so many years ago. Luckily, this revised edition is everything but dated. Many modern day design thoughts are given and the examples are up-to-date, with stuff like the considerations in deciding for a sound signature in BMW's electric cars. All from the author's vast experience. I recommend you read this book if you are starting with user interface, interaction and experience design. The book's tone is not technical so everyone interested can read it.
on March 15, 2017
I never really gave much thought to design until I read this book. An eye opener for those who wish to further their studies in psychology and interaction.
