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Donald A. Norman Quotes

Author

Donald A. Norman, born on December 25, 1935, is a renowned author. His work primarily focuses on human factors engineering, design psychology, and user experience.

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All Design People Products Designer Thinking Ifs Devices Technology Should Users Problem Errors Needs Use Mean Pleasure Tasks Understanding Want Apples

Famous Donald A. Norman Quotes

“In their work, designers often become expert with the device they are designing. Users are often expert at the task they are trying to perform with the device. [...] Professional designers are usually aware of the pitfalls. But most design is not done by professional designers, it is done by engineers, programmers, and managers.”

Trying Done Design Tasks Managers Experts Designer Devices Users Engineers Programmers Pitfalls

Author:Donald A. Norman

“Go to the bookstore and look at how many bookshelves are filled with books trying to explain how to work the devices. We don't see shelves of books on how to use television sets, telephones, refrigerators or washing machines. Why should we for computer-based applications?”

Should Trying Looks Book Use Television Computer Machines Filled Devices Application Shelves Telephones Washing Bookstores Refrigerators Bookshelves Washing Machines

Author:Donald A. Norman

“The designer has an obligation to provide an appropriate conceptual model for the way that the device works. It doesn't have to completely accurate but it has to be sufficiently accurate that it will help in both the learning of the operation and also dealing with novel situations.”

Way Helping Situation Novel Design Models Obligation Operations Designer Appropriate Devices Working It Accurate

Author:Donald A. Norman

“Any time you see signs or labels added to a device, it is an indication of bad design: a simple lock should not require instructions.”

Should Simple Design Labels Devices Instruction Locks Indication

Book:Living with Complexity

Source: Living with Complexity

“What makes something simple or complex? It's not the number of dials or controls or how many features it has: It is whether the person using the device has a good conceptual model of how it operates.”

Persons Simple Numbers Models Complexes Features Devices

Book:Living with Complexity

Source: Living with Complexity

“Simplification is as much in the mind as it is in the device.”

Mind Devices Simplification

Book:Living with Complexity

Source: Living with Complexity

“Good design is also an act of communication between the designer and the user, except that all the communication has to come about by the appearance of the device itself. The device must explain itself.”

Design Communication Appearance Designer Devices Users Good Design

Author:Donald A. Norman

“When a device as simple as a door has to come with an instruction manual—even a one-word manual—then it is a failure, poorly designed.”

Simple Doors Devices Instruction One Word Manuals

Author:Donald A. Norman

“A big ethical question is what happens after people stop using the device. Does it degrade the environment? Could it have been designed so it would actually be good for the environment?”

People Doe Has Beens Bigs Happens Environment Be Good Devices Ethical Aggravation Degrade Ethical Questions

Author:Donald A. Norman

“Our information lives will be better served when we are free to get to our information from wherever we are, with any device available.”

Information Available Devices

Author:Donald A. Norman

About the Author

Born: December 25, 1935
Known for: Author
Quotes: 91

Books & Sources

Living with ComplexityRelated source material

The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded EditionRelated source material

Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday ThingsRelated source material

The Design of Everyday ThingsRelated source material

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