- Don Norman, ‘The Design of Everyday Things’ “Well-designed objects are easy to interpret and understand. They contain visible clues to their operation. Poorly designed objects can be difficult and frustrating to use. ! They provide no clues — or sometimes false clues. They trap the user and thwart the normal process of interpretation and understanding.”
1. It requires effort 2. Design should imply a purpose 3. Seek visual congruence 4. Be an outsider 5. Know when to go off the map 5 Things to Think About for Good Design
1: Good Design Requires Effort “Making the solution seem so completely inevitable and obvious, so uncontrived and natural - it's so hard!” - Jony Ive (Apple)
85,564 suicide records 226,224 incidences of personal crime 30 years of work …invented his own mechanical “computer” to tabulate the data! 1: Good Design Requires Effort
2: Good Design Implies its Purpose A design can only provide a solution if it addresses the problem the user has, and does not suggest a use that isn’t possible.
How fast is ‘green?’! How far is point A from B?! How long will various routes take? travel time = distance velocity 2: Good Design Implies its Purpose
Rainbow color schemes introduce false patterns and hide real trends Choose perceptual color schemes and pair phenomena with design 3: Seek Visual Congruence
Instead of different colors (hues), rely on value (shifts in darkness). Then add 1-2 hues with increasing saturation to further distinguish class breaks. 3: Seek Visual Congruence
5: Know When to Go Off the Map “A map says to you, ‘Read me carefully, follow me closely, doubt me not.’ ! It says, ‘I am the earth in the palm of your hand. Without me, you are alone and lost.’” - Beryl Markham, 1983