The design of Everyday Things part 2

1) “The human mind is exquisitely tailored to make sense of the world. Give it the slightest clue and off it goes, providing explanation, rationalization, understanding. Consider the objects-books, radios, kitchen appliances, office machines and light switches-that make up our everyday lives well-designed objects are easy to interpret and understand. They contain visible clues to their operation. Poorly designed objects can e 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. Alas, poor design predominates. The result is a world filled with frustration, with objects that cannot be understood, with devices that lead to error. “

This passage is interesting to me because without the abilities of the mind mentioned above, intelligence in design would be meaningless. What would it matter if the designer took months to provide visible clues that persuaded the user to perform a certain act, if the brain could not recognize these clues? Without the brain’s ability to understand these clues, and the designer’s ability to use them properly, we would be stuck in a world unable to advance technologically.

2) This book can still be used today because the functions of the brain do not change over time. The function of sight and the ability to pick up on small clues included by the designer are still the same now as they were 20 years ago. People still need to be given a good visual and conceptual map of the object they are about to use, no matter how simple or complicated it may be, and while the objects may have been different 20 years ago, the principles are still applicable today.

3) The factors that should be included on a checklist for evaluating the design of a product are visibility, mapping and feedback. If the designer includes good visible clues about the product and how it should be used then the product will have a successful design. The only way a designer can include good visible clues is by having a good conceptual map. With a good conceptual map, the user can effectively put together the clues and perform the actions that are best fit for the product. Finally, the abovementioned criteria are useless if the user is not provided with quick, quality feedback. The user needs to know immediately how the action they are performing affects the product.