From eb58e7b5e9d76311cb4fa749444cf646ccd80355 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Brad Treloar Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:09 +0930 Subject: [PATCH] Notes for DOET Chapter One --- design/the-design-of-everyday-things.md | 40 +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 40 insertions(+) create mode 100644 design/the-design-of-everyday-things.md diff --git a/design/the-design-of-everyday-things.md b/design/the-design-of-everyday-things.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c2ff2c --- /dev/null +++ b/design/the-design-of-everyday-things.md @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +# The Design of Everyday Things + +https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Design_of_Everyday_Things + +## Chapter One: The Psychopathology of Everyday Things + +Well-designed things do not need explanatory signage or trial-and-error. + +Two important characteristics of design: + +1. Can the user discover what action are possible and how to do them? +2. Can the user grok the meaning of the actions and the purpose of the thing? + +Designers must design for humans, who are not perfectly logical creatures. + +Discoverability is done with + +- Affordances +- Signifiers +- Constraints +- Mappings +- Feedback + +Understanding comes in the form of a conceptual model of the thing. + +**Affordances** (and non-affordances) are the ways in which a user can (and +can't) interact with a thing. The set of interactions is a function of both the +thing and the user, so different users will have different affordance with the +same thing. + +**Signifiers** tell user how to interact with a thing. They aren't necessarily +intentional. Signifiers are defined by effect, not intent. Perceived +affordances can act as signifiers. + +**Mappings** are the relationships between controls and their effects. Natural +mappings exploit mappings we use naturally, such as spatial mapping and natural +expressions of concepts (e.g. intensity). + +**Feedback** tell the user that the system is working; and it must be immediate +and clear.