The Design of Everyday Things - Book Club discussion

Reading the book, this has been one of the things that have shocked me the most: If I can't figure out how to open/set/use this furniture/fridge/tool then it is not because there is something wrong with me, it's because the design is not right.

Don Norman talks about this and how it creates frustration with the users.

Have you experienced this? What do you think about it being the designers fault that users cannot figure it out?

As designers, we tend to blame the user for not being smart enough, for they shouldn't have to be!

I agree with you and Don here. If we can't understand that our product will be used by people who is different than us, people who think differently and approach learning in their own way, then our product will not succeed.

Personally, I connected to the example he gave at the beginning of the book about engineers and their logic thinking vs. how people actually think, because I have met many engineers and engineering students who think the users are to blame for 'being stupid' or 'f***ing up' with their product.

As a psychologist, I can't think of a better way to connect with people than being empathic and getting into their shoes. In my opinion, this book addresses this issue (and many others) in an exemplary manner.