The Design of Everyday Things Audiobook By Don Norman cover art

The Design of Everyday Things

Revised and Expanded Edition

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The Design of Everyday Things

By: Don Norman
Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
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About this listen

Design doesn't have to be complicated, which is why this guide to human-centered design shows that usability is just as important as aesthetics.

Even the smartest among us can feel inept as we fail to figure out which light switch or oven burner to turn on, or whether to push, pull, or slide a door. The fault, argues this ingenious - even liberating - audiobook, lies not in ourselves, but in product design that ignores the needs of users and the principles of cognitive psychology. The problems range from ambiguous and hidden controls to arbitrary relationships between controls and functions, coupled with a lack of feedback or other assistance and unreasonable demands on memorization.

The Design of Everyday Things shows that good, usable design is possible. The rules are simple: make things visible, exploit natural relationships that couple function and control, and make intelligent use of constraints. The goal: guide the user effortlessly to the right action on the right control at the right time.

The Design of Everyday Things is a powerful primer on how - and why - some products satisfy customers while others only frustrate them.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Don Norman (P)2018 Hachette Audio
Career Success Industrial & Manufacturing Psychology Career Inspiring Product Design
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Critic reviews

"Even classics can be updated and improved.... Highly recommended." (Choice)

"This book changed the field of design. As the pace of technological change accelerates, the principles in this book are increasingly important. The new examples and ideas about design and product development make it essential reading." (Patrick Whitney, dean, Institute of Design, and Steelcase/Robert C. Pew professor of design, Illinois Institute of Technology)

"Twenty-five years ago The Design of Everyday Things was instrumental in orienting my approach to design. With this latest revised and expanded edition, Don Norman has given me a host of new ideas to explore as well as reminding me of the fundamental principles of great and meaningful design. Part operating manual for designers and part manifesto on the power of designing for people, The Design of Everyday Things is even more relevant today than it was when first published." (Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO, and author of Change by Design)

What listeners say about The Design of Everyday Things

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A must read for every designer

Are you a designer? (of any kind)

If your answer is yes, then you have to read this book.

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1 person found this helpful

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Bit of a weird narration

I decided to switch to the other version of this book after one chapter. the narrator is great, but the editing is a bit off. The end of every sentence speeds up a little bit/is weirdly cut off. There isn't the flow to the narration there usually is on an audiobook.

The book is great though!

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Approach to Design

Even as a designer, this book gives me a new perspective and angle on design.

For example, a design can change, but the underlying fundamental needs of the user does not.

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Good Stuff

I wish I had read this years ago when I designing software, systems and databases. I learned most if this out. But there are still some great insights.

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Excellent

Amazing and thoughtful implications for psychology, design, engineering, customer service and business management. I was very pleased with this book!

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his voice is so boring

I don't know what it was about this guy but if I wasn't interested in the topic of this book I would have never gotten through it. the book itself is very good and I definitely learned a lot and see/interact with things differently now

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Did he get paid by the word count?

super long winded. would prefer less wordy explanation. but the information is super valuable .

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Design for a beginner!

Beautiful crafted and easy to digest layout! This book has changed the way I design and lead a team of designers!

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I'm adding this to my reread list

Very thought provoking. There are great principles to review and incorporate in everyday design work.

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A very interesting book

I had so much fun listening to this book.
Design is fascinating and I think the more you learn about how people came up with the solution to a problem, the more you can understand how the world around us work.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who want to understand how some of the everyday things were designed and why.

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