The Design of Everyday Things

Imagine this: you’ve decided to wash your hands in a stylish designer sink. Just a routine daily procedure… But then you want to drain the dirty water and can’t find a single button, handle, or even a lever. You search the sink with the precision of a detective — in vain. You try to pry up the drain plug with a spoon — no luck. Only after the tenth attempt, with your sleeves thoroughly soaked and your mood hopelessly ruined, do you discover that all you had to do was… press the plug.

This is a classic example of absurd design — one that ignores the needs of the user and simply irritates. And such things are everywhere. Elegant but non-functional doors, bizarre chairs, strange kettles and refrigerators — Donald Norman gives plenty of examples of design failures that leave users feeling confused and not particularly smart.

This guide teaches you how to recognize good design and the tricks thoughtful designers use to make our lives more comfortable — and stylish at the same time.