The Design of Everyday Things

Revised and Expanded Edition

By: Don Norman

Narrated by: Neil Hellegers

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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)

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.

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!

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.

So much bigger than conventional design

"Design" as this book talks about it goes beyond product design. It addresses the psychology of how we make our world work. This extends to products, politics, and nations. Given how academic and broad the topics are, it's surprising how practical the advice is also. The book does often get more academic than necessary and good editing could have trimmed down some repetition but that's nitpicking. The important ideas within this book made me frequently stop listening so I could share the ideas with others.

Regarding the pdf -- yes, I believe this book would work better if you can see the charts and examples. However, I'm often a car listener and I could follow along just fine anyway.

Well Done

This recording is based on the 2013 edition of the book, which explains why my 2002 text did not align with the recording. The audio format should make some changes to the text. For example, it is not helpful to cite illustrations or footnotes in the audio version. But overall, this was well done and much faster than reading the paper version.

Amazing! Was making notes all the way through

So many domains brought together, psychology, design, cognition, technology, etc. Always great to learn from those who has helped shape industries for the begger. Entrepreneurs, sales, product owner/managers, product developer all should read and internalize the content. Stop reading this and buy the book.. and then push it to the front of your reading list.

interesting

My 12 yr old love listening to this, he said it has lots of big words about simple things.

Not just for designers

Must read for anyone involved in creating anything. Good design and user experience is what is going to separate your product from everyone else’s and is going to be (and in many cases, already is) the standard.

More than about design

loved it. I heard it three times and bought the book.

this isn't just for designers. this is for anyone who wants to make their life more better designed

Very good book for any type of designer

Read it. Just read it and your future self will forever be grateful to your past self