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The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition Kindle Edition

4.6 out of 5 stars 8,127 ratings
4.2 on Goodreads
46,356 ratings

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One of the world's great designers shares his vision of "the fundamental principles of great and meaningful design", that's "even more relevant today than it was when first published" (Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO).

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 -- book, 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.
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From the Publisher

Design of Everyday Things

Design of Everyday Things

Design of Everyday Things

The Design of Future Things
Emotional Design
Things That Make Us Smart
Customer Reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars 139
4.6 out of 5 stars 864
4.5 out of 5 stars 61
Price $24.99 $22.99 $24.92
Explore the Works of Don Norman This is a consumer-oriented look at the perils and promise of the smart objects of the future, and a cautionary tale for designers of these objects-many of which are already in use or development. From roller coasters to robots, sports cars to smartphones, attractive things work better. Whether designer or consumer, user or inventor, this book is the definitive guide to making Norman’s insights work for you. This book explores the complex interaction between human thought and the technology it creates, arguing for the development of machines that fit our minds, rather than minds that must conform to the machine.

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

"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

"Design may be our top competitive edge. This book is a joy--fun and of the utmost importance."―
Tom Peters, author of the national best-seller In Search of Excellence

"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

About the Author

Don Norman is a co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group, and holds graduate degrees in both engineering and psychology. His many books include Emotional Design, The Design of Future Things, and Living with Complexity. He lives in Silicon Valley, California.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00E257T6C
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Nov. 5 2013
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Revised
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 13.8 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 430 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465072996
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 8,127 ratings

About the author

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Donald A. Norman
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Don Norman takes special delight in the interaction of people and technology. "Develop the skill of observation," he says, "and especially pay attention to the obvious, for this is where you will discover many hidden insights. What seems to be obvious often is not."

Business Week has named him one of "the world's most influential designers," the influence from his books, essays, courses and students, lectures, and consulting.

He is a fellow of many organizations, including the American Association of Arts and Sciences. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineers and former lots of things, including VP at Apple Computer, President of a startup, and co-founder of the Nielsen Norman group. He has honorary degrees from the University of Padua (Italy), the Technical University Delft (the Netherlands), and the University of San Marino. He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin medal in Computer and Cognitive Science and the Sir Misha Black medal for contributions to Design Education.

He is known for his books "The Design of Everyday Things," "Emotional Design," "Living with Complexity," and "The Design of Future Things," but he is most proud of his students all over the world, who put into practice his human-centered design philosophy.

His latest book is Design for a Better World: meaningful, sustainable, humanity centered" which draws upon his rich history to address some of the most pressing problems facing the world today. The real issues are not technical, nor can they be solved simply by technology. The most difficult is human behavior, which is why design can play such an important role. Design is a way of thinking, of solving the core underlying issues, combining a knowledge of technology, all areas of human activity, and most important of all, human behavior.

He lives at www.jnd.org, where you can find chapters from his books and loads of essays.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
8,127 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book amazing, awesome, and a necessity for all designers to read. They say the principles are thorough and plainly explained. Readers describe the book as simple, informative, and thought-provoking. They describe it as interesting, refreshing, and interesting for anyone who interacts with anything man-made.

44 customers mention "Design content"39 positive5 negative

Customers find the book amazing, thorough, and plainly explained. They say it lays the foundation for a thoughtful, almost logical way of design. Readers also mention the revised edition offers great insight into what makes or breaks a design from a user's perspective.

"Great book, this is a must read for anyone who designs things, but it is interesting for anyone who interacts with anything man-made." Read more

"Good reading for people interested in design for people." Read more

"The design theory described in the book is very good, still it applies to a lot of actual environment products." Read more

"Good book..." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"7 positive3 negative

Customers find the principles thorough and plainly explained. They say it's an easy or casual read. Readers also mention the book is informative and thought-provoking.

"Easy to read, packed full of useful tidbits; lots of take-aways and an overall better understanding of how to improve design." Read more

"...of Human Factors and Design, this is a fantastic book to give great insights into the topic of design and graphical interfaces...." Read more

"...and forth a lot, and repeats himself constantly, which is annoying to read through. 2...." Read more

"...An easy guide for designers and curious people." Read more

9 customers mention "Interesting"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, thought-provoking, and refreshing. They say it provides an interesting perspective and history to how all these little things are designed. Readers also appreciate the anecdotes throughout.

"...I am not an avid reader of books but this is way too interesting and easy for anyone to read...." Read more

"...An easy guide for designers and curious people." Read more

"Great perspectives in here. Worth the time. Loved the anecdotes throughout. I'm less enthused about some of the processes. Not as memorable." Read more

"...for anyone who designs things, but it is interesting for anyone who interacts with anything man-made." Read more

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5 out of 5 stars
Great quality
This is an amazing book for those interested in learning about what makes good design in any field. As a Junior UI UX Designer, lifelong psychology and business student, I recommend this book for those in Technology.
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Top reviews from Canada

  • Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    It may not seem like it but if you are employed in the game design industry in game design or level design, then you should read this book! For newer folks just starting out, it will enable you to understand more about how to think about usability and commonality in your work. If you’ve been at it for a while, it’s a great refresher on important human concepts that you may just take for granted and not think about as much as you should.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in Canada on July 20, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I have been wanting to read this book since a while now after getting into UX Design. After reading many reviews and being suggested to read this by my professors and industry professionals, I had to get it. I am not an avid reader of books but this is way too interesting and easy for anyone to read.

    If you are a designer and want to get better at understanding how products work and users experience it, please read this book. You will not be disappointed!
  • Reviewed in Canada on June 21, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Hi other designers or fellow readers. I'm giving this product a 4/5 stars because...

    YES, as a designer, it is one of my favourite design books of all time.

    And YES, whoever handled my book during shipment did a crappy job by placing my book inside a flimsy bag, not a protective box!!! Hence why there are dents and scuff marks on the edges.

    I won't return it since I love the book, however, just letting you ALL know if you ever purchase a paper copy, be cautious if you wany perfect books in good conditions. There will be wear and tear during shipment! :(
    Customer image
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    My favourite book came DAMAGED!!!

    Reviewed in Canada on June 21, 2025
    Hi other designers or fellow readers. I'm giving this product a 4/5 stars because...

    YES, as a designer, it is one of my favourite design books of all time.

    And YES, whoever handled my book during shipment did a crappy job by placing my book inside a flimsy bag, not a protective box!!! Hence why there are dents and scuff marks on the edges.

    I won't return it since I love the book, however, just letting you ALL know if you ever purchase a paper copy, be cautious if you wany perfect books in good conditions. There will be wear and tear during shipment! :(
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
  • Reviewed in Canada on January 28, 2022
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    There isn't much introduction necessary to tell who the author is if you are someone working in the UX field. The revised edition offers great insight into what makes or breaks a design from a user's experience perspective and the key points to investigate when designing, regardless of the medium. It is also an essential insight into emotional design and decision-making.
  • Reviewed in Canada on January 13, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Working with UX/UI Designers I wanted (needed!) to get a better understanding of these concepts and principles. This book was recommended to me by them and it didn't disappoint. Fantastic read; highly recommend.
  • Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is an amazing book for those interested in learning about what makes good design in any field.

    As a Junior UI UX Designer, lifelong psychology and business student, I recommend this book for those in Technology.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Great quality

    Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2021
    This is an amazing book for those interested in learning about what makes good design in any field.

    As a Junior UI UX Designer, lifelong psychology and business student, I recommend this book for those in Technology.
    Images in this review
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    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great book by Don Norman! As an inspiring Ergonomist hoping to work in the field of Human Factors and Design, this is a fantastic book to give great insights into the topic of design and graphical interfaces. There is a quite a lot of high-level information in this book that I have referred to on numerous occasions now, so I highly recommend this book to any fellow Ergonomists, or any other individuals who enjoy a good read.
  • Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    While this book doesn't necessarily cover the "fun" and "sexy" topics in design, it lays the foundation for a thoughtful, almost logical way of design thinking. I cannot recommend it enough.

    The latter few chapters get a bit dry, but reading this from cover to cover is still a very worthwhile experience for anyone looking to get into design or understand a bit about why things are designed the way they are.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Bruno
    1.0 out of 5 stars Geweldig boek maar deze uitgave is zwak
    Reviewed in Belgium on December 30, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Kocht deze versie als geschenk. De uitgave is enorm teleurstellend... Cover foto helemaal uitgewassen en lage resolutie.
    Report
  • Karun Kumbera
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book review
    Reviewed in India on January 24, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Amazing book
  • Michael Weber
    5.0 out of 5 stars "Menschliche Fehler" erklärt
    Reviewed in Germany on February 25, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Endlich ein Buch, das mir Bestätigung gibt! Ob es Türen sind, die man falsch bedient, Öfen, Kugelschreiber, Smartphones oder Flugzeuge: Eigentlich lässt sich immer ein Problem auch beim Design finden und nicht nur bei dem Menschen, der Probleme hat. Norman hatte schon vor 25 Jahren genug Erfahrung, um ein erfolgreiches Buch zu schreiben, und jetzt hat er sie wohl erst recht. Hin und wieder erwähnt er, wie er für BMW und Apple gearbeitet hat und wie erfolgreich er war, was zu Beginn etwas prahlerisch wirkt, später aber verstehen lässt dass dieser Mann wirklich weiß, wovon er schreibt.
    Dabei erklärt Don Norman nicht nur, wie Dinge grundsätzlich gestaltet werden sollten, sondern auch, wie wir Menschen Dinge wahrnehmen, wie wir uns an Dinge erinnern, wie wir Fehler machen und wie wir daraus lernen. Dazu gibt er uns einige Methoden und Schlüsselbegriffe an die Hand, die fundamental wichtig sind. So sollte man unterscheiden zwischen den Dingen, die wir natürlicherweise mit einem Gegenstand tun können und Dingen, an denen wir sehen können, was wir tatsächlich mit einem Gegenstand machen sollen.
    Immer wieder gibt er dabei Beispiele aus der Weltgeschichte zu teils tragischen Unglücken oder lustigen Erlebnissen. So mussten sich zum Beispiel erst viele Menschen vor Panik selbst die Fluchtwege versperren, bevor ein Gesetz erlassen wurde, nach dem Türen in öffentlichen Gebäuden grundsätzlich in Richtung der Fluchtwege geöffnet werden müssen.
    In den letzten Kapiteln reflektiert Norman die Wichtigkeit von gutem Design allerdings noch einmal und gibt zu verstehen, warum gutes Design nicht immer umgesetzt werden kann, auch wenn man es sich vorstellen kann. Beispielsweise spielen schließlich Geld und Zeit auch immer eine Rolle.

    Eigentlich wollte ich das Buch erst kaufen, wenn ich schon studiere, aber selbst wenn ich nicht studieren sollte, war es das auf jeden Fall wert. Ich denke, selbst für Menschen, die beruflich gar nichts mit Design zu tun haben, ist das Buch interessant.
    Für diejenigen, die lieber Videos schauen, gibt es einige auf Youtube unter folgendem Link: [...] oder wenn ihr nach "The Design of Everyday Things" sucht.
  • Vega
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy recomendable
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 5, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Excelente libro sobre UX.
  • Rondinelly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Aumente sua capacidade de percepção do mundo ao seu redor!
    Reviewed in Brazil on September 30, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Livro fantástico. Ele te induz a ver os pequenos detalhes dos objetos ao nosso redor, bem como nos possibilita a refletir e pensar sobre os impactos que eles causam na vida cotidiana.

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