Things

We donÕt think much about the things that are perhaps the most important parts of our visual culture: things (and their design features). However, we use things (especially unfamiliar ones) according to what their visual features tell us about how to use them, and designing objects so that users intuitively use them right is an important art and profession. Design is even more important in cognitive artifacts, things with which we think.

Goals

to understand how the visual design of objects mediates (enables, constrains, makes easy or difficult) usersÕ actions

to learn concepts and basic ideas with which to analyze and critique object design that you learn ways of telling good from bad design

Portfolio

This is a short unit, and you will only demonstrate your understanding through a test about NormanÕs concepts (to be posted in advance); you also need to have your own examples at hand for important concepts from NormanÕs book. This is how tests will be graded: after you submit your answers, we will select best answer(s) to every question; you will then grade your own answers by comparing them with these.

Resources

Norman, D. (1993). Things that Make Us Smart.