Donald Norman Quotes (31 Quotes)

Isn't one of your first exercises in learning how to communicate to write a description of how to tie your shoelaces? The point being that it's basically impossible to use text to show that.

User-centered design means working with your users all throughout the project.

I think there is a tendency in science to measure what is measurable and to decide that what you cannot measure must be uninteresting.

A big ethical question is what happens after people stop using the device. Does it degrade the environment? Could it have been designed so it would actually be good for the environment?

The profit margin index is well above the 50-level, indicating that, for most firms, profit margins are higher than one year ago, when margins were showing improvement from their depressed levels throughout 2001-2002.

This forward-looking index indicates broad optimism that the expansion of manufacturing activity will continue throughout the year.

I've been looking at the iPod- the Apple iPod. One of the interesting things about the iPod, one of the things that people love most about it is not the technology; it's the box it comes in.

Scientists are always skeptics.

You won't catch me giving clear lectures.

It is relatively easy to design for the perfect cases, when everything goes right, or when all the information required is available in proper format.

Sure, one can always get the students to relax and be happy - entertained, but although being laid back and relax can also lead to creativity, mostly it means that nothing much gets done.

To me, error analysis is the sweet spot for improvement.

Market segmentation s a natural result of the vast differences among people.

I believe that robots should only have faces if they truly need them.

Knowing how people will use something is essential.

Beauty and brains, pleasure and usability - they should go hand in hand.

I prefer design by experts - by people who know what they are doing.

I believe that the Apple Shuffle is an excellent compromise among the conflicting requirements of simplicity, elegance, size, battery life, and function.

Everyday people are not very good designers.

Am I an Apple bigot? No. I can critique their products and their customer service philosophy. But overall, they do better than any other player.

I've been thinking hard about the Apple product-development process since I left. If you follow my guidelines, it will guarantee good design. But Steve Jobs doesn't want good design. He wants great design, and my method will never give you that. That takes a rare leader, who can bring both the cohesion and commitment and style. And Steve has it.

And to get real work experience, you need a job, and most jobs will require you to have had either real work experience or a graduate degree.

AS for all those mistakes I make - they are on purpose - to teach you how to deal with them.

The problem with emotion was that it was clearly something important, but-at least according to the old philosophy-it was something to overcome.

In my opinion, no single design is apt to be optimal for everyone.

Readers always seem to think that the author has some control over the design of their books.

Our information lives will be better served when we are free to get to our information from wherever we are, with any device available.

We expert teachers know that motivation and emotional impact are what matter.

Also note that invariably when we design something that can be used by those with disabilities, we often make it better for everyone.

So what does a good teacher do? Create tension - but just the right amount.

If you think the products don't match what you want from a product, don't buy it.