Something different: Norman Doors

[Brian Howell]

One of my favorite books is The Design of Everyday Things (originally entitled The Psychology of Everyday Things), by Don Norman, professor emeritus of computer science at UCSD and former Apple Fellow. The book is a seminal work on user-centered design: how design should intrinsically communicate function to users. 

99% Invisible, a wonderful podcast about aspects of life that nearly all of us routinely overlook, recently ran a short story on what are known as Norman Doors, yes, as in Don Norman. Those are doors that lack affordances (a term from the book: communicative design principles) to inform users as to how to use them without needing instructive signage (i.e., push and pull). Why is that important? Well, if you haven't already gone to the Norman Doors link, just previous, do so now. Then ask yourself whether you've ever tried to open a door only to find that you were pushing or pulling it in opposition to the way it actually opened?

Anyway, here's a link to the Norman Doors podcast. I hope you enjoy it: http://99percentinvisible.org/article/norman-doors-dont-know-whether-push-pull-blame-design/.

P.S. Last year, the creator of 99%, Roman Mars (how about that for a name?), gave a Ted Talk on vexillology: the study of flags and pennants, and what makes them good or bad. The City of San Francisco, whose flag was one of those negatively criticized in the talk, has since taken steps towards designing a better flag. Here is a follow-up to the Ted Talk, which includes a link to the Talk's video: http://99percentinvisible.org/article/vexillology-revisited-fixing-worst-civic-flag-designs-america/.

[Matt Fish]

And here's a five minute video from Vox about this: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY96hTb8WgI

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[Brian Howell]

Thanks, Matt. (That's the same Vox link that is the podcast embedded on the page.)

[Matt Fish]

I believe the following video is deeply funny. Discuss. (Yes, it has to do with Norman doors.) (sorry it's a facebook link -- I couldn't find the original video)

https://www.facebook.com/viralthread/videos/925159450959231/

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