Reference
Living With Complexity
- Donald A. Norman
Living With Complexity
- Donald A. Norman
Summary
Norman’s general theme for this book was why complexity exists and why it plagues people so much. Complexity must exist, because our lives are complex in nature. Some ideas and tasks are complex, so naturally their designs must also be complex. However, he explains that complex designs can be catered the right group of people and by doing so this avoids unnecessary complications in the design. Poor designs in general result from the failure to properly implement a complex or even simple concept. The first place to start in avoiding complications is with a good conceptual model of the design. Without a deep understanding of the problem and final goal, proper inner workings of the design to streamline cannot be possible.
Norman’s general theme for this book was why complexity exists and why it plagues people so much. Complexity must exist, because our lives are complex in nature. Some ideas and tasks are complex, so naturally their designs must also be complex. However, he explains that complex designs can be catered the right group of people and by doing so this avoids unnecessary complications in the design. Poor designs in general result from the failure to properly implement a complex or even simple concept. The first place to start in avoiding complications is with a good conceptual model of the design. Without a deep understanding of the problem and final goal, proper inner workings of the design to streamline cannot be possible.
Even when designs are simple in nature and relatively straightforward, many different designs all geared towards the same purpose can be extremely confusing. People grow accustomed to performing an action in a certain way. When a slightly different way is presented, this can really throw a person off. If the design utilizes visual cues, this can greatly decrease the chances of this problem from being a concern. Another way people can help themselves is to use their social signifiers. In the case of the door knob, people can pay attention to how others react to it and then no longer have the problem of figuring it out on their own on the fly.
Discussion
Like Norman’s other books, he takes a relatively simple idea and helps you to look at it from a different perspective. I had never really noticed so many well-designed complex systems before. They were always there, but it took looking at a concept differently to truly pick up on these small details. This also helps me to see the poorly designed implementations of things. Organizing complex options and features can be a difficult task, but all it takes sometimes is coming up with a sufficient conceptual model to see a clever way of laying things out. I hope to remain to be more aware of these things in the future and not fall prey to creating a truly terrible design myself.
Like Norman’s other books, he takes a relatively simple idea and helps you to look at it from a different perspective. I had never really noticed so many well-designed complex systems before. They were always there, but it took looking at a concept differently to truly pick up on these small details. This also helps me to see the poorly designed implementations of things. Organizing complex options and features can be a difficult task, but all it takes sometimes is coming up with a sufficient conceptual model to see a clever way of laying things out. I hope to remain to be more aware of these things in the future and not fall prey to creating a truly terrible design myself.
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