Reflections on design

The Design of Everyday Things [1](DOET) was first published 25 years ago, in 1988. Even though the fundamental principles of human interaction introduced in that book are still true, a lot has changed since then. The examples in the book reveal its age but more importantly, the technology of interaction has changed.

The new DOET maintains the same basic structure with the same fundamental design principles. But new material has been added. First, I added the role of emotion, beauty and pleasure to the original DOET's emphasis on utility and understanding. Second, I added two chapters about the role of Design Thinking and how these principles work in the world of business. What are the constraints of the installed base, legacy products, and consumer readiness' What about time and budget? Among other things, I introduce Norman's Law: The day the product team is assembled, it is behind schedule and over its budget. Technologies disappear, but the needs they satisfied often remain. Phonographs, slide projectors, and film have disappeared, but music, illustrated talks, and photographs still exist. Doors, water taps, and light switches may remain the same, but automobiles will drive themselves, machines are becoming more intelligent, more fully autonomous, taking over many tasks we do ourselves, anticipating our desires. And often they will get it wrong. What design rules must change? How shall we design in the 21st century?