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Comment by borski | Hacker News Reader

“The Design of Everyday Things” changed the way I see literally everything. You’ll never look at doors the same way again, and prepare to forever be frustrated by poorly designed objects, and delighted by incredibly well designed ones.

There is no better book on the philosophy of UX, imho.

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not only UX. programmers can actually learn a lot about building software if they see the meta in the book (replace door w/ interface. think about the mental model your library user is going to build for your library. make things easy to use when the correct pattern is employed and impossible if improperly done. minimize cognitive load) the book is brilliant

This book made me feel normal again. I am constantly being embarrassed by doors. Now I know I am not alone.

+1 for this gem. At least once a day I catch myself thinking some everyday object (or app) I’ve encountered could be more usable if it had certain signifiers to better illustrate its affordances, or lacked certain signifiers to obfuscate unintended affordances. Should be required reading for anyone who aspires to put products out into the world.

The first time I tried to read this book after Luke Kanies the founder of Puppet recommended it I barely made it 15% in, but after 6 months of noticing poor design everywhere I went back and gave it another go. I'm not in UX but I think about this book almost daily.

Indeed, I think of that book (which I read over a decade ago) every time I push or pull a door the wrong way. Reading it is like being able to see the matrix - but it’s simultaneously enlightening and frustrating when you realize how poorly so many things are designed.

I haven't read the book but I feel like it would make me even more grumpy from noticing even more poorly designed things than I already do.

Have you heard the old design joke?

If you really hate someone, teach them about kerning

+1 reflecting back I think this is one of the books that has been key to changing my thinking. Was one of the first design book I read, but the lessons have been with me for the last decade+.

I find "Living with Complexity" equally interesting.

Oh yeah I’d second that, this book is spectacular

Great book, and you're right, everyone I know who's read it (including me) says the same thing about doors afterwards.

This book got me interested in interaction design as a teenager. 10/10

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