Did you ever wonder why cheap wine tastes better in fancy glasses? Why sales of Macintosh computers soared when Apple introduced the colorful iMac?...
read full description
reviews
Mar 11, 2010
Danien
rated it: 
This book expands on Norman's The Design of Everyday Things by exploring how people interact with things when human emotions are taken into account. While the previous book focused on usability based on physical human limitations and logical design, this book delves into how design can affect both the act of the interaction and the quality of the emotional bond with objects (and computer software) through that interaction.
This is not a How-To design book with step-by-step instruction More...
This is not a How-To design book with step-by-step instruction More...
Apr 18, 2009
sleeps9hours
rated it: 
This is the first book I’ve read on design. I like the focus on the importance of emotions. The first four chapters were interesting to me, then I hit a dead zone and skimmed chapters 5-7, but I enjoyed the epilogue. I’m sure I will look at products in a new way after this.
Also, I like to find arguments against our crappy school system and ways to improve it, so this caught my eye:
p. 205 Robot tutors have great potential for changing the way we teach. Today’s model is More...
Also, I like to find arguments against our crappy school system and ways to improve it, so this caught my eye:
p. 205 Robot tutors have great potential for changing the way we teach. Today’s model is More...
Nov 16, 2011
Stephanie
rated it: 
I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this is a book you can aptly judge. The cover depicts a juicer that is mechanical and feminine at the same time. It has sharp edges beautifully paired with delicate, sensual curves. It is supposedly not meant for juicing actual fruit, but it is certainly a conversation starter.
This book was full of great anecdotes about the random stuff we have that we are attached to for no apparent reason. I have a hand mixer in my house More...
This book was full of great anecdotes about the random stuff we have that we are attached to for no apparent reason. I have a hand mixer in my house More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 06, 2011
Tiowidodo
rated it:
"With positive affect, you are more likely to see the forest than the trees, to prefer the big picture and not to concentrate upon details. On the other hand, when you are sad or anxious, feeling negative affect, you are more likely to see the trees before the forest, the details before the big picture" (Norman, 2005: 26)
Well, is it something like, when I feel distracted by a problem, I become too worried about a thing? Or, does it mean that negative affect brings me into s More...
Well, is it something like, when I feel distracted by a problem, I become too worried about a thing? Or, does it mean that negative affect brings me into s More...
Aug 12, 2010
Arnaud
rated it:
Another masterpiece from Donald Norman. Dr. Norman focuses this time on the aesthetics of objects and the impact it has on their usability. The postulate is simple: if you want people to use objects you design for them, you better make them look nice.
Humans are emotional animals, our emotions and senses guide our lives. The first emotions we get from objects are visuals and should encourage us to use them. If you pass the “visceral” test, there are chances that people start using the objec More...
Humans are emotional animals, our emotions and senses guide our lives. The first emotions we get from objects are visuals and should encourage us to use them. If you pass the “visceral” test, there are chances that people start using the objec More...
Jan 16, 2009
Mitchell
rated it: 
This book was an amazing discussion of the psychology behind the stuff we love. I particularly enjoyed how much it spoke to our social networking tools. Our desire to connect with tech is discussed. The chapter on the future of robots also spoke quite a bit to educational design. the author, was a Cognitive and Computer Scientist who studied how well things work. During this his time studying this he noted the frustration and devotion people developed with certain products.
My More...
Jul 07, 2009
Natasha
rated it: 
I could not finish this book. I got to about page 180 and had to give up, which I don't like doing, but I could not take anymore of this book. Before it started completely sucking, the book was mildly interesting and I learned some things that I didn't know before. However, too much time was spent on his theory as another reviewer mentioned and I don't see how robots have anything to do everyday design. I was hoping for chapters dedicated to everyday objects like cars, chairs, lamps, and the lik
More...
Jun 19, 2011
Michael
rated it:
(I chose to write this review only after reading both Emotional Design and The Design of Everyday Things. The wait was worthwhile.)
Emotional Design focuses on the aesthetics of things, that is, on what makes an object desirable (for a human). Just like the influential late-1980s book by Norman, The Design of Everyday Things, this book marks a belief shift, from performance and usability, to catering to human impulse and cognitive responses. In other words, Norman argues that we are no More...
Emotional Design focuses on the aesthetics of things, that is, on what makes an object desirable (for a human). Just like the influential late-1980s book by Norman, The Design of Everyday Things, this book marks a belief shift, from performance and usability, to catering to human impulse and cognitive responses. In other words, Norman argues that we are no More...
Jan 28, 2010
Nick
rated it:
The first (and larger) part of Emotional Design is classic Norman: thorough analysis, dissection, and reflection on why and how the design of different things affects us. This part gets into some fascinating ideas that can definitely help any kind of designer make a better product. There's no shortage of theories put forth (with good backing) for why and how we connect with things.
Norman breaks down our emotional reaction and connection to different things into three groups: visceral More...
Norman breaks down our emotional reaction and connection to different things into three groups: visceral More...
Apr 11, 2008
Jesse
rated it:
<justify>On its face, Emotional Design seems like it would be the perfect thing for me, a book about why design matters. Which it does. Obviously.
However, in actually reading it, I encountered some problems, partially on me and partially on Donald A. Norman.
For my part, I prefer books that tell stories. For this reason, I find many non-fiction books to be a bit dry for my taste. I fully accept that it's a matter of my personal opinion and not a reflection on the More...
However, in actually reading it, I encountered some problems, partially on me and partially on Donald A. Norman.
For my part, I prefer books that tell stories. For this reason, I find many non-fiction books to be a bit dry for my taste. I fully accept that it's a matter of my personal opinion and not a reflection on the More...
Jun 15, 2008
Andrea
rated it:
In the epilogue of this book, Don Norman expresses his gratitude to a myriad of people who helped him organize many years worth of disparate notes into a cohesive book. For me, ‘Emotional Design’ remained rather disconnected. Not in an altogether bad way, the book reads like the (slightly rambling) classroom lecture from a venerable guru …with the reader left to pull it all together.
Norman offers an illuminating model - distinguishing between 3 layers of design: visceral, behaviora More...
Norman offers an illuminating model - distinguishing between 3 layers of design: visceral, behaviora More...
May 06, 2008
Eric
rated it:
I was happy with this book, but think I like the Design of Everyday Things better overall.
Was a bit bored by the last chapter on the future of robots.
Have the sneaking feeling that I'll "get" this book a lot better in a few years' extra maturity.
Notes for future Eric:
Some nice ideas though, the soundbite "our emotions make us smart" will probably stick with me for some time. Now noting the visceral, behavioural and reflective split f More...
Was a bit bored by the last chapter on the future of robots.
Have the sneaking feeling that I'll "get" this book a lot better in a few years' extra maturity.
Notes for future Eric:
Some nice ideas though, the soundbite "our emotions make us smart" will probably stick with me for some time. Now noting the visceral, behavioural and reflective split f More...
Feb 16, 2011
Riitta
rated it:
An exciting read. I loved finding authoritative support for this intuition: Pleasant design makes you more efficient (happy--> productive). I'll take this as a manifesto for supporting aesthetics in all sectors of life.
"If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris, "The Beauty of Life, 1880
"If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris, "The Beauty of Life, 1880
Jun 23, 2011
Zach
rated it:
At first it seems like this is one of those books that was so important that all the ideas contained within are now truisms we take for granted. Then you start getting to the anecdotes you have never heard before, and then towards the end it becomes a science fiction novel where the author proposes giving robots emotion. absolutely worth the read. this book will win you arguments and expand your perception of design.
Aug 11, 2008
Hoby
rated it:
This book is for the most part, a very good distillation of what is good and bad about product design of all kinds. It's subtly humorous and very detailed in its dissection of what makes up a user experience. It ties in very well actually with Alan Cooper's book on software design and vice versa. It's well thought out and adequately concise for the range of topics it covers.
The only problem I really had with this book, was Norman's obsession with robots. The robot section gets a litt More...
The only problem I really had with this book, was Norman's obsession with robots. The robot section gets a litt More...
Jan 26, 2012
Algirdas
rated it:
Book presents the idea that design can be evaluated at different three levels: visceral (how design item looks, feels and sounds), behavioral (how well item performs its designated task) and reflective (what thoughts item promotes).
The book is quite interesting and readable, but still I liked "The Design of Everyday Thing" by the same author more.
The book is quite interesting and readable, but still I liked "The Design of Everyday Thing" by the same author more.
Dec 06, 2011
Camille
rated it:
There are a few grains of somewhat valuable or intriguing insights in this book, but you'll have to sift through Donald Norman's extremely repetitive writing and jargon first. This book could probably be half its size. Norman uses several examples of products that illustrate his points well, but insists on spending several pages reiterating his theories for EACH AND EVERY example. The book's poorly organized chapters offer no distinct theses at their opening and wander off in all directions t
More...
Nov 29, 2009
Lauren
rated it:
This book epitomizes the psychological theories that I am most passionate about. It is the focal point around which I selected my dual bachelor degree combination and my research/career path.
I loved this book, and if you enjoy the the theories behind visual/design psychology - this is a great book for you.
I loved this book, and if you enjoy the the theories behind visual/design psychology - this is a great book for you.
Jun 02, 2007
Eugene
rated it:
A older, more seasoned Norman revises his old "function over design" paradigm with this book about third-wave design. No longer are design and usability at odds, but rather they complement each other. Why do you feel more confidently when you are well dressed? Why does your car drive a little bit better after a car wash?
The first half of the book is a wonderful guide into this merger for the first half of the book. However, it starts delving into movie psychology and ro More...
The first half of the book is a wonderful guide into this merger for the first half of the book. However, it starts delving into movie psychology and ro More...
Jan 30, 2012
Devin
rated it:
The first 3/4 of the book is fantastic, with amazing insights into how our emotional selves influence how why we love or hate products, and what designers need to understand about this influence in order to help them build better products.
The 1/4 of the book, while a fascinating read, deals less with ideas that can be applied today, and much more with how Norman sees robotics playing into our future and how robots themselves will need to both understand and emit emotions.
More...
The 1/4 of the book, while a fascinating read, deals less with ideas that can be applied today, and much more with how Norman sees robotics playing into our future and how robots themselves will need to both understand and emit emotions.
More...
Jan 18, 2011
Molina
rated it:
Coulnd't find the reason but it's ok. Two sentence advice should have been better. "Life is good when you take care of your things IN GENERAL!" There!
Nov 08, 2011
Shaina
rated it:
I just weeded this book out of my bookshelves, after four years and moving it across the country and into (and out of) four separate apartments. I took it off the shelf, removed the bookmark that had been optimistically marking a quarter of the way through the book, and I put the book in my stack of books to be given away.
I give up. I will never finish this book. The writing style is impenetrable and boring, which means that even though the premise of the book is fascinating--how fo More...
I give up. I will never finish this book. The writing style is impenetrable and boring, which means that even though the premise of the book is fascinating--how fo More...
Aug 23, 2007
Elia
rated it:
I love about this book the same thing I love about his first book - the examples are interesting, relevant, and extremely well described. The book might be even better without the slightly bizarre focus on social robotics at the end of it. But his point, that we do form emotional attachments to things, that those attachments are exaggerated when the objects can respond to us, and that those attachments genuinely affect how well something works, are important ones. When my friends and family a
More...
Jan 18, 2009
Roland
rated it:
I found it an engaging, thought provoking book, looking at the concept of design from different views.
Not agreeing with everything Norman said - especially about the need to replace human drivers with robots - but that is the best about it, you can argue with the book.
Not agreeing with everything Norman said - especially about the need to replace human drivers with robots - but that is the best about it, you can argue with the book.
Dec 07, 2011
I'm a big Don Norman fan. If you like his work on design, this book is great. Read first The Design of Everyday Things.
Apr 20, 2010
A book that the describe the different states of an 'object' of interaction and the different engagement states.
Oct 19, 2010
Joanna
rated it:
I loved the first 5 or so chapters of this, but my interested waned after that. As a non-designer, I'm much more interested in his philosophy of design (which relates to other areas of interest for me), than I am with the actual nuts-and-bolts details relating to specific products, like robots or computers. Definitely worth the read, but the last third was a little tough to get through.
Aug 29, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
On the use of sound as feedback: "Eyelids allow us to shut out light; alas, we have no earlids."
Oct 25, 2010
Volkan
rated it:
This is a classic about how aesthetic beauty affects the perception of usability.
May 16, 2010
Jessamyn
rated it:
Donald Norman's book on the emotional design of tangible things beautifully illustrates the ways in which objects can impact our emotions. To describe the way human emotions can be evoked, Norman uses descriptive examples, including the power of music to elicit strong feelings. The final portions of his book consider artificial intelligence, the current state of affairs, and where we might be headed in the future in terms of robotics. This book is comprehensive in the number of subjects covered
More...
