122 Quotes by Donald A. Norman

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.

Could we ever switch to this or any of the many other rational systems? Unlikely: tradition is difficult to overcome.

What makes something simple or complex? It's not the number of dials or controls or how many features it has: It is whether the person using the device has a good conceptual model of how it operates.

adults forget how difficult that task was.

Any time you see signs or labels added to a device, it is an indication of bad design: a simple lock should not require instructions.

We must design for the way people behave,not for how we would wish them to behave.

If the skill is easily automated, it wasn't essential.

Beauty and brains, pleasure and usability – they should go hand in hand.

Readers always seem to think that the author has some control over the design of their books.