Living With Complexity: Full Blog

Reference

Living With Complexity

Donald Norman

Basic Books - 2010

Summary

This book focuses on the idea that complexity is naturally present in the world and in the devices we design. Attention to coping with these complexities in design is given. Norman explains that some amount of complexity is enjoyable. As an example, many people seek out complex concepts and attempt to master them for the sake of enjoyment. In design it is common for people to desire simplicity but also want increased features and functionality. This leads to the need for a careful balance from the designer. Overall the goal must be understandability over complexity or simplicity. Norman continues to discuss the way we embed information and cues into the world. He implies that designs should focus on including cues for their use and purpose. Forcing functions are an effective way of constraining user actions and shaping user direction. People often look to their environment for cues or signifiers. Culture can complicate the interpretation of these cues, but good design provides signifiers which are for the most part universally identifiable.

Discussion

While this book was an interesting discussion of the battle between simplicity and functionality within design, it was mostly a repeat of other Norman concepts. Though some of his viewpoints seem to have changed between this book and Design of Everyday Things, for the most part the views are the same. The book makes good points about understandability being the focus of design rather than simplicity or feature inclusion. Despite this recognition, I felt few examples of how to accomplish this were given. The idea that simplicity is not good is interesting, and I'm not sure if I agree completely, but I do recognize understandability as most important.