Design should provide affordances to guide user actions from "summary" of The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
Design must be intuitive, providing clear cues to users about how to interact with the object. These cues, known as affordances, are the key to guiding user actions. Affordances are perceptible properties of an object that suggest how it can be used. They provide clues to help users understand what actions are possible and how to perform them. Good design makes these affordances obvious, allowing users to easily determine what to do without the need for complex instruction manuals. For example, a door with a flat plate affords pushing, while a door with a handle affords pulling. These visual cues help users understand how to interact with the door without the need for explicit labels or instructions. Affordances must be clear and unambiguous to be effective. Confusing or misleading affordances can lead to frustration and errors. Designers must carefully consider how users will perceive and interpret the affordances of their products to ensure a seamless user experience. By providing clear affordances, designers can guide user actions and make interactions more intuitive. Users should be able to easily understand how to use a product just by looking at it. This simplicity is crucial for creating user-friendly designs that are intuitive and easy to use.- Affordances are the foundation of good design, helping users navigate the world around them with ease. Designers must pay close attention to the affordances of their products, ensuring that they are clear, consistent, and intuitive. By focusing on affordances, designers can create products that guide user actions and enhance the user experience.
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