If you’ve ever pushed a door that was meant to be pulled, you’ve already experienced bad design. It’s the kind of mistake that stays in your mind for a moment - not because it’s serious, but because it feels unnecessary. That simple frustration is exactly what “The Design of Everyday Things” book by Don Norman talks about - and it’s still one of the most important lessons for anyone working in design today.

Beyond Looks: The Invisible Side of Design

When I first started learning about design, I used to think it was mostly about visuals - typography, color palettes, layouts, all the fun parts. But as I read more and began working on real projects, I realized that good design is invisible. It’s about understanding people, predicting what they expect, and removing friction before they even notice it’s there.

Norman’s book made me pay attention to the small things - the way a handle tells you whether to push or pull, or how a single label can completely change how intuitive something feels. Those small signals are what make a user feel confident and in control. And that applies just as much to mobile apps and websites as it does to physical objects.

Designing with Empathy and Clarity

Every project I take on, I try to look at it from that perspective: what would make this easier, clearer, more human? When I was designing mobile apps, for instance, I found that simplifying one small interaction - like reducing a step or changing a button label - could completely transform the user experience. It’s rarely about adding more; it’s about designing with empathy and focus.

The beauty of The Design of Everyday Things is that it reminds us design isn’t decoration - it’s communication. Whether it’s a door, a form, or a navigation bar, design should tell users what to do next, without needing to explain itself. When people say, “It just works,” that’s usually because someone designed it with care and thought.

The Silent Power of Thoughtful Design

Good design doesn’t draw attention to itself. It feels natural. You might not even notice it and that’s exactly the point. It’s the silent conversation between you and the object, the interface, the system.

So next time you struggle with a badly designed product, remember - someone made that choice. And when something feels effortless, that’s not luck either. It’s design doing what it does best: making life a little bit easier ;)