Don Norman author page

Don Norman biography

Don Norman, also published as Donald A. Norman, is an American cognitive scientist, psychologist and author whose work examines how people interact with technology and designed objects. He is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego, where he founded the Department of Cognitive Science and later became the founding director of the Design Lab.

Norman previously worked as Vice President of Advanced Technology at Apple and held an executive position at Hewlett-Packard. He co-founded the Nielsen Norman Group with usability specialist Jakob Nielsen. His professional honours include membership of the US National Academy of Engineering, the SIGCHI Lifetime Achievement Award and the Sir Misha Black Medal for Distinguished Services to Design Education, awarded in 2021.

His book The Design of Everyday Things was originally published as The Psychology of Everyday Things by Basic Books in 1988. It examines how the design of everyday objects, including doors, switches and household appliances, affects their usability. A revised and expanded edition was published by Basic Books in November 2013.

Norman’s other books include Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things (2004), which explores the relationship between emotion and product design, The Design of Future Things (2007), and Living with Complexity (2010), published by MIT Press. His writing draws on cognitive psychology, engineering and human-computer interaction.

His book Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable, Humanity Centered was published by MIT Press on 21 March 2023. It examines how design practices can address environmental sustainability, economic systems and social responsibility, arguing for an approach that considers the needs of communities and the wider world.