Living with Complexity

If only today's technology were simpler! It's a universal complaint, but it's misguided. In this provocative and informative book, Don Norman argues that the complexity of our technology must reflect the complexity and richness of our lives. It is not complexity that is the problem, but poor design. Poor design makes things unnecessarily complicated and confuses us. Good design can tame complexity. Norman provides us with a crash course on the virtues of complexity. Designers need to create things that tame complexity. But we also need to do our part: we must take the time to learn the structure and practice the skills. Just as we have mastered reading and writing, driving, and playing sports, we can also master our complex tools. Complexity is good. Simplicity is misleading. The good life is complex, rich, and rewarding – but only if it is understandable, sensitive, and meaningful.