
The Design of Everyday Things — Revised Edition
Edition: The Design of Everyday Things is a revised guide to human-centred design and the cognitive principles behind how people use products. It discusses visibility, the relationship between controls and functions, constraints, and feedback, making it relevant to readers studying design or usability.
At a glance
- Explains how ambiguous or hidden controls can make everyday products difficult to use.
- Introduces design principles including visibility, natural relationships between controls and functions, and constraints.
- Frames feedback and reduced reliance on memorisation as parts of usable design.
Often bought together
Pros and cons
Pros
- A focused introduction to human-centred design, usability and relevant cognitive principles.
- The listed revised edition has a substantial 368-page print length.
- Customer feedback describes the content as informative and practical.
Technical specifications
9 specifications| Publisher | Basic Books |
|---|---|
| Edition | Revised |
| Publication date | Nov. 5 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 368 pages |
| Weight listed | 386 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.84 x 2.54 x 20.83 cm |
| ISBN-10 | 9780465050659 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-13 | 978-0465050659 |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers learning about product design, usability or human-centred design.
- Design practitioners seeking a conceptual refresher on controls, feedback and user needs.
- Readers interested in how cognitive psychology relates to everyday product use.
Less suited to
- Readers looking for a short, narrowly focused manual on one design tool or software workflow.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
75% 75% - 4 stars
17% 17% - 3 stars
4% 4% - 2 stars
2% 2% - 1 star
2% 2%
Customer feedback describes the book as informative, practical and a useful introduction or refresher to human-centred design, with readers noting its discussion of both effective and poor design. That makes it potentially relevant to learners and practitioners looking for broad principles rather than a tool-specific manual. The rating distribution is mostly five- and four-star, though it also includes lower ratings, so experiences are not uniformly positive.
Positive themes
- Customer feedback praises the content as insightful and informative.
- Readers describe it as practical and useful as an introductory guide or refresher.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Design of Everyday Things about?
It explains how design choices such as control visibility, the relationship between controls and functions, constraints and feedback affect people's ability to use products.
Which edition is listed?
The product details identify this as the revised edition.
How long is the book?
The listing gives a print length of 368 pages.
What language is this edition?
The listed language is English.
Alternative options

Mastering Canva for Beginners: Create Stunning Designs for Social Media, Business, and Beyond
$5.99

Body Language How To Read Any Body: The Secret To Nonverbal Communication To Understand & Influence In, Business, Sales, Online, Presenting & Public Speaking, Healthcare, Attraction & Seduction
$20.26

How to Talk to Anyone About Anything: Improve Your Social Skills, Master Small Talk, Connect Effortlessly, and Make Real Friends
$15.97

How to Talk to Anybody: Learn the Secrets to Small Talk, Business, Management, Sales & Social Conversations & How to Make Real Friends (Communication Skills)
$21.99

How to Control the Game: Timeless Tactics of Power and Strategy (The Essential Life Mastery Series or How to Live this Life)
$11.36

The Art of Life Museum: Being Human. For the best, and the worst.
$13.99

Unboring Medieval Castle Mysteries for Kids: Funny, Fascinating Guide to the Most Baffling Medieval Castle Mysteries, Forgotten Secrets, and Unsolved History
$20.98

Public Speaking How To Speak Effectively Without Fear: The Secret To Highly Effective Speaking & Presentation Skills In Personal, Sales & Business Communication & How To Develop Self Confidence
$22.99

























