Want to create interactive content? It’s easy in Genially!
Learning Norman's 6 Design Principles
Srivya Sabbella
Created on March 18, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
Transcript
Learning Norman's 6 Design Principles
Start
Introduction & Goals
Don Norman’s 6 Design Principles are essential in product design, UX/UI development, and human-computer interaction. They help designers, engineers, and product managers create intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly products by ensuring that users can interact with technology seamlessly. By the end of this guide, users should be able to:- Identify and differentiate between affordances, signifiers, mapping, feedback, constraints, and conceptual models in product design and user experience.
- Analyze real-world examples to evaluate how these principles contribute to intuitive and user-friendly designs.
- Apply these principles to improve product usability and enhance user experience in digital and physical interfaces.
Norman’s 6 Fundamental Principles of Design
Feedback
Affordances
Constraints
Signifiers
Conceptual Model
Mapping
Affordances
How an object’s design suggests its use.
It helps users instinctively understand how to interact with an object or interface without needing instructions. 1. Perceived Affordance (Visual Cues) What users believe they can do based on visual design. Example: A raised button on a website looks clickable. 2. Physical Affordance (Shape & Design) How an object’s shape or material guides interaction. Example: A door handle suggests pulling 3. Digital Affordance (UI/UX Design) How interfaces guide user interaction. Example: A drop-down menu affords selecting an option.
Signifiers
A signifier is a visual or auditory cue that explicitly communicates how to interact with an object or interface. It clarifies affordance by making it obvious what actions are possible.
1. Visual Signifiers Icons, labels, buttons, colors, and shapes that communicate functionality. Good Examples: A blue, underlined text signifies a clickable hyperlink. A red button with “Delete” indicates a dangerous action. A hamburger menu (☰) signifies hidden navigation. 2. Auditory Signifiers Sound cues that confirm or prompt actions. Good Examples: A ding sound when you receive a Slack message. A low battery warning sound in a laptop.
click me!
click me!
Mapping
Mapping refers to the relationship between controls (inputs) and their effects (outputs) in a system. Good mapping ensures that users instinctively understand how an action will produce a result.
click me!
A. Spatial Mapping (Physical Layout & Positioning): Controls should be placed where users expect them.B. Movement Mapping (Direction of Controls): Control movements should match expected outcomes.
Feedback
Feedback is the information a system provides to users about their actions. It ensures that users know their input has been received and processed.
Examples
- Progress bar while uploading a file
- A green checkmark confirming a payment was successful
- A red error message when entering an incorrect password.
Constraints
Limit user actions to prevent errors, enhance usability, and guide users toward correct interactions. They reduce confusion by eliminating incorrect options and ensuring that only valid actions are possible. 1. Physical Constraints: properties that prevent incorrect use. Example: USB cables only fit one way into a port. 2. Logical Constraints: Uses reasoning and logic to restrict user actions. Example: Google Docs prevents users from editing a document without permission.
Conceptual Model
It is simplified explanation of how a system works. It helps users predict the effects of their actions and guides them in understanding how to interact with a product, software, or device.
How users THINK the system works.
click me!
The files and folders create a mental model that mimics filing system, making digital file management intuitive. Even though there are no actual folders inside a computer, this representation makes it easier for users to navigate digital spaces.
More Resources!
Assessment
In this section, you will have the opportunity to test your acquired knowledge throughout the course. Our interactive quiz will provide a detailed assessment of your understanding of key topics. Get ready to challenge your skills and reinforce your learning as you move towards mastering the fundamental concepts. Don't miss the chance to demonstrate everything you've learned so far!