Living with Complexity

Ifonlytoday'stechnologyweresimplerIt'stheuniversallament,butit'swrong.Wedon'twantsimplicity.Simpletoolsarenotuptothetask.Theworldiscomplex;ourtoolsneedtomatchthatcomplexity.Simplicityturnsouttobemorecomplexthanwethought.Inthisprovocativeandinformativebook,DonNormanwritesthatthecomplexityofourtechnologymustmirrorthecomplexityandrichnessofourlives.It'snotcomplexitythat'stheproblem,it'sbaddesign.Baddesigncomplicatesthingsunnecessarilyandconfusesus.Gooddesigncantamecomplexity.Normangivesusacrashcourseinthevirtuesofcomplexity.Butevensuchsimplethingsassaltandpeppershakers,doors,andlightswitchesbecomecomplicatedwhenwehavetodealwithmanyofthem,eachsomewhatdifferent.Managingcomplexity,saysNorman,isapartnership.Designershavetoproducethingsthattamecomplexity.Butwetoohavetodoourpart:wehavetotakethetimetolearnthestructureandpracticetheskills.Thisishowwemasteredreadingandwriting,drivingacar,andplayingsports,andthisishowwecanmasterourcomplextools.Complexityisgood.Simplicityismisleading.Thegoodlifeiscomplex,rich,andrewarding--butonlyifitisunderstandable,sensible,andmeaningful.