In the book, Norman introduced the term affordance as it applied to design, [3] :282 borrowing James J. Gibson's concept from ecological psychology. [1] Examples of affordances are flat plates on doors meant to be pushed, small finger-size push-buttons, and long and rounded bars we intuitively use as handles. As Norman used the term, the plate or button affords pushing, while the bar or handle affords pulling. [3] :282–3 [4] :9 Norman discussed door handles at length. [5] [4] :10,87–92

After a group of industrial designers felt affronted after reading an early draft, Norman rewrote the book to make it more sympathetic to the profession. [1] See also [ edit ] The book was originally published in 1988 with the title The Psychology of Everyday Things. Norman said his academic peers liked that title, but believed the new title better conveyed the content of the book and better attracted interested readers. [2] :ix It is often referred to by the initialisms POET and DOET.a b Norman, Donald (1988). The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 978-0-465-06710-7. It shows how many Normans had moved to England to look after land for William. Land that was owned by about 2000 Saxons in 1066 was now controlled by 200 Normans.

Friess, Erin (March 2008). The User-Centered Design Process: Novice Designers' Use of Evidence in Designing from Data (PhD thesis). Carnegie Mellon University . Retrieved November 22, 2011. He also popularized the term user-centered design, which he had previously referred to in User-Centered System Design in 1986. [6] He used the term to describe design based on the needs of the user, leaving aside what he deemed secondary issues like aesthetics. User-centered design involves simplifying the structure of tasks, making things visible, getting the mapping right, exploiting the powers of constraint, designing for error, explaining affordances, and seven stages of action. He went to great lengths to define and explain these terms in detail, giving examples following and going against the advice given and pointing out the consequences. Norman, Donald (1988). "Preface to the 2002 Edition". The Design of Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 978-0-465-06710-7.

The Domesday Book was the most detailed account of life in England, until the first national census was carried out in England in 1801.

A major update of the book, The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition, was published in 2013. Erin Friess. "The User-Centered Design Process: Novice Designers' Use of Evidence in Designing from Data". Carnegie Mellon University (Abstract). Archived from the original on February 5, 2011.Norman uses case studies to describe the psychology behind what he deems good and bad design, and proposes design principles. The book spans several disciplines including behavioral psychology, ergonomics, and design practice.