words to inspire user experience designers

“Products were once designed for the functions they performed. But when all companies can make products that perform their functions equally well, the distinctive advantage goes to those who provide pleasure and enjoyment while maintaining the power. If functions are equated with cognition, pleasure is equated with emotion; today we want products that appeal to both cognition and emotion.” – Don Norman

This quote is from Don’s article “The Transmedia Design Challenge: Technology that is Pleasurable and Satisfying”

“No product is an island. A product is more than the product. It is a cohesive, integrated set of experiences. Think through all of the stages of a product or service – from initial intentions through final reflections, from first usage to help, service, and maintenance. Make them all work together seamlessly. That’s systems thinking.” – Don Norman

Read more from Don in his article “Systems Thinking: A Product Is More Than the Product”.

“It’s the total experience that matters. And that starts from when you first hear about a product… experience is more based upon memory than reality. If your memory of the product is wonderful, you will excuse all sorts of incidental things.” – Don Norman

Don’s quote is from an interview conducted at UX Week 2008. Read some other choice quotes from this interview here. This quote was submitted by Michael Cummings.

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