Behave Quote by Donald A. Norman
““We must design for the way people behave, not for how we would wish them to behave.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Design of Everyday Things, 1988
Design should follow actual human behavior rather than idealized expectations.
In simple terms: Design for real behavior.
Key Takeaway
Observe users, then design.
Themes
user‑centered design
human behavior
design ethics
Mood
reflective
pragmatic
Type
prescriptive
insightful
When to use this quote
- product development
- interface design
- service design
- urban planning
Key Concepts
Cognitive ergonomics
affordances
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discover true user habits?
- What assumptions are you making about users?
A Different Perspective
People may resist designs that ignore their habits.
![“Hypertext makes a virtue out of lack of organization, allowing ideas and thoughts to be juxtaposed at will. [...] The advent of hypertext is apt to make writing much more difficult, not easier. Good writing, that is.” quote by Donald A. Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/662/donald-a-norman-6862_advent_hypertext-makes-a-virtue-out-of-lack-of_51804.jpg)
