Affordances

Corine Britto
Sep 9, 2018 · 3 min read

“There already exists the start of a psychology of materials and of things, the study of affordances of objects. When used in this sense, the term affordance refers to the perceived and actual properties of a thing, primarily those fundamental properties that determine just how the thing could possibly be used”

The Design of Everyday Things

Donald A Norman

Donald Norman defines affordance as what a thing allows a human or animal to do with it. It seems obvious once it is said. Our built world is so over designed it is a revelation.

Repurposing is what first came to mind when I read this. My parents had countless ways of finding affordances for everyday objects to they could stretch their income. When I was a child, margarine tubs were repurposed to be as food storage container. I thought everybody did this. Then I went to a friends house and realized you could actually BUY containers specifically design to store food.

Children and pets also find affordances quite naturally. If you place crayons near a white wall children will draw on it. If furniture can be climbed pets will climb it. They don’t need to be told what an object is for before finding a use for it.

I was getting ready catch the bus for a meeting and realized it would rain all day. I wanted to bring my laptop but didn’t want to ruin it. I had been meaning to get a waterproof backpack but had not gotten around to it. I looked around my kitchen and realised the under appreciated kitchen trash bag would save my most valuable possession. Here are some of trash bags can affordances:

A trash bag protecting a very important investment

Substance

Impermeable surface

  • Contains the smell of trash.
  • Keeps particles such as food away from the trash can
  • Protects my computer from the rain.
  • Keeps my laundry separate from that of others at the laundromat.

Concave shape
Alllows various objects to be placed inside.

Detached objects
Handle allows bag to be carried with ease.

Place
Acts as a boundary between clean and dirty objects.v

It is taken for granted, but in modern day life trash bags are critical for maintaining a sanitary standard of living. It is efficient container that allows us to collect things that we intend to dispose of. We know that on a certain day of the week it is time to bring this bag outside. Sanitation services arrive regularly to bring this bag to a more appropriate place. Furthermore, trash is broken down into additional categories- objects that can be recycled or composted. Labels and instructions afford us the ability to specify which objects can be repurposed.

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