My Workshop Adventure at Glasgow School of Art
Knocking, Pushing, and a Surprise Badge Scanner
In the world of design, the concepts of affordances and signifiers play a pivotal role in shaping user experiences. These terms, coined by cognitive scientist and design expert Don Norman in his influential book “The Design of Everyday Things,” underscore the importance of creating intuitive and user-friendly interactions. Little did I know that a seemingly routine workshop on Design and Artificial Intelligence at the Glasgow School of Art would transform into a real-life exploration of these design principles.
Affordances and Signifiers
Affordances refer to the perceived and actual capabilities of an object, providing users with clues about how it can be used. Signifiers, on the other hand, are signals or indicators that communicate these affordances to users.
Quoting Don Norman, “The designer must provide a good conceptual model — a good explanation of the system — that explains how it works and how the user is supposed to interact with it”.
One of the most famous example for explaining affordances and signifiers is the Norman Door, as you can see from the photo, both sides feature pulling handles, implying the same affordance — to pull the door open. However, the confusion arises from inconsistent signifiers. On one side, above the handle, it instructs users to “PUSH,” while on the other side, it advises them to “PULL.” This contradictory messaging creates a classic Norman Door scenario, where users may struggle to determine the correct action, leading to potential frustration and inconvenience.
The Seminar Room
The journey began on a Thursday morning, with the anticipation of a design workshop planned for that day. Little did I know that the labyrinthine nature of the building would put my understanding of design principles to the test.
Upon arriving at the venue, the absence of clear signage became immediately apparent. The building housed multiple entities, including private companies and a job-centre, making it challenging to pinpoint the location of the elusive “Seminar Room”, indicated in the email invite. Faced with a ticking clock and no guidance, I embarked on a solo expedition, relying on intuition and asking fellow occupants for clues.
The turning point occurred at the reception, where, after a brief absence, the receptionist returned. A piece of information crucial to my quest was finally provided: the Seminar Room was behind a door on the last floor with instructions to ring the bell. This is where the story takes an unexpected turn.
At the door labelled “Seminar Room”, the confusion deepened. A sign instructed me to go through and follow the left wall, but when I tried to push or pull, the door remained firmly shut. The surrounding walls offered no additional clues of a door bell, except for a numeric keypad on the right side. Pressing the bell icon yielded no response — no sound, no light, nothing. Desperation set in as I resorted to knocking and wandering the deserted floor.
After an agonizing wait, a staff member passing by unveiled the secret to entry: the numeric keypad doubled as a badge scanner. My University badge, I carried with me all along, was the key to unlocking the door. Affordances and signifiers had failed to communicate I was supposed to tap my badge on the numerical pad for unlocking the door.
During the subsequent workshop, I couldn’t help but share my ordeal with students and staff. To my surprise, a common thread emerged — the door conundrum. Many of my peers recounted similar experiences, revealing that the confusion at the entrance had become an inadvertent initiation ritual for newcomers. It appeared that the lack of clear affordances and signifiers was not an isolated incident but a recurring challenge for anyone trying to reach the Seminar Room for the first time.
Conclusion
What began as a workshop about Design and Artificial Intelligence turned into a valuable lesson in the practical application of design principles and inspired me for the creation of this article. Affordances and signifiers are not mere theoretical concepts but integral components of our daily interactions. This experience serves as a reminder for designers to remain vigilant, continually questioning the design choices that shape our interactions. Even within esteemed institutions like the Glasgow School of Art, recognized as one of the top leading Art and Design schools globally, lapses in clear affordances and signifiers were evident.
This realization prompts a reflection on the universal need to challenge assumptions and question the apparent obviousness of design choices. Regardless of reputation or expertise, the path to user-friendly design requires a commitment to clarity, communication, and a deep understanding of how users interact with the designed environment. As we navigate the labyrinth of user experiences, let us embrace the ethos of Don Norman’s teachings, striving for designs that speak a language users can effortlessly understand and appreciate.
But, how can we fix the keypad issue now?
