9/8/2018 | Affordances

Defining and finding affordances in the world

Josh LeFevre
Sep 8, 2018 · 5 min read

My Definition of Affordances

An affordance is the relationship between any two objects, substances, or environments. The qualities of each may or may not have mutual affordances (predator-prey relationship) but the meeting or interaction between the two elements afford a possible action, knowledge orinteradction.

My short interpretation of affordances are that depending on your vantage point, there is a myriad of possible affordance because relationships are so delicate and interconnected. However, the ineraction or relationshp between each object or entity is where opportunity and interesting opportunities lie.

Example: A lock

I find Don Norman’s framework for thinking about affordances, in his book The design of everyday things,helpful to tease out both the blatant and hidden affordances. Below I have used his frame work with some ideas of my own influenced by James J. Gibson work titled The ecological approach to. visual perception.

A Master Lock combination lock | Picture by author

Affordances

When we think about a lock there could be a number of blatant and hidden affordances.

*The lock is only allowed to afford locking if the container or object affords being locked.

The lock also has several anti affordances such as:

A Master Lock combination lock | Picture by author

Signifiers

Mapping

While the signifiers are clearly marked the mapping is obscured purposefully. An obvious mapping affordance would decrease the overall effectiveness

Feedback

A Master Lock combination lock | Picture by author

Constraints

Physical

Cultural

Semantic

Logical

Interlocks

A Master Lock combination lock | Picture by author

Interaction and Service Design Seminar

Seminar One (51–701) | School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University | Fall 2018

Josh LeFevre

Written by

I am human who grew up loving science who realized that the bloom of design brings life and context to humanity while making science approachable.

Interaction and Service Design Seminar

Seminar One (51–701) | School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University | Fall 2018

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