Being functional doesn’t have to mean being ugly

Published by the Communications and Development Department

 

29 June 2004

 

Products do not have to be ugly to be functional says international design expert Don Norman, who is giving a free public lecture at the University of Canterbury next week.

 

He will be visiting Christchurch as a guest of Canterbury University’s Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HIT Lab) NZ and will talk about what he calls Emotional Design in the A2 lecture theatre, from 7pm on Thursday July 8.

 

His focus is the design of memorable artefacts.

 

“The well-rounded product will enhance the heart as well as the mind,” he says.

 

Professor Norman helps a broad range of companies design products for the home, as well as the health and aviation sectors. He has even advised on the design of control rooms at nuclear power plants.

He is an executive consultant with the Nielsen Norman Group, which he describes as a “use advocate”.

 

“We help companies move toward human-centred products and internet interaction, to play a major role in the new world of customer-centred goods and services”.

 

Professor Norman held executive positions at Apple Computer and Hewlett Packard before forming the Nielsen Norman Group. He is also Professor of Computer Science and Psychology at Northwestern University, in Illinois.

 

 

For more information please contact:

Deb Parker
HIT Lab NZ
021 477 359