Have you ever been confused whether to push or pull to open a door? I know I’m not the only one who’s had this problem. The problem isn’t you, but rather bad door design. In a recent keynote by Scott Berkun, he uses door design as an example of why design matters. This reminded me of this old article on 99% Invisible about Norman Doors. I didn’t remember the term, but I certainly remember the concept, that a badly designed door needs signage because people are clueless whether to push or pull by looking at it. As Norman says in the video:
An ideal door, is one that as I walk up to it and walk through it, I’m not even aware that I had opened the door and shut it.
I would appreciate a door that is designed so well that I don’t have to think about whether to push or pull. How about you?
Quotable Interviews... 