affordances
What objects suggest
Affordances are the possible actions an environment or object offers to a user.
A door handle affords pulling; a flat plate affords pushing.
The term comes from psychology but is now central to design thinking: Good design makes affordances obvious.
A button that looks pressable has clear affordance; a hidden gesture control has poor affordance.
The concept bridges what something *can* do and what users perceive it *invites* them to do.
Reciprocal action between parties
- interfaceShared connection point
- usabilityEase of interaction quality
- feedbackReturned response data
- signifierMeaning-bearing form
mapping · constraint · visibility · discoverability · learnability · intuitiveness · user-centered · functionality
State of being achievable
- potentialLatent capacity for development
- capabilityPower to accomplish tasks
- capacityMaximum amount containable
- enablementAct of making possible
access · opening · invitation · scope · latitude · leeway · provision · empowerment
Secure manual hold
- handlePart for gripping
- leverPivoting bar for lifting
- buttonDisc through a hole
- knobRounded gripping fixture
switch · pedal · armrest · handhold · foothold · contour · grasp · reach
Something owned or inherent
- attributeQuality assigned to something
- characteristicDistinguishing quality or trait
- qualityStandard or attribute
- aspectFeature or dimension
function · capability · element · specification · trait · parameter · dimension · component
interaction
Reciprocal action between parties
signifier · mapping · constraint · visibility · discoverability · learnability · intuitiveness · user-centered · functionality · simplicity
possibility
State of being achievable
- potentialLatent capacity for development
- capabilityPower to accomplish tasks
- capacityMaximum amount containable
enablement · access · opening · invitation · scope · latitude · leeway · provision · empowerment · facilitation
grip
Secure manual hold
knob · switch · pedal · armrest · handhold · foothold · contour · grasp · reach · posture
property
Something owned or inherent
- attributeQuality assigned to something
- characteristicDistinguishing quality or trait
- qualityStandard or attribute
aspect · function · capability · element · specification · trait · parameter · dimension · component · facet
- UI/UXUI, UX, wireframes, wireframe, mockups
- UX designuser research, wireframing, user experience, user testing, user needs
- perceptionsee, vision, seeing, senses, observing
- ergonomicsergonomic chair, ergonomic keyboard, ergonomics, lumbar support, wrist rest
- design engineeringdesign, system design, design process, design principles, design thinking
- embodimentembodiment, proprioception, kinesthesia, corporeal, corporeality
affordancesconstraints
Limits on action
limitations · barriers · restrictions · obstacles · impediments
affordancesinstructions
Guidance on how to proceed
labels · signage · manuals · tutorials · documentation