Universal Design Principles

Comprehensive design guidance synthesizing foundational principles from The Design of Everyday Things (Don Norman) and Universal Principles of Design (Lidwell, Holden, Butler). Applies to UX, UI, mobile, web, and any human-facing interface design.

When This Skill Activates

Use this skill when the user:

• Designs or reviews UI/UX for any platform (mobile, web, desktop)
• Plans user flows, navigation, or interaction patterns
• Evaluates usability or accessibility of an interface
• Asks about design principles, patterns, or best practices
• Needs to justify or critique design decisions
• Builds wireframes, prototypes, or design specifications
• Wants to improve learnability, discoverability, or user satisfaction
• Reviews mobile app screens for usability issues
• Asks about cognitive load, mental models, or user psychology

Core Framework: The Seven Principles