// Book comparison
The Design of Everyday Things vs Ogilvy on Advertising
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman and Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy.
The Design of Everyday Things
by Don Norman
★ 4.9/5
Ogilvy on Advertising
by David Ogilvy
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| The Design of Everyday Things | Ogilvy on Advertising | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 368 | 224 |
| Reading time | ~9.2 h | ~5.6 h |
| Published | 1988 | 1983 |
| Author | Don Norman | David Ogilvy |
| Category | Marketing & Sales | Marketing & Sales |
| Publisher | Basic Books | Vintage |
Choose The Design of Everyday Things if…
- → You're interested in marketing & sales.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You want the more recent perspective (1988).
Choose Ogilvy on Advertising if…
- → You're interested in marketing & sales.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~5.6 hours).
Key takeaways — The Design of Everyday Things
- ✓ Prioritize Discoverability and Feedback, ensuring that every element of your product clearly signals its function and provides immediate confirmation of user actions.
- ✓ Align your product’s design with the User’s Mental Model, recognizing that people interact with technology based on past experiences and intuitive analogies.
- ✓ Utilize Constraints as a Strategic Shield, intentionally limiting user options to prevent catastrophic errors and to guide the customer toward the most efficient path of success.
Key takeaways — Ogilvy on Advertising
- ✓ Prioritize Market Research as the foundation of your creative strategy, ensuring that your organization's messaging is based on what actually motivates the consumer to buy.
- ✓ Develop a Big Idea for every campaign—a singular, arresting concept that makes your brand stand out and provides a unified strategic direction for all marketing assets.
- ✓ Focus on Informational Persuasion, recognizing that 'the more you tell, the more you sell,' especially when dealing with high-stakes or complex product offerings.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. If you want a different angle on the same topic, Ogilvy on Advertising is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is The Design of Everyday Things or Ogilvy on Advertising better? +
The Design of Everyday Things has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. The Design of Everyday Things focuses on marketing & sales, while Ogilvy on Advertising focuses on marketing & sales. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, The Design of Everyday Things or Ogilvy on Advertising? +
Ogilvy on Advertising is shorter (224 pages, ~5.6 hours) compared to The Design of Everyday Things (368 pages, ~9.2 hours).
Should I read The Design of Everyday Things or Ogilvy on Advertising first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with The Design of Everyday Things. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.