Distinguished Scholar Seminar: A Discussion with Don Norman
Friday, October 9, 2026 • 12:30-2:00pm
PAHB 132
Join us for an interactive discussion with Don Norman, widely regarded as the “godfather of UX design,” exploring how design can address societal challenges, create meaningful experiences, and put people at the center of the systems and technologies that shape our lives. This Distinguished Scholar Seminar is part of a series of events and activities celebrating the 20th anniversary of UMBC’s Human-Centered Computing program. Please check this space often as we continue to update it with new events and opportunities to honor and celebrate two decades of human-centered research, education, and innovation at UMBC.
Open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members, the session is designed as a genuine exchange rather than a traditional lecture. The conversation will begin with a single opening question from the moderator, then unfold through live questions from the audience. Attendees are encouraged to participate, share their curiosity, and ask spontaneous questions as the discussion develops. Whether you are interested in design, technology, sustainability, human-centered computing, or the broader impact of innovation, this is an opportunity to engage directly with one of the field’s most influential thinkers.
Register for this event.
Refreshments severed for those that rsvp.
About Don:
Don Norman keeps changing fields but is famous for doors that are confusing to open: they are called “Norman Doors.” He started as an Engineer (he is now in the U.S. National Academy of Engineering), switched to psychology (with an honorary degree from Italy), and then switched again to Cognitive Psychology. He helped start the world’s first department of Cognitive Science at UC San Diego while consulting at Xerox PARC and publishing papers in the AI journals on what is today known as GOFAI (Good Old-Fashioned AI).
At UCSD, one of his young postdoctoral fellows in Cog Sci said he was wrong (Don likes it when this happens). While Don was busy helping invent Human Computer Interaction, the postdoc, Geoff Hinton, worked with Don’s colleague, Dave Rumelhart, to invent the modern neural network and back propagation algorithm. And in 2025, Geoff got the Nobel Prize for his work in Deep Learning Neural Nets.
After life as VP of Advanced Technology at Apple he decided to become a designer (which got him two more honorary degrees and lots of awards). He is an author of 21 books including Design of Everyday Things, Emotional Design, and Design for a Better World: Meaningful, Sustainable, Humanity Centered. The last book inspired him to help create the Don Norman Design Award and Summit (https://dnda.design), recognizing those who address societal needs including early career practitioners, educational institutions, and companies. The award receives applications from across the world and has an advisory board of 29 designers from 18 countries.