Donald Arthur Norman is a renowned American researcher, professor, and author. He has made significant contributions to the fields of design, usability engineering, and cognitive science. Norman is the director of The Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego, and is best known for his influential book The Design of Everyday Things.

He co-founded the Nielsen Norman Group with Jakob Nielsen and has been an IDEO fellow. Norman holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego, and is an active Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). His work is central to the advocacy of user-centered design.

Throughout his career, Norman has expressed the belief that design research has had minimal impact on product innovation, emphasizing the role of technologists in achieving breakthroughs. His website, named with the initialism JND (just-noticeable difference), reflects his dedication to making a measurable impact in design.

Norman has also been a vice president at Apple, an executive at Hewlett-Packard, and has been involved with various startups. He has received numerous accolades, including three honorary degrees, the Franklin Institute Medal for Cognitive and Computer Science, and membership in the National Academy of Engineering. In 2021, he was awarded the Sir Misha Black Medal for Distinguished Services to Design Education.