Design Principles Unpacked, No. 3: Affordance

Affordance is the design principle that makes an object's purpose self-evident without instructions. When a door needs a 'Push/Pull' sign, the design has failed. Good affordance guides action naturally. The post extends this concept beyond physical objects and interfaces to people and careers: if others constantly need explanations to understand your value, your personal affordance may be unclear. The solution isn't conformity but intentional visibility — presenting your purpose in a way others can recognize within their context.