Designing for Risk: What Aviation and AR Reveal about Attention, Disaster, and Human Factors (with Chris Wickens)

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Thomas interviews Dr. Chris Wickens, a pioneer in cognitive engineering and human factors, and they discuss how designers can reduce errors and enhance decision-making when lives are on the line. They delve into the high-stakes world of design psychology for critical environments—think operating rooms, airplane cockpits, and military control systems. Together, they explore the real science of attention, what causes overload and confusion in high-pressure moments, and how augmented reality could revolutionize user interfaces in critical settings. Whether you're designing for surgeons, pilots, or autonomous vehicles, this episode is packed with essential takeaways from decades of research in applied cognitive science.🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:What every designer should know about how human attention actually worksWhy traditional design approaches often fail in high-pressure contextsHow to reduce cognitive load and prevent life-threatening mistakesThe surprising ways augmented reality is shaping the future of human-machine interactionLessons from the deep history of human factors and applied psychologyIf today’s conversation helped you think more deeply about your work, I’d love it if you left a quick rating or review on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast listening app. It helps more thoughtful designers discover the show—and keeps these meaningful insights coming your way. Just a star rating or a sentence or two makes a big difference. Thanks for listening!  If this show has been useful or thought-provoking for you, please do us a favor and help other people discover the show by leaving a rating and review on your favorite podcast player.To leave a review on Apple Podcasts: search for The Design Psychologist, tap the show, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and hit “Write a Review.”