Web Usability 1

Web Usability

Goal : Your average user can use it without frustration.

Usability guidelines:

Don’t make users think.

Avoid obscure messages.

Web Usability

Web Usability 2

We don’t read pages, we scan them

We are usually in a hurry.

We know we don’t need to read everything.

We are good at it.

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Web Usability 5

Brochure / Billboard

Convey message quickly.

Create visual hierarchy on each page. Font sizes Group related things Nested blocks

Take advantage of conventions.

Minimize noise.

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What we see on a page depends on what we have in mind

We tend to focus on words/phrases that seem to match

Task on hand.

Current / Ongoing personal Interests.

Trigger words that are hardwired into our nervous systems like Free Sale Se Our own name.

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Web Usability 8

Homepage

Different from all other pages.

It communicates the site’s value and purpose.

Shows all major options available on the site.

Enable access to home page from any other page.

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Navigation

We don’t make optimal choices, we satisfice.

Back button is the most used feature.

Navigation links: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary..

Page names are like street signs of the web.

Bread crumbs.

You are here: Home > Gallery > Art > Photography > Nature

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Usability Testing

Iterative design approach.

Create prototypes.

Wireframes.

Study: 30% more task completions on sites redesigned following usability rules.

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Conclusion

No single way to design, but follow the rules.

Watch for the trend, don’t copy.

Your competition is just one click away, don’t frustrate your users.

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Reference / Further reading

Don’t make me think – Steve Krug.

http://usability.gov/guidelines/index.html (research based guidelines)

http://www.useit.com (Jakob Nielsen)

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