Usability 1.0 J. Richard Stevens

Rule #1 “Don’t Make Me Think!” Orientation vs. Engagement Conventions and Affordances Less is more, more or less … Get rid of questions Wording Graphics

How we really use the Web Design vs. Use Author vs. reader perspective Reading vs. Scanning Agenda function Users don’t make optimal choices. They “satisfice.” Users don’t figure, they muddle Satisfice = “sacrifice” to “satisfy”

Designing Billboards Creating a clear visual hierarchy Prominence = importance Relationships between objects Use recognized conventions Break up content, add definition Clickables MUST be obvious Contrast is key

Omit Needless Words Be concise. Omit half your words, then omit another half. Kill “Happy Talk” Kill instructions

Common Problems No sense of scale No sense of direction No sense of location Why design good navigation? To give the users something to hold onto To orient and inform To build confidence

Examples of Bad Design Busyness Interface gone awry Bad Communication http://now.sprint.com/widget/ http://art.yale.edu/ Interface gone awry http://www.joneschijoff.com/ http://www.zincbistroaz.com/ http://www.maisonmartinmargiela.com Bad Communication “Conference Hall” or something else? http://www.designofsignage.com/application/symbol/building/applicationpage1.html http://www.designofsignage.com/application/symbol/building/largesymbols/conference-hall.html#Bad%20Design

Persistent Navigation Every page must be consistent Homepage, forms, etc. Why we do what others do Sections and subsections Utilities Searching Street signs as page names Placement and consistency Breadcrumbs

The End Experience Always keep in mind the end-user experience Tailor content to fit into end-user spaces Consider the environment of use Why I use powerpoint in this class

Trunk Testing What site is this? What page am I on? What are the major sections? What are my options? Where am I in the scheme of things? How can I search?

Web Team Arguments “Everybody Likes …” The myth of the average user The antidote for religious debate: testing.