Don’t Make Me Think Author: Steve Krug Presentation by: Taina Castro Author: Steve Krug Presentation by: Taina Castro

Introduction  Insider’s look on the “correct” way to web design.  He does not want to teach his readers everything there is to learn about web design, he instead chose some of the most important things to share.  Insider’s look on the “correct” way to web design.  He does not want to teach his readers everything there is to learn about web design, he instead chose some of the most important things to share.

Don’t make me think  This is the most important principle that is discussed throughout the book.  Things on a Web page should be self-evident or self-explanatory.  Being as straight forward as possible on your Web page is necessary in being successful.  This is the most important principle that is discussed throughout the book.  Things on a Web page should be self-evident or self-explanatory.  Being as straight forward as possible on your Web page is necessary in being successful.

Three facts of life  Fact one: “We don’t read pages. We scan them”  as a web designer you hope people will come to your Web page and read everything, but in reality people skim through to find what they are really looking for.  Fact two: “We don’t make optimal choices, we satisfice”  meaning we choose the first reasonable option. Instead of looking for the best choice for the task at hand, we as users tend to not choose the best option and instead choose the option that looks most reasonable.  Lastly, fact three: “We don’t figure out how things work. We muddle through”.  Fact one: “We don’t read pages. We scan them”  as a web designer you hope people will come to your Web page and read everything, but in reality people skim through to find what they are really looking for.  Fact two: “We don’t make optimal choices, we satisfice”  meaning we choose the first reasonable option. Instead of looking for the best choice for the task at hand, we as users tend to not choose the best option and instead choose the option that looks most reasonable.  Lastly, fact three: “We don’t figure out how things work. We muddle through”.

Five guidelines  To make sure the user sees and understands as much as possible, these five guidelines should be followed…  create a clear visual hierarchy on each page  take advantage of conventions  break pages up into clearly defined areas  make it obvious what’s clickable  and minimize noise.  To make sure the user sees and understands as much as possible, these five guidelines should be followed…  create a clear visual hierarchy on each page  take advantage of conventions  break pages up into clearly defined areas  make it obvious what’s clickable  and minimize noise.

Good web navigation  Questions that can help us determine whether or not the Web navigation is well designed…  What site is this?  What page am I on?  What are the major sections of this site?  What are my options at this level?  Where am I in the scheme of things?  How can I search?  All of these questions should be easily answered if someone was randomly dropped in the middle of your Web page in order to have well designed navigation.  Questions that can help us determine whether or not the Web navigation is well designed…  What site is this?  What page am I on?  What are the major sections of this site?  What are my options at this level?  Where am I in the scheme of things?  How can I search?  All of these questions should be easily answered if someone was randomly dropped in the middle of your Web page in order to have well designed navigation.

Usability testing  If you want a great site, you’ve got to test  Testing one user is 100% better than testing none  Testing one user early in the project is better than testing 50 near the end  The importance of recruiting representative users is overrated  The point of testing is not to prove or disprove something to inform your judgement  Testing is an iterative process, and nothing beats a live audience reaction.  If you want a great site, you’ve got to test  Testing one user is 100% better than testing none  Testing one user early in the project is better than testing 50 near the end  The importance of recruiting representative users is overrated  The point of testing is not to prove or disprove something to inform your judgement  Testing is an iterative process, and nothing beats a live audience reaction.

Accessibility  Krug gives us these tips…  fix the usability problems that confuse everyone  read an article  read a book  start using cascading style sheets  Go for the low hanging fruit.  Doing all of these things will improve the accessibility of you Web page.  Krug gives us these tips…  fix the usability problems that confuse everyone  read an article  read a book  start using cascading style sheets  Go for the low hanging fruit.  Doing all of these things will improve the accessibility of you Web page.

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