1. Usability Testing & Web Design by Alex Andujar

2. What is Usability? Usability measures the quality of a user's experience when interacting with a Web site, a software application, mobile technology, or any user-operated device. Usability measures the quality of a user's experience when interacting with a Web site, a software application, mobile technology, or any user-operated device. In general, usability refers to how well users can learn and use a product to achieve their goals and how satisfied they are with that process. In general, usability refers to how well users can learn and use a product to achieve their goals and how satisfied they are with that process.

3. Example – Garden.com “I looked for a link labeled ‘check out,’ but there was no such link on the page. I glanced high and low for the shopping-cart symbol, but it was not to be found. Then I carefully studied every link and graphic on the page, trying to find a way to buy the item I had selected. No go. After continuing to bumble around the site, I finally discovered that garden.com's term for shopping cart is ‘wheelbarrow’ and that there is in fact a wheelbarrow text link on each page.”

4. User-centered Design User-centered design (UCD) is an approach for employing usability. User-centered design (UCD) is an approach for employing usability. It is a structured product development methodology that involves users throughout all stages of Web site development, in order to create a Web site that meets users' needs. It is a structured product development methodology that involves users throughout all stages of Web site development, in order to create a Web site that meets users' needs. This approach considers an organization's business objectives and the user's needs, limitations, and preferences. This approach considers an organization's business objectives and the user's needs, limitations, and preferences.

5. How do I create a user- centric Web site? The first step is to clearly define your organization and users’ needs, goals, and objectives. To get the project started, begin by asking yourself (and your Web development team) more detailed questions such as: What are your agency's primary business objectives and how do they relate the Web? What are your agency's primary business objectives and how do they relate the Web? Who are the users of your Web site? Who are the users of your Web site? What are your users' tasks and goals? What are your users' tasks and goals? What information do your users need, and in what form do they need it? What information do your users need, and in what form do they need it? What functions do your users want from the Web site? What functions do your users want from the Web site? How do users think your Web site should work? How do users think your Web site should work? What are your users' experience levels with the Web site? What are your users' experience levels with the Web site? How can the design of your Web site facilitate users' cognitive processes? How can the design of your Web site facilitate users' cognitive processes? What hardware and software will the majority of your users use to access your site? What hardware and software will the majority of your users use to access your site?

6. To create a user-centered Web site you must think about the needs of your users throughout each step in the development of your site, including: planning your site planning your site collecting data from users collecting data from users developing prototypes developing prototypes writing content writing content conducting usability testing with users conducting usability testing with users How do I create a user- centric Web site?

7. What does usability measure? It is important to realize that usability is not a single, one- dimensional property of a user interface. Usability is a combination of factors including: Ease of learning - How fast can a user who has never seen the user interface before learn it sufficiently well to accomplish basic tasks? Ease of learning - How fast can a user who has never seen the user interface before learn it sufficiently well to accomplish basic tasks? Efficiency of use - Once an experienced user has learned to use the site, how fast can he or she accomplish tasks? Efficiency of use - Once an experienced user has learned to use the site, how fast can he or she accomplish tasks? Memorability - If a user has used the site before, can he or she remember enough to use it effectively the next time or does the user have to start over again learning everything? Memorability - If a user has used the site before, can he or she remember enough to use it effectively the next time or does the user have to start over again learning everything? Error frequency and severity - How often do users make errors while using the site, how serious are these errors, and how do users recover from these errors? Error frequency and severity - How often do users make errors while using the site, how serious are these errors, and how do users recover from these errors? Subjective satisfaction - How much does the user like using the site? Subjective satisfaction - How much does the user like using the site?

8. What are the benefits of a usable site? Usable sites can save money by helping to: increase productivity increase productivity increase customer satisfaction increase customer satisfaction increase sales and revenues increase sales and revenues reduce development time and costs reduce development time and costs reduce maintenance costs reduce maintenance costs decrease training and support costs decrease training and support costs

9. Navigation All web navigation must answer: All web navigation must answer: Where am I? Where have I been? Where can I go next Where’s the Home Page Where’s the Home Home Page Navigation must be simple and consistent

10. Navigation Common mistakes include: Different types of navigation on the same site Different types of navigation on the same site A link to the current page on the current page (home page link on home page) A link to the current page on the current page (home page link on home page) Poorly worded links so the visitor doesn’t know where he’ll go if he clicks Poorly worded links so the visitor doesn’t know where he’ll go if he clicks No links back to the home page No links back to the home page Confusing links to the home page Confusing links to the home page

11. The End For more information, visit: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/biggest-mistakes-in-web-design-1995-2015.html