6 Web Usability Principles that Were Never Taught in School

6 Takeaways from Don't Make Me Think

1. Thinking is pain

The most important rule of usability is to not make users think. We store mental models for navigating the world. When our models align with the specifics of the environment, navigation is fast and effortless. But if our models are misaligned, tasks become slow and deliberate.

We are wired to remember physical spaces. But virtual environments lack the same landmarks and cues that have been around for millennia, so navigating technology can be difficult. Established design patterns, such as page names, breadcrumbs, and home buttons can reduce this cognitive burden.

It is painful to think. As a web developer or UI/UX builder, it is helpful organize a website around reducing the need for users to think. In doing so, we can radically change the way websites are built.

2. Give them access

The good old days. Engineering professor, Don Norman reminds us that once upon a time, the use of a cane was widely popular, even by those that didn't need one. They were sleek, and some found them cool because they were capable of stashing knives and liquor.

Accessibility for everyone. Many developers get the wrong impression that accessibility is about catering to a specific subset of users. But in reality, higher standards (ie. deeper contrast ratios, larger text sizes) benefit everybody, not just the disabled.

Do you see the number 74? | Source: colormax [https://colormax.org/color-blind-test/]Start slow, but start. While it's unnecessary to understand all the concepts right away, in time, a strong foundation in accessibility can make you a better rounded web developer.

Here are 5 overriding principles:

Don't implement features at the cost of accessibility.
Don't use JavaScript if you don't need to.
Do make content accessible by keyboard.
Do consider different screen sizes, and devices.
Do add alt text to images on your website.

3. The rule of three

How many clicks is too much? Some say that users should not need more than three clicks to get where they want. In general though, Krug says the number of clicks is not as important as the ease at which they are performed: "three mindless, unambiguous clicks equal one click that requires thought." When in doubt, think like Facebook. The success of any social network relies on its ability to capture user engagement. So look to tried-and-tested methods of engaging users.

4. Don't argue but test

Why is it difficult for artists and musicians to point out their own mistakes? Similarly, why do individuals on a product team develop a blindness to their own work? Sharing is important, because it provides an avenue for improvement that would otherwise not exist.

Scientists rely on experiments to seek answers to the world. And just as tests are the most reliable tool in a researchers toolkit, the best products are often backed by teams that don't argue about what's right, but understand the importance of letting data speak for itself. Usability tests are not just good for resolving arguments however.

Usability tests should be performed early and often. And while focus groups are concerned with users opinions about a product (and led by a coordinator), usability tests seek to understand and resolve design problems by seeing how users interact with it.

5. Increase their reservoir

The typical user on the internet begins with a reservoir of good will. Remember that depending on how easy or difficult it is to accomplish a certain task, that reservoir may be depleted or recharged. If you're looking to increase the good will of your users, Derek Sivers wagers that it's the small human details that really thrill people enough to tell everyone about you:

"When you're thinking of how to make your business bigger, it's tempting to try to think all the big thoughts and come up with world-changing massive-action plans. But please know that it's often the tiny details that really thrill people enough to make them tell all their friends about you."

Anything you want - Derek Sivers [https://sive.rs/cdbe] Be respectful of your user. I was looking for a password generator the other day, and as is often the case with free tools on the internet, it required that I create an account on their platform. But why sacrifice personal data for something I rarely use?

Do the important stuff. As websites grow larger and more complex, it can be difficult for users to do what they need. Stick to the basics. Save users steps by making the important things easy and effortless. And don't hide important information. Tell users what they need to know.

6. Design for skimming

Why write text that no one is going to read? We don't earnestly look through every word on a website. Instead, users are interested in accomplishing a specific task.

Less is more. Skip the introductions, instructions, and happy talk. Keep removing text until there is half of what you started with. Then remove half of what's remaining. Do this until what's left is short, promising, and devoid of noise.

Break things into chunks. To design for skimming, employ visual hierarchy, and stick to universal conventions. Whenever possible, use lists, but try to keep them short. The easier it is to digest, the more likely your user will read it!

👋 Thanks for making it to the end!