What is Usability and How Does it Affect You?

USABILITY

STUDIOK&MTHE DESIGN & USABILITY EXPERTS .

WHAT IS USABILITY AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU?

www.studiokandm.com | [email protected] | 212.987.0076

USABILITY MEANS THAT

SOMEONE SHOULD BE

ABLE TO UNDERSTAND

AND ACCOMPLISH A

TASK INTUITIVELY

WITHOUT THOUGHT

OR FRUSTRATION.

WHAT ISUSABILITY?


FORM VSFUNCTION

Sure, both of these tea pots are nice to look at, but which one is more useable?

Usability is all about the experience, be it in a tea salon or on the web.


Steve Krug’s first law of usability states that a web page should be obvious and self- explanatory. Be sure the navigation and site structure are intuitive. Have visual clues and easily recognizable links so that users can find what they are looking for.

DON’T MAKE ME THINK.


THINGS THAT

MAKE US THINK • Where do I start?

• What do they do?• Clever names/Marketing induced names• Links that are not self evident• Navigation in non traditional places• Where’s the contact info?• Where do I sign in?


WEBUSABILITY

WHAT DO USERS LOOK FOR IN A WEBSITE?

• Ease of use• Speed• Practicality• Credibility• Consistency• Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

With billions of websites on the internet today, your competitors are only a click away. If you don’t help your users accomplish their goals, they are bound to head straight to your competitor.

A usable website creates trust in your customers and a sense of satisfaction.


YOU HAVE LESS THAN

TWO MINUTES

TO COMMUNICATE

THE FIRST TIME

A PROSPECTIVE

CUSTOMER VISITS

YOUR WEBSITE.

Every page must justify its claim on their time. If a page doesn’t do that immediately and clearly, users go elsewhere.

Most don’t even bother scrolling to see what’s further down the page.


NAVIGATIONYour navigation system should be simple and clear. Your users should not have to ask the following questions:

Where am I?

Where should I begin?

Where did they put ______?

What are the most important things on this page?

Why did they call it that?


WHERE DOES THIS LINK GO?

IMPROVING NAVIGATION

• Users must be able to predict what will happen if a link is clicked and determine whether or not it takes them to their goal.

• Information should be organized in a logical manner.

• The language and organization of the navigational path must match the user’s expectations and needs

• The use of ambiguous links can cause the user to go to the wrong page.

• The use of nonstandard links can cause confusion.


MORE THAN 83% OF INTERNET USERS ARE LIKELY TO LEAVE A WEB SITE IF THEY FEEL THEY HAVE TO MAKE TOO MANY CLICKS TO FIND WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR.

-Arthur Andersen, 2001


USABILITYTIPS DO

• Know your end user• Abbreviate your copy-make it scannable• Use short & concise phrases• Use plain & objective language • Use bullet points• Let users know why they should use your service• Let users know why should they stay on your site• Use hierarchy • Categorize the content• Use spell check• Test your site• Check for consistency: fonts, styling, formatting,

window titles, link colors• Be sure your site loads quickly


MOREUSABILITY

TIPS DON’T• Use pop-ups• Don’t change user’s window size• Don’t use too small font size• Don’t use horizontal scrolling• Don’t create a site that requires

instructions on how to browse• Don’t make people wait

FREE EXPERT USABILITY REVIEWS

Schedule a 30 minute free telephone reviewEmail: [email protected]

Read our blog for usability & design tips:studiokandm.com/blog

Follow us on Twitter for usability & design tips: twitter.com/studiokandm

STUDIOK&MTHE DESIGN & USABILITY EXPERTS .


Documents

What is Usability and How Does it Affect You?