Always let me know where I am, how I got here, and how to leave.
Be explicit. Let me know“What can I do on this page?”
Provide instructions. I'm not going to read the manual, and I’m not going to click “Help”
Usability Tip #10
“ Keep me informed, not guessing.
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Don’t disable the “Back” button
Avoid unnecessary page reloads – use AJAX or other techniques
Always give me a way out -suggest what I might do next, even if it’s “go back to the list you just saw a minute ago”
Usability Tip #9
“ Don't frustrate me!
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Remember where I was –and bring me back if we get interrupted.
Remember my data. Learn and remember user settings.
For wizards, let me know how long I will be here –show steps and progress
Usability Tip #8
“ Respect my time and patience
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Don’t mix and match top and side navigation throughout the site
Usability Tip #7
Use consistent, intuitive navigation“
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Usability Tip #6
Maintain an aesthetically pleasing design.“
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Hire a visual designer and ensure that fonts, color schemes and graphics elements are pleasing.
Usability Tip #5
Provide an easy way to search“
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Let me search for anything with one box, interpret my entry, and present the results in a meaningful way.
Make the software work hard, not me.
Usability Tip #4
Anticipate that things will go wrong.“
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Provide helpful error messages
Look for potential problems early and often – as soon as I leave a field, or when I’m done with the section or the first page.
Tell me all at once about the 3 adjustments that I need to make, and clearly mark them in red.
Usability Tip #3
Follow the 80/20 rule.“
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Keep it simple, limit the options – less is more
Deliver the functionality that 80% of us want, and maybe a bit more.
Give me the option for an “Advanced Mode” if you have to offer complex features, and hide them from the beginners.
Usability Tip #2
Go with the flow“
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A good user experience is one that meets users expectations.
See how other software does it, and model your experience after that.
Don't reinvent the wheel with a paradigm that goes against the grain of a well-established model. Unless your model tests better with users.
And that brings us to tip #1 …
“ Test! Test! Test!
“Usability Tip #1
Get your software in front of real users orpotential customers as early and often as possible.
This is especially important for electronics or software that will be used by a wide user base.
If you don’t have the expertise, hire a professional to conduct your testing. The feedback is priceless.
Testing is FAR cheaper than shipping a subpar product. Worst case, you’ll know that your UI will be well-received, and you’ll get terrific ideas for future releases.