the essential elements of
web application design
robert hoekman, jr.
images and video courtesy of iStockPhoto

1
Understand users, then ignore them.

2
Build only what’s absolutely necessary.

3
Support the user’s mental model

4
Turn beginners into intermediates.
Immediately.

5 Prevent errors.
(And handle the rest gracefully.)

<Squidoo, before>

6
Design for uniformity, consistency,
and meaning.

<Squidoo, after>

7
Reduce, reduce, reduce.
(And refine.)

<Browser with blank page>

[Not shown: Video of 3 dots
exploding in a collision.]

[Not shown: Video of a young lion
in a tree, swatting at the camera.]

the essential elements of
web application design
robert hoekman, jr.
images and video courtesy of iStockPhoto