Thinking About Usability Tamlyn Rhodes GeekUp Sheffield 7th May 2008

Tamlyn Rhodes GeekUp Sheffield 7th May 2008

What is usability? Making sure stuff is easy to use and useful for the people who will be using it

Making sure stuff is easy to use and useful for the people who will be using it

If it needs instructions, it's badly designed

Recognition vs Recall

Constraints Affordances Metaphors

Constraints Affordances Metaphors

Constraints Affordances Metaphors

Doors & Taps

Photo: http://www.aameslock.com/custom_work.htm

Office taps

Office taps

For every foolproof invention there is a new improved fool

“ The designer shouldn't think of a simple dichotomy between errors and correct behaviour; rather, the entire interaction should be treated as a cooperative endeavour between person and machine, one in which misconceptions can arise on either side.” - Donald Norman, The Design of Everyday Things

“ The designer shouldn't think of a simple dichotomy between errors and correct behaviour; rather, the entire interaction should be treated as a cooperative endeavour between person and machine, one in which misconceptions can arise on either side.”

- Donald Norman, The Design of Everyday Things

PEBCAC

PEBCAC

Why is usability important? Decrease support costs Increase customer loyalty Decrease development costs

Decrease support costs

Increase customer loyalty

Decrease development costs

Top Tips Use conventions Don't rely on instructions Errors are normal Simplify, simplify, simplify

Use conventions

Don't rely on instructions

Errors are normal

Simplify, simplify, simplify

Where to next? The Design of Everyday Things Don Norman Don't Make Me Think! Steve Krug http://tamlyn.org

The Design of Everyday Things

Don Norman

Don't Make Me Think!

Steve Krug

http://tamlyn.org