The document discusses the concept of discoverability in software, which refers to how easily users can find features and manage tasks within an application. It highlights the importance of discoverability for user satisfaction and cost reduction, providing tips such as leveraging mental models, offering contextual focus, and utilizing just-in-time content. Overall, the document emphasizes that good discoverability contributes to good design.

1. Improving Discoverability
Suzanne Ginsburg, HOW Interactive 10.30.2012
Photo by Sandy Honig

2. What is Discoverability?
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3. What is Discoverability?
In the software world—desktop, web, mobile, tablet—
discoverability typically refers to the ease at which users may
find a feature to complete a specific task they have in mind.
But it may also refer to the ability to simply get started with a
new application, or the ability to discover features unknown
to the user, e.g., those that may improve performance.
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4. Why is Discoverability important?
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5. Why is Discoverability important?
Makes users happy
Minimizes help documentation
Lowers customer care costs
Good discoverability = Good design
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6. Why has Discoverability become
increasingly important today?
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7. Why is Discoverability important today?
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8. What can you do to improve
Discoverability?
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9. The Discoverability Hierarchy
User Education
Visual Language
Screen Design
InformationSS
Architecture
Concept
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10. Discoverability Tips
1. Leverage Mental Models (Concept)
2. Provide Contextual Focus (Information Architecture)
3. Include Sneak Peeks (Screen Design)
4. Show Just-in-Time Content & Tools (Screen Design)
5. Exploit Physical Characteristics (Visual Language)
6. Spell it Out (User Education)
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11. Tip #1. Leverage Mental Models
(Concept)
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12. #1. Leverage Mental Models
Turning pages is
easy to discover
since most
everyone is
familiar with how
a real book
works.
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13. #1. Leverage Mental Models
Leverages mental
model of chore
wheel.
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14. #1. Leverage Mental Models
Hipstamatic (earlier
version) leverages
mental model of
camera .
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15. #1. Strong Conceptual Foundation
But you must be
committed to the
mental model. Address
Book breaks down
since users can’t tap
here to turn pages.
Version 5.0.1
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16. Tip #2. Provide Contextual Focus
(Information Architecture)
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17. #2. Provide Contextual Focus
Evernote’s Contextual Focus
helps improve discoverability.
When mobile, geo-tagging
available. This feature is less
relevant on desktop.
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18. #2. Provide Contextual Focus
Yelp also has Contextual Focus. Maps,
Call & Directions are front & center for
mobile. They’re still available for the Web
but reviews & other content take center
stage since users tend to be in more of a
research mode.
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19. #2. Provide Contextual Focus
Contextual Focus isn’t always
about the platform. You can
have contextual focus within an
app, like AllRecipes Cooking
Mode
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20. Tip #3. Include Sneak Peeks
(Screen Design)
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21. #3. Include Sneak Peeks
Sketchbook Pro shows
the toolbar when app
loads then slides out of
view.
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22. #3. Include Sneak Peeks
Flickr slideshow filmstrip
works the same way as
the previous example.
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23. Tip #4. Show Just-in-Time Content
(Screen Design)
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24. #4. Just-in-Time Content
Just-in-time features
enable Pulse to devote as
much real estate as
possible to reading
experience. The app
shows other articles when
user reaches end or
swipes to top.
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25. #4. Just-in-Time Content
Path also
provides
Just-In-Time
content on
their timeline.
Date and
time only
shown when
user scrolling
timeline.
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26. Tip #5. Exploit Physical Characteristics
(Visual Language)
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27. #5. Exploit Physical Characteristics
Paper exploits physical
characteristics of
Moleskines and real
paper.
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28. #5. Exploit Physical Characteristics
Convertbot’s uses
metal visuals and
sound to
communicate the
ability to tinker.
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29. Tip #6. Spell It Out
(User Education)
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30. #6. Provide User Education
Citibank shows
annotations just before
first use.
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31. #6. Provide User Education
Pulse uses similar
approach but more
sketchy style.
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32. #6. Provide User Education
Contextual User
Education on Bing
(instead of showing tips
all at once)
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33. #6. Provide User Education
Contextual User
Education on Flipboard
similar to Bing example
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34. #6. Provide User Education
Flipboard
animates on
first use to
introduce
signature Flip.
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35. To recap, here are the 7 Discoverability
tips:
1. Leverage Mental Models (Concept)
2. Provide Contextual Focus (Information Architecture)
3. Include Sneak Peeks (Screen Design)
4. Show Just-in-Time Content & Tools (Screen Design)
5. Exploit Physical Characteristics (Visual Language)
6. Spell it Out (User Education)
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36. Thanks!
suzanne@ginsburg-design.com
@suzanneginsburg
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