The document summarizes a presentation given by Radka Nacheva on the importance of design and usability for WordPress websites. The presentation covered design conventions and usability heuristics, examples of good design, and how to check the usability of a WordPress website. It emphasized that good design helps users complete tasks efficiently and comfortably.

1. WordPress Meetup Varna, 24.02.2017
Radka Nacheva
Department of Informatics, University of Economics – Varna
UsabilityIssues( )

2. Name: Radka Nacheva
Current Occupation: Assistant Professor & PhD Student at
Department of Informatics, University of
Economics – Varna
Scientific Interests: HCI, Usability, Cognitive Science

3. @radka.v.nacheva
@Radka_Nacheva @radka-nacheva
r.nacheva@ue-varna.bg
@radka-nacheva @radka-nacheva

4.  The Importance of Design
 Design Conventions & Usability Heuristics /
Principles
 How to Check The Usability of Your (WordPress)
Website
 Conclusion

6. Design is not just “a plan or convention for the construction of
an object, system or measurable human interaction”, it is a / an:
Way of Thinking Investment Strategy for Success

7. The good design:
 expresses in simple way functionality of the product;
 helps users to take a decision for using the product;
 encourages users to trust the product;
 engages their attention;

8. The good design:
 helps users to complete successfully their tasks and to
achieve their goals;
 increases users’ efficiency;
 manages users’ emotions by using appropriate colors,
fonts, forms and arrangement of user interface elements;
 provides comfort to users when they are working with the
website or application.

9. http://art.yale.edu
Example 1

10. www.patimex.com
Example 2

11. www.lingscars.com
Example 3

12. Convention vs. Heuristic vs. Principle
 Convention = “a constraint in that it prohibits some
activities and encourages others”1
 Heuristic = “an approach to problem solving”
 Principle = “rule or method”
1 Source: http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/affordance_conv.html

13. Google Material Design: https://goo.gl/t5BS1L
 Android: https://goo.gl/FpWB4o
Microsoft: https://goo.gl/L824e3
 Windows Phone: https://goo.gl/RCijXa
Apple: https://goo.gl/KLlTIg
 iOS: https://goo.gl/oWvM4p
IBM: https://goo.gl/4xIWs0

14. Start with the following:
 Jakob Nielsen’s Heuristics
 Ben Shneiderman’s 8 Golden Rules
 Donald Norman’s Principles of Everyday Design
 Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles of “Good Design”

15. You should give an answer to the following questions to check
the usability of your (WordPress) website quickly:
 Does the website meet the requirements?
 What and where are the main (identity) elements?
 Is the menu well structured?
 Is the user flow efficiency?
 Do you have enough white space?
 Is your content the king?
 Do you think “mobile-first”?
 Do you observe your users?

16. You could use some tools for usability testing:
 Userlytics
 Loop11
 Mobile-Friendly Test
 Leanplum

17. Don’t forget to keep it as simple as possible!
and
Don’t make them think!

18. Don’t forget their opinions about design …
Ferdinand Porsche: „Design must be functional, and functionality must be
translated into visual aesthetics without any reliance on gimmicks that have
to be explained.”
Ivan Chermayeff: „Design is directed toward human beings. To design is to
solve human problems by identifying them and executing the best solution.”

19. “ Life is really simple,
but we insist on
making it complicated. ”
Confucius

20. Thank you for your attention!