Who I am

What I hope you’ll get A keen and critical eye

And just in case you don’t get it… Slides, handouts, and links are here:

It is simplicity that is difficult to make. –Bertolt Brecht

Restrain yourself! No limits produces an unusable document

The mystery machine Complex design produces unusable devices

Don’t make me think! Doors just should not be so difficult!

Best book on usable design Read this!

Components that affect usability Visibility Conceptual models Mapping Feedback

Visibility Knowledge in the head Knowledge in the world

Whenever the number of possible actions exceeds the number of controls, there is apt to be difficulty. –Don Norman

Conceptual models What is gray water, and why would I want it?

Affordances The shape affords grasping, clicking, and dragging

Constraints Legos “tell” you how to put pieces together

A good design tells all at first glance This door handle clearly says, “Push me!”

Mapping But wait! Down maps to off Up maps to on

Feedback The faithful Fetch doggie wants you to know your files are still in transit

But (ahem) what about the Web?

There are no stupid users

Don’t be afraid to be ordinary. –Sarah Horton

We need help finding our way

We like ordinary things

The Web is not ordinary

Or is it…?

Adopt standards and conventions

Same as it ever was… –David Byrne

Clarity rules! The definitive book on using type effectively – He ‘da man!

[Web Design] is pain, Highness, and anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something. –Westley, aka The Dread Pirate Roberts

Wouldn’t it be cool?

Not!

A little too concise

Unwelcoming front door

Okay, what now?

Hum…is it worth making sense of?

Ask your users You only need a handful of users to uncover flaws

Best book on usable Web design Practical, accessible, on the mark, and even fun!