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. These slides provide 7 clear ways to improve discoverability in your application designs.

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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