Notes from the book.

1. DON’T MAKE ME THINK.
LEARNING FROM READING

2. TEXT
SUMMERY
▸ We are suffering from ADD, we don’t want
to use our brain.
▸ We enjoy being on autopilot.
▸ Do not make us think, else we will lose
interest in surfing.
▸ Fix usability that confuses everyone.

3. TEXT
OUTLINE
▸ Conventions
▸ Visual hierarchies
▸ Contents
▸ Usability Testing
▸ Goodwill Karma

4. TEXT
CONVENTIONS
▸ We don’ like change, follow what’s in
fashion. Font, color, navigation et all.
▸ Content in navigation, common should be
grouped together via color or text.

5. TEXT
CONVENTIONS (CONTINUED ..)
▸ No surprises, the flow should be intuitive
and 0 brain should be used in the
navigation process.
▸ Use emojis/logos (STOP sign 4 ex.)

6. TEXT
IN CASE NOT FOLLOWING CONVENTIONS ..
▸ Replacement has to be self explanatory
without learning curve.
▸ It adds so much value that it’s worth
learning curve.

7. TEXT
VISUAL HIERARCHIES
▸ Important content should be shown with
prominence. (button, logo)
▸ Navigation content needs to be prominent
& common should be grouped. [position,
size, color, and typeface]

8. TEXT
VISUAL HIERARCHIES(CONTINUED ..)
▸ Consistent navigation across portal.
▸ Breakup a page into clearly defined areas.
▸ Follow Breadcrumbs guidelines.
▸ Make it obvious what is clickable.

9. TEXT
VISUAL HIERARCHIES(CONTINUED ..)
▸ Avoid disorganization
▸ Clutter free: things not needed
▸ Printer friendly, scannable

10. TEXT
VISUAL HIERARCHIES(CONTINUED ..)
▸ Keep together Things that are related logically
▸ Show that things are similar by grouping
them together under a heading.
▸ Displaying them in the same visual style,
or putting them all in a clearly defined
area.

11. TEXT
VISUAL HIERARCHIES(CONTINUED ..)
▸ Avoid
▸ exclamation points,
▸ different typefaces
▸ bright colors
▸ Automated slideshows,
▸ animation,
▸ pop-ups.

12. TEXT
CONTENT
▸ Keep paragraphs short.
▸ Use bullet lists.
▸ Highlight key terms.
▸ No need to throw welcome msg
▸ Help text means we failed, everything should
be self explanatory.

13. TEXT
INCREASE GOODWILL KARMA
▸ Pick main purpose of your site users are
attracted to, make it’s usability obvious and
easy.
▸ Save me steps, clicks whenever you can.
▸ Make it easy to recover from errors.
▸ When in doubt apologies.

14. TEXT
USABILITY TESTING
▸ Testing one user is 100 percent better than testing
none.
▸ Testing one user early in the project is better than
testing 50 near the end.
▸ Recruiting people who are from your target audience
isn’t quite as important as it may seem.
▸ Do a screen recording to analyze the whole flow of
tester.

15. TEXT
USABILITY TEST: SOME PRECAUTIONS
▸ It’s crucial that you let them work on their own and
don’t do or say anything to influence them.
▸ During this part of the test, Don’t ask them leading
questions, and don’t give them any clues or
assistance unless they’re hopelessly stuck.
▸ After the tasks, you can ask the participant
questions about anything that happened during
the test.