UX for Devs
Terminology
- Usability
- A quality attribute that assesses how easy user interfaces are to use. The word "usability" also refers to methods for improving ease-of-use during the design process.
- Information Hierarchy
- A discipline that focuses on organizing, structuring, and labeling content in an effective and sustainable way.
- Satisfice
- When a user chooses the first reasonable option instead of the best option.
- Interaction Cost
- The sum of efforts — mental and physical — that the users must deploy in interacting with a site in order to reach their goals.
Key Takeaways
Satisficing
Unless faced with life-changing information, most site visitors won't read all of the content provided but settle for a “good-enough” answer. Better sorting and clearer writing satisfy users without exhausting the limited time they’re willing to spend on a website.
How we really use the web:
- We don't read pages. we scan them.
- We don't make optimal choices. We satisfice.
- We don't figure out how things work. We muddle through.
Source: Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug
Usable sites/apps minimize Interaction Cost
Throughout this program we will be making design decisions that will (hopefully) maximize the usability of our websites and applications by minimizing interaction costs for the user. We do this by minimizing:
- Reading
- Scrolling
- Looking around in order to find relevant information
- Comprehending information presented to you
- Clicking or touching (without making mistakes)
- Typing
- Page loads and waiting times
- Attention switches
- Memory load — the information that users must remember in order to complete their task.