Thinking About Usability 20:20

Slide 1: Thinking About Usability Tamlyn Rhodes GeekUp Sheffield 7th May 2008

Slide 2: What is usability? Making sure stuff is easy to use and useful for the people who will be using it

Slide 3: If it needs instructions, it's badly designed

Slide 4: Recognition vs Recall

Slide 5: Constraints Affordances Metaphors

Slide 6: Constraints Affordances Metaphors

Slide 7: Constraints Affordances Metaphors

Slide 8: Doors & Taps

Slide 11: Photo: http://www.aameslock.com/custom_work.htm

Slide 13: Office taps

Slide 15: For every foolproof invention there is a new improved fool

Slide 16: “The designer shouldn't think of a simple dichotomy between errors and correct behaviour; rather, the entire interaction should be treated as a cooperative endeavour between person and machine, one in which misconceptions can arise on either side.” - Donald Norman, The Design of Everyday Things

Slide 17: PEBCAC

Slide 18: Why is usability important? Decrease support costs Increase customer loyalty Decrease development costs

Slide 19: Top Tips Use conventions Don't rely on instructions Errors are normal Simplify, simplify, simplify

Slide 20: Where to next? Don't Make Me Think! The Design of Everyday Things Steve Krug Don Norman http://tamlyn.org