Creating great microcopy
Interface writing: Code for humans Microcopy, or interface writing as Nicole Fenton calls it, is the small bits of text that make a user interface – the text used in buttons, notifications, links and so on. This is…
Search by tag: usability
Why simplicity improves the user experience for all
The myth of the sophisticated user Our goal as designers is to make things as easy as possible for the user. When we set out to simplify content and convert jargon terms into plain English, we are sometimes told that…
Don’t break the user experience
Breaking web design conventions = breaking the user experience The esteemed Nielsen Norman Group has turned its attention towards the controversial redesign of the Bucknell University website. The redesign is high in…
Don’t break the back button
4 design patterns that violate back-button expectations One of the biggest usability faux-pas we can commit is “breaking” the back button. The back button is by far the most commonly used function of a web browser, and…
The usability of homepages
Homepage usability: can users infer the breadth of your product catalogue? This article looks at the usability of shopping websites’ homepages. But there may still be lessons for us here, with our attention turning…
Designing university websites
University websites: top 10 design guidelines This study from Nielsen Norman Group assesses higher education websites in four countries including the UK. This is very relevant to us, and I would encourage anyone…
Touch screen usability
How to adjust controls for touch This interesting video is a great explanation of some of the challenges we face when designing for touch screens. Over 75% of all mobile users use one digit to select options, and not…
Insights from eye-tracking studies
The 3 most surprising insights from a 200 website eye-tracking study I was surprised by some of the findings featured in this eye-tracking study. This research serves as a reminder of how young the web is as a medium,…
Ten guidelines for university websites from the Nielsen Norman Group
Last week (Sunday 19 January) the Nielsen Norman Group published an incredibly helpful article offering ten design guidelines for university websites: University Websites: Top 10 Design Guidelines. Their summary:…
Giving content audits a miss
When content audits are not a good idea Gerry McGovern points out that sometimes a content audit is a waste of time, when you would be better just removing all content and focussing on users’ key tasks. …the…