Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 2005
The oldies continue to be goodies - or rather, baddies - in the list of design stupidities that irked users the most in 2005.
(from Alertbox - October 3rd 2005)
Lower Literacy Users
Lower-literacy users exhibit very different reading behaviors than higher-literacy users: they plow text rather than scan it, and they miss page elements due to a narrower field of view.
(from Alertbox - March 14th 2005)
Usability of Websites for Teenagers
When using websites, teenagers have a lower success rate than adults and they're also easily bored. To work for teens, websites must be simple -- but not childish -- and supply plenty of interactive features.
(from Alertbox - January 31st 2005)
A to Z Indexes to Enhance Site Searching
An important part of an information architect’s job is to make it easier for users of a Web site or intranet to find the information they want. Usually the focus is on site navigation—the site’s structural design, hierarchy, page titles and labels, menu design, site map, and so on.
(from Digital Web Magazine - January 5th 2005)
Situate Follow Ups in Context
Usability is often enhanced when people can find follow-up transactions on the page where they conducted their first transaction. Conversely, usability is reduced if the original page contains no hint of what people might need to do at a later stage. Although it has some limited use, global navigation is overrated. Contextual navigation offers much more value, providing direct links to elements that are highly relevant to the user's current location (and presumably their current interest).
(from Alertbox - December 20th 2004)
The Need for Web Design Standards
Users expect 77% of the simpler Web design elements to behave in a certain way. Unfortunately, confusion reigns for many higher-level design issues.
(from Alertbox - September 13th 2004)
Web Site Layout Survey
This survey compares 10 web sites through elements of their layout: styles, page construction and elements… The survey seeks similarities and differences between those well known web sites, built by famous, talented designers. What can be observed is that those web sites agree on implicit, internalized layout and design norms (Consensus rate), and that deviance from these rules (Dissidence rate) is uncommon.
(from François Briatte - August 2004)
Deceivingly Strong Information Scent Costs Sales
Users will often overlook the actual location of information or products if another website area seems like the perfect place to look. Cross-references and clear labels alleviate this problem.
(from Alertbox - August 2nd 2004)
