Unit 5 Reading

Helpful links for you! 

10 Usability Tips for Web Designers
The Benefits of Collaborative Web Design
Let Usability Testing Guide Your Strategy

Now On to the Reading . . .

Arguments can get in the way of designing websites, since the designers are web users also it’s easy to have biases and preferences. Don’t let this get in the way of your design process, design for the audience in mind. There is no average user, some may like Flash and others may not like it. However, feelings can change, people often times just don’t like Flash done badly. To avoid Tom and Jerry like struggles in your team, and ask productive questions. Ask if the topic in this wording, in this context, on this page is going to work for your audience in mind, and create a great experience for them.  

Always get a usability test; it’s never too early to begin one. Focus groups are different then usability testing. Focus groups are a group of people (5-8) coming together and discussing their wants, feelings, and needs. A usability test deals with only one user at a time, and is usually done on camera for looking over the test afterwards. Unfortunately, focus groups can’t tell you if a site works or how to fix a problem. It’s always a good idea to test. One is a lot better than none. Choose people who are your audience to take a usability test on. Testing can lead to a deeper insight in to how a user may attempt at using the site. Usability testing can be a simple process but can be more informative when a person is hired to track this information for you and give you a debriefing. Often times using a small group of people and testing them a second time will allow them to find deeper hidden problems.