Friday, August 17, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
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 . . .
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.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Unit 4 Reading 08/04
Ch7
The first step in recovery is admitting that the home page
is out of your control
The home page is the framework for the rest of the site. The
home page has to show the big picture, and this includes what the site is about
and how the user goes about using it. The home page should have an indication
of what the site is about. A tag line can be used as a brief statement of what
the site is for. The tag line should be about six to eight words and be a
complete thought. The tagline isn’t a motto; a motto can only be understood
once the user gets the tagline. The site should have a visual hierarchy, but
only show case four features the site has. Like in the previous chapter a
search box has to be evident in order for the user to know where they want to
go. To grasp this concept the user already has to know what the site is about
so that they know what they are searching for and how the site can help them.
The site should have some hints or teasers showing partial evidence of the “good
stuff” inside of the website. The home page should be appealing for all users
who visit the site, to welcome a diverse quantity of people.
The navigation can vary
a little but should carry the same characteristics throughout the website. The
names of the buttons have to remain consistent and in the same order. Even if
the point of the site is obvious when creating the users may not get it right
away. Users generally look for the tag line near the ID or the top of the page.
The only reason an idea would be irrelevant is if the site is a well known site
or the site is well known of the internet. But either way a tagline could still
be helpful. A brief welcome blurb can help users to understand clearer what the
website is about but may not bother to read it if it has a longer explanation then
necessary.
Friday, August 3, 2012
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