RudeUsability.com

Horizontal nav on Apple.com

2007-06-14T15:06:00.001-04:00

love it! mark my words: we're about to see alot more of this.

Horizontal scrolling doesn’t often get this sort of prime time play since, as Jakob Nielsen puts it, users hate horizontal scrolling and “always” comment negatively when they encounter it. But since Jakob Nielsen's approach is increasingly becoming outdated, I certainly welcome this new concept.

While horizontal scrolling is unacceptable on the entire page level - this is a really smart example of how to do it on the micro level -- in this case the product module for all of iTunes instantly recognizable line of key prodcuts:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/

Bad Design can kill a good concept.

2007-06-09T12:01:00.000-04:00

Problem: Have you ever came up with a great concept, maybe even sketched it out, only to have the version that comes back from Design to be WORSE than the original concept? It can and does happen.

Solution: "Three strikes, you're out!" Give the design team feedback, point out specific disconnects from the original plan. Most great work really does require several iterations - designers aren't mind-readers, nor do they typically think in terms of gaining conversions or achieving shrewd usability. If they don't have that type of experience, they just may need alot of feedback. (more on this)

But a word of advice: if the Design team isn't able to deliver an amazing page or site within 3 tries, they probably won't ever be up to snuff. Put them on your B (or C) list, and set your sights on finding someone who is a better fit to help drive your site conversions and usability.

Icon Abuse

2007-06-08T15:19:00.000-04:00

one of the most glaring examples of how allowing a Technology Department drive the user interface can HURT your user experience is "icon abuse".

It's so easy to match a functionality with an icon - it's fun, even. If it's a "Save" task icon that's needed we all know the best thing to do is to choose a cute little diskette icon. yes, we get it, it's clever...blah blah blah. "see? a little diskette! see how cute that is?"

But what happens when icons run amuck? Given that a website is filled with such such tasks, my how easy it is to assign a little icon to each and every one!

But don't be rude. The best way to use icons is to use them sparingly so they "pop" more on the page and allow them to be "special" to the end user and allow them find them more easily.

ask yourself these questions:

- Is it possible to leave some of the tasks (gasp!) without an icon?
- Shouldn't the task itself as a hyperlink be enough to tell the user the point, rather than shoving an icon down it's throat?

BTW, here's a great example of a page that uses icons sparingly: http://www.apple.com/safari/download/

Try it next time!

more on how to allow icons to help, not hurt, your interface coming soon!

Underestimate Usability, and die!

2007-06-08T15:08:00.000-04:00

It's true that usability has a spotty reputation. It seems so "fluffy", but yet it's so important to your website's success.

Good usability is a proper execution of marketing, design and technology. If you blow one of these 3, you have bad usability. You can count on it.

Most companies these days seem to have a fairly decent sense that they need "good usability," but yet so many are afraid to commit to executing toward it on a daily basis. Chicken or the egg, blah blah blah.

Usability is simply a matter of making your site/product - whatever it is - the best that it can be. than means you have to make it user friendly, slick, clean, easy to use, error-free, impactful.

You're absolutely not getting the best out of your website - revenue, activity, whatever the case may be - unless you are focused on Usability.

Pretty? Please!

2006-10-24T08:33:00.000-04:00

Your site's visual presentation has a much greater impact than just making your site "pretty." It helps to organize information for your users, provides an emotional impact, and directs your audience to the important elements they’ll use to achieve their goals.

Be very very wary of those that accidentally use the term "pretty" in place of "usability"..they are NOT on the side of usability. Probably just faking it....It'll all come out in the wash.....

Indeed it is usability that, when carefully executed, is solely responsible for the bottom line effectiveness of a website, and thus it's impact on the bottom line of the company.

Usability, the good fight!