Usability

Usability refers to the quality of a user’s experience when interacting with products or systems, including websites, software, devices, or applications. Usability is about effectiveness, efficiency and the overall satisfaction of the user.

-usability.gov

Usability Includes:

• Intuitive

  Nearly effortless underestanding of the structure and navigation.

• Learnable:

  Quickly grasp how to operate basic tasks.

• Memorable:

  Repeat user can easily remember how to complete tasks.

• Error Tolerance:

  Frequency, recovery, and intensity of mistakes.

• Efficient:

  Users can complete operations quickly.

• Enjoyable:

  The experience is satisfying.

Make it Easy:

There are no fast and easy “rules,” just this: Make it easy.

Every time the user has to think adds up their cognitive workload. The larger the workload the more distracting from the task. People avoid thinking. (I think we all know this!)

You don’t want your user to have to think. Should you press exit or back?

Scanners

User’s scan. This means they will NOT read your content. We know most of the content is not relevant.  We are effective scanners. They search for keywords. The first thing that vaguely fits they will click.

We do not care how something works. Just that it works.

Build for Scanners:

• Utilize conventions. These are shorthands that require little thought since they are already understood
• Produce effective visual heirarchies. Your content should be organized
• Break pages up into chunks. People consume in “chunks”
• Clickable elements should be obvious. Your link should be clear
• Remove anything distracting. Make it clear
• Format content for scanning. For example use bullets where possible.

Conventions:

Conventions are the accepted standard that the general public has implicitly accepted. For UI this means the user has learned and expect elements to be organized and function a certain way. It is a shortcut.

Users know:

• Where to find items. Primary navigation is at the most top for example.
• How elements function. They know how to use forms, search bars, accordians, etc.
• Iconography. Simplified, standardized visual representations.

Generally speaking conventions are good. I know you want to separate yourself but unless you add some value by doing it differently stick to conventions.

UX, UI Design

Usability design is most often refered to in two disciplines:

UI:

At the most basic level, the user interface (UI) is the series of screens, pages, and visual elements—like buttons and icons—that enable a person to interact with a product or service.

-usertesting.com

UX:

User experience (UX), on the other hand, is the internal experience that a person has as they interact with every aspect of a company’s products and service

-usertesting.com

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a fast & powerful UI/UX design solution for websites, apps & more. Design, wireframe, animate, prototype, collaborate & share — all in one place

-adobe.com

Figma

Figma is very similar to XD. It speciallizes in UI design and functions in much the same way. The difference is that it offers a free version to explore it. Try it out on your own here.

Photoshop

For now you will create a design in Adobe Photoshop that you will then import into XD for final production.

Did you remember to?

• Read through this webpage
• Watch the videos
• Submit Week 03 App Page Design Lab on Blackboard