web statistic

Tag Archive: usability

The hygiene factor of usability

“Old-school usability espouses the idea that user activities are onerous tasks that they want to get out of the way as soon as possible. While this is true in some cases, usability is now widely understood to be more of a hygiene factor–something that can cause dissatisfaction if missing, but its presence cannot take you beyond lack of dissatisfaction.” – Harry Brignull

Read more in Harry’s article “‘Just add an egg’ – Usability, User Experience and Dramaturgy”

This quote was submitted by an inspireUX reader. Use the form on the right sidebar to submit a quote that may appear in a future post!

Usability testing is a means of understanding the goodness of a design’s fit to the intended users’ problems

“Usability testing should not be a stage gate in your design and development process. It should be a tool with which to gather helpful, diagnostic information from your target users. It’s a means of understanding the goodness of a design’s fit to the intended users’ problems.” – Paul J. Sherman

Read more in Paul’s article “Testing Your Own Designs Redux.”

Peripheral insights often feed a designer’s instincts most

“Many of the most compelling usability test insights come not from the elements that are evaluated, but rather those not evaluated... The unintended conclusions—the peripheral insights—are often what feed a designer’s instincts most.” - Robert Hoekman Jr.

“Many of the most compelling usability test insights come not from the elements that are evaluated, but rather those not evaluated… The unintended conclusions—the peripheral insights—are often what feed a designer’s instincts most.” – Robert Hoekman Jr.

Read more in Robert’s article “The Myth of Usability Testing.”

Focus on understanding the behavior and performance of people using a design

“Whatever your team might call it—usability testing, design testing, getting feedback—the most effective input for informed design decisions is data about the behavior and performance of people using a design to reach their own goals.” - Dana Chisnell

“Whatever your team might call it—usability testing, design testing, getting feedback—the most effective input for informed design decisions is data about the behavior and performance of people using a design to reach their own goals.” – Dana Chisnell

This quote is from Dana’s article “Usability Testing Demystified.”

New technology is likely to make the least improvement in the ease of use of products

“Ironically, the thing that will likely make the least improvement in the ease of use of software-based products is new technology. There is little difference technically between a complicated, confusing program and a simple, fun, and powerful product.” - Alan Cooper

“Ironically, the thing that will likely make the least improvement in the ease of use of software-based products is new technology. There is little difference technically between a complicated, confusing program and a simple, fun, and powerful product.” – Alan Cooper

This quote is from Alan’s book “The Inmates are Running the Asylum.” This quote was also mentioned in Interaction-Design.org’s quote of the day.

Make it easy for customers to perform useful tasks

“While I acknowledge that there is a need for art, fun, and a general good time on the web, I believe that the main goal of most web projects should be to make it easy for customers to perform useful tasks.” - Designing Web Usability by Jakob Nielsen

“While I acknowledge that there is a need for art, fun, and a general good time on the web, I believe that the main goal of most web projects should be to make it easy for customers to perform useful tasks.” – Designing Web Usability by Jakob Nielsen

Read more from Jakob in his book Designing Web Usability.