Minor Project 30: blog

1. Krug's First Law of Usability

This taught me that when designing for the web, you need to make sure that everything on your web page is laid out as simple as you can make it. The point of having information on the internet is to get it all across to the user, and this information needs to be managed in a neat and orderly fashion. Thinking should not even be an option for the user when they enter your website. The easier it is to navigate, the better overall experience the user will have.


2. Scanning

I've learned that scanning is when the user chooses to simply scan over a webpage rather then read every word that is written on it. They look for key words and phrases that might catch their eye. If they come across something that might be more interesting, then a more detailed look at the text may come. People may do this because they are in a hurry, or they simply know that not everything on a webpage may be completely vital to finding the information that they seek for.


3. Sacrificing

Sacrificing is when the user will choose the first option, which may be the easiest, but not the best one available. Again, a cause for this could be users are in a hurry, and not much wrong could come out of not picking the absolute best option. The option to go back ad pick a different route will always be available, so it is reassuring that going a certain way will get the same result as going a different way.


4. Designing for Scanning and not reading

I learned that you can make a simple visual hierarchy and to make things very easy to navigate and as simple as possible. Making the webpage simple and easy to navigate is also very important for the user who is just scanning. If the site is too cluttered with information, they might not know what is important to look at at and scanning will become very difficult. Breaking the page up in different sections is also vital to the user for an easy going browsing experience.

5.Users like mindless choices

Users like mindless choices because it is simply the easiest option for them to think about. When on the internet, users visit websites for information that they are interested in. They don't want to have to try and figure out how to get that information, they just want it as easy as possible. So designing a website with the fact in mind that people want to make mindless choices is very vital in the designing process.



6. How to shorten text for the Web

I've learned how to cut down long paragraphs for a shorter and easier experience to read for the web.



7. Trunk Test

I've learned how to give a basic trunk test to a website, locating all of the important parts of a website. These include the header, body text, navigation, and footer.

8. Web Design 101

Making sure you know your design answers the following questions: What's the point of this site?
Do you know where to start?

9. Peer feedback

Getting feedback from your peers can be vital to any design, as they are a great outside source to critique your designs.


10. Keep it simple

Making the homepage simple is very important, as having a very busy one may drive people away from the site. Keeping the page simple and easy to use is a great way for any user to start with on a webpage.