"Where should I put a button on a website? Why does nobody read the instructions? How can I get visitors to notice my banner carousel?"
I've spent a decade handling questions like these and giving straight-forward advice on how to lay out websites and applications. How human beings interact with machines is a complicated topic. It touches on psychology, ergonomics, human senses and our mental and physical makeup.
This is my advice on how a website or web application should work to give the best for users. It’s based on the hours I’ve spent testing with them, and the years I’ve spent talking with managers, other developers and stake holders about whether something is 'usable' and 'easy'.
I see ‘Usability’ as very much a catch-all for research; ergonomics; psychology; physiology and convention applied to the world around us. It’s both a Science and an Art: the point where the raw emotion of the designer meets the discipline and functionality of the engineer.
It’s also at that point that human beings sit: between the beautiful and the mathematical.
Some of what’s in this book is general and could apply to applications, smartphone apps and so on but mostly it is web-focussed. The structure is pretty simple: I’ve tried to go into advice on when (and when not) to use particular controls to solve particular problems. There are also HTML and code samples where appropriate.
Ultimately a great UX is hard to foster, there are no guarantees here. User experience is a feeling and that feeling is based on reality, perception, expectation, utility and beauty. All we can do is try and influence that. Something will only be usable when it has a good user experience. This book will help you to enjoy creating great user experiences.
I've spent a decade handling questions like these and giving straight-forward advice on how to lay out websites and applications. How human beings interact with machines is a complicated topic. It touches on psychology, ergonomics, human senses and our mental and physical makeup.
This is my advice on how a website or web application should work to give the best for users. It’s based on the hours I’ve spent testing with them, and the years I’ve spent talking with managers, other developers and stake holders about whether something is 'usable' and 'easy'.
I see ‘Usability’ as very much a catch-all for research; ergonomics; psychology; physiology and convention applied to the world around us. It’s both a Science and an Art: the point where the raw emotion of the designer meets the discipline and functionality of the engineer.
It’s also at that point that human beings sit: between the beautiful and the mathematical.
Some of what’s in this book is general and could apply to applications, smartphone apps and so on but mostly it is web-focussed. The structure is pretty simple: I’ve tried to go into advice on when (and when not) to use particular controls to solve particular problems. There are also HTML and code samples where appropriate.
Ultimately a great UX is hard to foster, there are no guarantees here. User experience is a feeling and that feeling is based on reality, perception, expectation, utility and beauty. All we can do is try and influence that. Something will only be usable when it has a good user experience. This book will help you to enjoy creating great user experiences.
