ux: what not to do
DESCRIPTION
5/22/12 SkillShare ClassTRANSCRIPT
UX: What Not to DoCommon user experience mistakes
May 22nd, 2012
Rob SurrencyUser Experience Designer, AKQA@robsurrency
Max MinerAssociate User Experience Designer, AKQA@MxMnr
Who are we
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What is User Experience?
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UX designers work to create experiences that are “useful, usable, desirable, and differentiated.”
What not to do
1.0 Don’t make me think
Example
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1.0 Don’t make me think
• Provide clear calls to action
• Give easy to understand instructions
• Keep options focused
• Do the heavy lifting for the user
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Example
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Example
2.0 Don’t overloadcontent
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Example
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2.0 Don’t overload content
•Provide a clear hierarchy
•Make content easy to scan and digest
•Only show what’s needed
•Let the users have control
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Example
3.0 Don’t confusethe navigation
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Example
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3.0 Don’t confuse the navigation
• Make labels clear and distinct
• Limit the number of navigational items
• Structure navigation based on the user’s needs
• Keep interactions subtle
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Example
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Example
4.0 Don’t complicate workflows
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4.0 Don’tcomplicateworkflows
• Limit the number of steps
• Show the steps
• Indicate user progress
• Make it easy to go back
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Example
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Example
5.0 Don’t forget user feedback
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Example
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5.0 Don’t forget user feedback
• Always provide users a way to give feedback
• Make it persistent and easy to access
• Be proactive - ask for it
• Listen and respond
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Example
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Example
6.0 Don’t hide Help& Contact
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6.0 Don’t hide Help & Contact
• Provide multiple help & contact calls-to-action
•Makethempersistentandeasytofind
• Provide a robust support center
• Give several ways to get in touch
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Example
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Example
7.0 Don’t deceive your users
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Example
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7.0 Don’t deceive your users
• Be ethical - don’t use ‘dark patterns’
• Be transparent
• Explain why user information is needed
• Remember the Golden Rule
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Example
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Example
8.0 Don’t forget design basics
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Example
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8.0 Don’t forget design basics
• Structure your design with grids
• Know your color theory
• Design with affordances
• Take care with your typography
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Example
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9.0 Don’t overuse features
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Example
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9.0 Don’t overuse features
• ‘Flashy’ doesn’t always mean functional
•Definetheendgoal
• Make sure each feature has a purpose
• Understand each feature and it’s implications
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Example
UX: What not to doRecap
1. Make me think
2. Overload content
3. Confuse the navigation
4.Complicateworkflows
5. Forget user feedback
Don’t...
6. Hide help & contact
7. Deceive your users
8. Forget design basics
9. Overuse features
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Workshop
The Set Up
10 Groups3 People per group
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The Task:
Now, knowing what not to do - how would you improve these
experiences?
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The Scenarios:
1. eBay product detail page (groups 1 & 2)
2. Hulu video page (groups 3 & 4)
3.myspaceprofilepage(groups 5 & 6)
4.HuffingtonPosthomepage(groups 7 & 8)
5. Facebook search (groups 9 & 10)
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Questions?
May 22nd, 2012
Rob SurrencyUser Experience Designer, AKQA@robsurrency
Max MinerAssociate User Experience Designer, AKQA@MxMnr
Thank You.
May 22nd, 2012