WEEK 11: Starter Post on Usability

Web design is about functionality. Lupton writes in her chapter “Text” that the internet has contributed to rise of the user, and also the incorporation of theories of user interaction into design. The big question becomes how is information used, not what the information is, and subsequently what can a designer do to make that process easier for the user.

Steve Krug famously penned Don’t Make Me Think, a book for web designers that argues for considering the user of a site when designing. Our evolving tech culture has resulted in shorter attention spans and impatience. If it’s complicated, we just move on...

Krug’s argument isn’t new, but it takes new significance in applying user interaction theories to realms where traditionally passive consumption in print/online was sufficient before, where the “audience” is now a “user” of a site - purchasing this here, looking up movie listings there.

Consider the popular movie website Fandango. Most people may claim they never spend any time on the home page because as soon as it loads, they press submit on the form which already has their zip code auto-filled in. Boom! They get moving listings in there area.

SO, for this week’s blog post, find a site that you use regularly and find easy to navigate and make a transaction on. Don’t use Facebook.com (and using mySlice would be far too IRONIC). Take a screen shot and explain how the site makes it easy for you to use it. What navigation placement or quick links help you get what you want from a site as fast as possible? Post your jpeg to the blog by 11:59 p.m. Friday.