How the choice of a font will influence the perception of your brand. A witty visualisation – have fun.
Navigation Part 3: Dynamic or static navigation
For all of you who are not sure what the difference is, let me explain briefly: A static navigation is always visible and when you click on the first level navigation the items of the second level navigation appear and stay visible. A dynamic navigation only appears when you hover over it with the mouse [...]
Navigation Part 2: How many navigation points?
It is very pleasing to hear in many concept workshops – “A maximum of 7 navigation items, correct?” This truly shows that core elements of usability have made the round and that people are familiar with them. However, real life is not always that easy. Let’s look at some issues: The seven point rule: It [...]
UK usability market worth more than £200 million by end of 2008
The UK Usability market will grow by an estimated 20% in 2008 to a value of £214 million, according to research published last week by E-consultancy. They write: The continued growth of this sector is the result of a growing commitment within organisations towards usability and user experience. E-consultancy’s Head of Research Linus Gregoriadis said: [...]
Bill Gates on usability: His personal Windows’ experience
Todd Bishop published in his “Microsoft Blog” http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/141821.asp an e-mail, which Bill Gates wrote after having a very frustrating experience trying to download “Moviemaker”. The internal e-mails have been turned over in the antitrust suits against the company. So we only can wonder: “Why did he not have a stronger impact on usability issues and [...]
Navigation Part 1: How to structure content?
In this series I will talk about different topics regarding navigation I have been asked over the last years. Part 1: How to structure content Part 2: How many navigation points Part 3: Dynamic or static navigation Part 4: Navigation and the customer life cycle Part 5: Global navigation First of all you need to [...]
First global Usability drive – Usability Challenge 1. August 2008
From: http://usabilitychallenge.webnode.com/ Join the Usability Challenge 2008 and participate in the world’s first global usability drive! On 1 August 2008, we are asking anyone with a passion for usability to solve a usability problem…any usability problem at all…and help make the world a better/safer/less annoying place. p.s. I was very busy lately – I will [...]
Usability and e-commerce Part 6: Shopping basket
Access to the shopping basket The shopping basket link or summary should show at least the current sum of products bought. Ideally the customer can see the number of items, product name, price, additional costs such as VAT or shipping/handling fees. Some companies even show the delivery time. The shopping basket page Ideally a thumbnail [...]
Usability and e-commerce Part 5: Check out process
The worst that can happen to you is to lose your customer during the check-out process. How to avoid the most serious obstacles: Availability Inform the client before the check out process that an item is currently not available. There is nothing worse than filling in several forms and being informed in the last minute, [...]
Usability and e-commerce Part 4: Search
Having a powerful search engine within your site might be the best investment of your money. The most difficult task is to define the technical requirements your search engine needs to fulfil. Once you have decided on those, 3 major points for the design of your search interface are: Place the search clearly visible and [...]