Intro to UX

Design for usabiliy

all your webpages must provide clear answers to the following questions with info easily found above the fold:
- what are you offering?
- why should I pick you?
- what do you want me to do now and/or when I leave the site?
Nothing else on the page should distract from this intention or the less likely it will be followed.

create visual hierarchies
- most important things higher up and stand out more
- group similar things together
layout pages into clearly defined areas
- don't make people have to think!
eliminate distractions
- graphics
  - images must be used only to help illustrate content
  - adverts should be relevant
- text
  - concise (half of what's in print layout)
  - legible type (san serif)
  - make obvious what is clickable
  - format content to support scanning
consistency
- same layout/navigation/type/colors
- vistitors learn how to use site faster and can then focus on content
follow website conventions
- use same elements in the same place as major sites do, avoid same elements they avoid
- know your audience

attention
- what do you want your audience to do?
- does everything on your page communicate this?
- eliminate anything that distacts from this
context
- are you giving your audience what they are expecting?
- must be consistent from every source you site visitors come from
clarity
- in 5 seconds, is it clear what the page is about?
- is it clear what you want your user to do and where they can do it?
congruence
- does everything on the website communicate the desired conversion intention?
credibility
- does your webpage appear trustworthy?
- does it appear that you can deliver what you promise?
closing
- use positive messages close to desired click region
- remove anything that may inhibit clicking
continuance
- once a desired action has been completed, clearly communicate what will happen next
- provide additional resources to keep visitor engaged