99% of users
People won’t think more than they need to
- Users will do the least amount of work possible to achieve their goal
- Users won’t read anything. They will read a snippet of information and decide if they want more details. (Progressive disclosure)
- Users want to see example images, not just blocks of describing text
- Be aware of affordance. If it’s a link make it look click-able
- Users only want features they actually need. Don’t provide unnessaccery information that distracts them from completing their task
- Provide consistency. Consistency reduces thought and increases the user experience
People have limited minds
- Users can look at significant amounts of data at a time but can only take in a small number. Only provide information that’s needed at that moment
- Users cant multi-task. Research is extremely definite on this so don’t provide the option to multi-task
- Users will make up their mind within the first 8 seconds so ensure you don’t waffle
We all make mistakes
- Anticipate users will make mistakes and provide them with an easy way to back track or start over
- Make it easy to undo
- The best error message is no message at all. It’s better to prevent error messages is easier than helping the user after the error message has occurred
- If a task is error prone, dissect it into smaller features to reduce overall number of errors
Our memory is complicated
- User’s have difficulty remembering information across pages or above and below the page fold
- Our short term memory can only 3-4 pieces of information at one time
- The “7 plus or minus 2” rule is an urban legend. Research shows the real number is 3-4