Make it easy-to-use is Rule #3 of the Six Rules for Creating Products People Love. This brief provides an excellent introduction to the design concepts you need to make easy-to-use products.
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Researchers have found that when people think a system is easier to use then they also consider it more useful.
Since some of the things that make a product useful include better performance or improved productivity, it only makes sense that ease-of-use is a big factor.
After all, how can a product make you more productive if you are struggling to make it work?
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toast is ready. If you fail to hear the “pop,” you
can see the toasted bread sticking visibly up in
the slots.
The toaster may seem elementary in its
simplicity, and you may be fooled into saying,
“Well, how else would you design it?” Truly
the greatest of praise for a product is when a
user cannot imagine a better design.
3
An example design that Fails to Communicate
Ever felt stupid for pulling on
a door that you need to push
to open?
YOU are not stupid, the
design is!
A grip handle is NOT needed
for pushing, so why did the
designer put it on the push-
side of the door?
See the row of doors at right;
quick: push or pull?
The push side should have a
flat push-pad and the pull-side
of a door should have a pull
handle. Then, no one would
ever have to feel stupid.
4
Designer speaks to user through the system
Designer System Image
User
Donald A. Norman writes
that there are “three
conceptual models” that we
must understand.
The designer’s model
of how the product or
system works
The user’s model of
how it works
The system image that is
the physical
representation of the
design.
5
Doors and toasters, what about
software systems?
Easy-to-use Software is:
Intuitive
Simple
Flexible
Empowering
6
Intuitive
When the system is truly
intuitive there is no need
for mouse-over tips, online
help, or training.
The user is able to
determine how the system
works just by looking at it.
7
Simple
There is a line between
feature-rich and confusing.
Simple is free of complexity
and free of clutter.
Don’t add functions to your
software just because you
can.
Instead, focus on the user’s
needs.
8
Flexible
Overly rigid software can
be frustrating. We do not
know what every user
wants to do with our
product, so it is good to
provide some flexibility
that allows the user to
customize the experience.
9
Empowering
Software is empowering
when it enables some users
to become super-users if
they choose.
Most people just want
your software provide a
core function without too
much complexity.
Some people want to do
more and they want your
software to allow them to
become expert users.
10
Prototype, evaluate, & repeat
Software designers need to understand users’ work flow and then improve it.
This is only accomplished through a lot of product touching by people who are NOT developers.
Real users and people who do not understand the guts of the system provide critical design feedback because they only have the “user’s model” and system image to make decisions.
Developers overlook issues because they are informed by knowledge of the “designer’s model” and are able to bridge design gaps with this knowledge.