keep it simple. key to successful, modern web interfaces
DESCRIPTION
Presentation covers the simplistic approach to the web development and usability role in the development process.TRANSCRIPT
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Keep it simpleKey to successful, simple web interfaces
by Wojtek Kutyla. Photos by Flickr Creative CommonsBarCamp May 2007, Sheffield
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
What is simplicity?
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
“Simplicity is the ultimatesophistication.”
Leonardo da Vinci
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http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Why is simplicityso important for us?
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Why is simplicityso important for us?
Because of the USER.
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
10 years ago
Geek
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
10 years ago
Geek rand() bloke
Today
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Users’ approach to simplicity:
- We want small and fast stuff. Now.
- Information overload sucks.
- The less we know, the happier we are.
- Less clicks = more happiness.
- Spare me this IT b00lshit, please.
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
How can we achieve that?
- Test your interfaces. They can always
be improved.
- Don’t fall into complexity abyss.
- Listen to your users.
- Give them what they need, not what
you think they need.
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Remember, UI expert
Give your user control, but don’task or expect them to think.
It’s you who needsto do it!
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Softwarez Deathmatch
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
VSphpBB Vanilla
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VSphpBB Vanilla
Cluttered interface
Bad markup
Difficult to modify
Powerful
Big user base
Good support
Nice and clean
Valid markup
Easy to modify
Powerful enough
Young
So-so support
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
So, is simplicity really the key?
Just do it the way you want ;)
Most of the time. Unless your targetreally needs more... And if this is
the case then...
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Conclusions
- Identify your users’ needs by the research
and usability tests
- Minimise the information overload
- If you think it’s simple enough - it’s not :)
- Don’t try to build a perfect interface
Just build a good one!
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Remember one thing
rand() bloke won’t get geeky
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/
Remember one thing
rand() bloke won’t get geeky
but you won’t get rand() either ;)
http://www.kutyla.com/keepitsimple/