NiLLU'S

When defining an organizational structure, it is helpful to think about the type of experience we want to create for the visitor. This is influenced by the following factors:
1. Our purpose
2. The logical and hierarchical categories of information, and
3. The user’s orientation to content on the site
The intent is to develop a “relevant” experience, so that the user can orient him/
herself to content within the site, without confusion. When this is achieved, the
effect is seamless! –It simply works!
To achieve this result, consider how you might employ one of the following
Organizational Structures to best suit the user experience you wish to create:

Linear (Sequential)
In/ Out
Hierarchy (Gateway, Index)
Grid
Simultaneous
Web (or Chaotic)
Visual

Website design process (From Yale Design Guide)

nillu — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:49:25 +0000

The first step in designing any web site is to define your goals. Without a clearly stated mission and objectives, the project will drift, bog down, or continue past an appropriate endpoint. Careful planning and a clear purpose are the keys to success in building web sites, particularly when you are working as part of a development team.

Planning a web site is a two-part process: first you gather your development team, analyze your needs and goals, and work through the development process outlined here to refine your plans. Next you create a project charter document that details what you intend to do and why, what technology and content you’ll need, how long the process will take, what you will spend to do it, and how you will assess the results of your efforts. The project charter document is crucial to creating a successful site: it is both the blueprint for your process and the touchstone you’ll use to keep the project focused on the agreed-on goals and deliverables.

Favorite site 2

nillu — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:02:52 +0000

Coming soon…

Usability (by Jacob Nielson)

nillu — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:55:21 +0000

What is Usability?

Usability is a quality attribute that assesses how easy user interfaces are to use. The word “usability” also refers to methods for improving ease-of-use during the design process.

Usability is defined by five quality components:

Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they reestablish proficiency?
Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors?
Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?

There are many other important quality attributes. A key one is utility, which refers to the design’s functionality: Does it do what users need? Usability and utility are equally important: It matters little that something is easy if it’s not what you want. It’s also no good if the system can hypothetically do what you want, but you can’t make it happen because the user interface is too difficult. To study a design’s utility, you can use the same user research methods that improve usability.