This is an introduction to User Experience Design, and how it differs from Usability. The two terms often get mixed up, but these notes explain how they are separate concepts, but still connected.
Usability
The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified
goals with effectiveness, efficiency & satisfaction in a specified context of user.
Cont.
A quality attribute that assesses how easy user interfaces are to use. Also refers to
methods for improving ease-of-use during the design process.
Don’t ask questions
Users shouldn't have to ask how something works, how to do what they want to do.
Good websites should be self explanatory & provide all necessary information.
Importance of usability
● You lose users if usability is not there
● Frustrated users can always head elsewhere
Goals of usability
● Functionally correct
● Efficient to use
● Easy to learn
● Easy to remember
● Error tolerant
● Subjectively pleasing
Functionally correct
● Does what it says on the box
● Does what we expect
● Performs functions the user requires
● May need to meet number of design goals
Efficient to use
● How many hoops?
● Able to perform task?
● Time / actions required to perform tasks
○ This is measurable
● Too many clicks?
Easy to learn
● Effort required to learn task
● How fast for first time users?
● How fast for repeated users?
● Less steps → easier to learn
● How many hoops?
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, Easy to remember
● How easy is it?
○ As I navigate / when I return
● Do I need prompts / clues?
Error tolerant
● How well are errors presented?
● How easy are errors detected?
● How easily are errors corrected?
Subjectively pleasing
● Make sure user can use your site
○ Is it aesthetically pleasing?
● Everything should be coherent & organised
● Creates the bigger picture for a company
○ Digital products reflect the brand
Usability goals
● Typically operationalised as questions
● Assesses various aspects → quantitative indicators
● Doesn’t measure the overall quality of user experience
User experience
All aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the company, its services & its products.
Exemplary UX is to meet the exact needs of the customer without fuss → next is
simplicity & elegance that produces products that are a joy to own / use.
Cont.
True UX goes beyond giving customers what they say they want.
“Good design is invisible because, when something works well, people don’t
necessarily notice.”
User centred design
● Define problem
● Establish requirements
● Develop alternatives
● Prototype designs
● Evaluate solutions
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