Less is more in online user usability Marianne

‘Less is more’ in online user usability Marianne Goguillon 10 th Commemorative International Conference on Productivity & Quality Research February 16, 2004 Miami, Florida, U. S. A.

Overview • • • ‘Less is more’ Graphical user interface Gestalt principles User usability Online user usability guidelines

‘Less is more’ A method of taking only the essential components of architecture to enhance functionality. “…reduce to essentials” der Rohe, Less is More. Werner Blaser, Mies van

Graphical user interface (GUI) Point-and-click Text box data entry Source: www. yahoo. com

Gestalt principles • • • Proximity Similarity Continuity Closure Figure and ground Source: www. coach. com

User usability • • • Learnability Efficiency Memorability Errors Satisfaction Jakob Nielsen, Usability Engineering, 26

Online user usability guidelines Icon Clear icon Confusing icon Source for the clear icon: www. verizon. com homepage as of March 2002 and for the confusing icon: www. verizon homepage as of April 2001.

Online user usability guidelines Navigation system window Content window Source for the content and navigation system windows: http: //www. coach. com/shop/handbags_collect. asp.

Online user usability guidelines Intention and actual effect Entry Source for the user intention and ‘actual effect’: http: //www. ebay. com/

Online user usability guidelines Figurative image icon Source: www. coach. com Text label icon

Online user usability guidelines Display the right amount of information Source: www. coach. com

Conclusion Stripping down to bare essentials is the winning method of user usability. This unique approach of applying ‘less is more’ design principles to IA consolidates the web structure to create highly functional user usability.