6 Questions to help improve usability
OK I lied a little and there are more than 6 questions within this article, BUT the 6 I have highlighted are the ones I always go to first and they always help me find the other questions to ask.
Is it useful?
Best example is of a search box on a website. It helps users find desirable content without them having to know your site’s navigation structure.
Site searches are so prevalent nowadays that it is an expected feature. However, it is always worth checking during early discovery and research that the feature is commonplace or wanted for your type of product.
Is it easy to learn?
Placeholder text helps users to easily understand what they should expect to search and any possible limitations placed on it. E.g. ‘Search for products’ means the user shouldn’t expect to find HR information on the other side.
How do they trigger the search? Can they press the ‘enter’ key or do they have to press a button? Or an Icon? Either?
Is it memorable?
Is it in the same place across the site? With the same design? And the same features?
Consistency across the whole site regardless of other factors means the user can always find the feature when they need it.
Does it get the job done?
If the user comes across a search fields with the placeholder text ‘Search for products’, does it bring up only product pages/information? Does it even search the relevant site?
Is it efficient?
Auto suggestions, ‘did you mean… ?’, and filtering features are the best way to make something like search more efficient.
How can you make your feature more efficient? Does additional options overcomplicate what should be simple? If in doubt, keep it simple. Always.
Is it using it enjoyable, or fun?
Small, one-time, animations or feedback of some kind can improve the enjoyment of using a feature.
A short ringing bell animation of about 1 or 2 seconds when a user receives a notification when in your app brings visual feedback to a potentially overlooked feature.
Whilst a one-off animation for 1 second is fun, a continuous animation for 1 minute can annoy. Always test at large scale as well as small scale. If your user receives 100 notifications in 1 second what happens? What should happen? Can they turn off the animation?
Balance is key.
