IA: Response to Chapters 1 – 3 of Don’t Make Me Think

Disclaimer: I’m more of a conversational writer I apologize if you prefer bullets and outlines.

This reading really reminded me how much of a psychology web design, maybe even design in general, really is. The writer points out that the first rule of web development is "Don't make me think" which means that you must as much possible limit situations where your user may have to think. This includes anything from fancy wording (quick search vs. search) or making clickable elements look clickable (button graphic vs. just normal text). You should always strive to make your site self-evident your user should be able to know how to use it without even trying. At the very least make your site self-explanatory.

The writer also talked about how people actually use the web and it’s definitely not how we wish all people used the web. "We don’t read pages. We scan them.” Is a statement the writer puts up as Fact of life #1, a statement that can’t be anymore true there is even Internet lingo related to this TLDR (to long didn’t read).            

Decision-making is a frustrating this count even while on the web. With so much info on the web it’s hard to optimal which is why we just settle for efficiency. We just go with the first reasonable option a strategy known as satisfying. Luckily, bad choices on the web can usually be solved by the glorious back button, USUALLY.

As designers we always want to improve efficiency but that’s now how it always works out, especially with new technology always on the rise, because we usually muddle though. I experienced this first hand my whole childhood through my father, the handyman from rural Mexico who learn his skills in the 1960s, I was saw him sticking to is old hand tools and using brute force even though he had power tools and there were new methods of doing things. Some of his reason to do things the old way were his claims that it was the best way, but I always know that it was because that’s how he learned to do it and he stuck with it. The same goes for Internet users they seldomly try to look for the best method they usually stick to the first method that works which as a tech savvy person myself it hurt to watch (my father also used yahoo search bar as an address bar its quite frustrating). Its our goal to make the site in a way users can “get it” because when they do there is a better chance that: they will find what they are looking for, they understand fully what your site can offer, they can be steered to parts of your site that you want them to see, and that they will feel more in control which makes them feel smart and will keep them coming back which is the ultimate goal here isn’t it?

            The last chapter is probably the most useful to as a design. We have developed all these great design skill and here he plainly stated how we could implement them into web design. “Create a clear visual hierarchy” AKA Typographic hierarchy Bringhurt gave us many lessons on this. “Conventions are your friend”, the web tends to mimic print and by now we should be experts at print to lets take advantage of it. “Break up pages into clearly defined areas” GRID GRIDS GRIDS need I say more? “Make it obvious what’s clickable” button graphics, text decorations, change the weight; basically do anything to make it stand out in contrast to things that are not clickable. “Minimize noise” design is about clarity keep it as simple as possible.

            Overall this reading was definitely helpful I came here knowing a lot about the technical side of the web, now I’m excite to learn the psychology so I can use my skills in the best way!