WebDesign & Review * Features_ * Robin * Talking About Web Design_ * 2_* 3_* Robin, page 4 Robin: This is an example of usability: I needed to replace a carafe for my espresso maker. I went to Culinary-Parts dot com and in three seconds and three clicks I found exactly the part I needed. That is great usability. I barely noticed the "design" of the site because my eyes skimmed the page for what I needed, I found it, I clicked it, I got it. Perfect. All Robin's link reverences are included at the end of the article However, whenever I go to the American Express dot com site to find out something about my account, I spend twenty frustrating minutes trying to figure out which link to click and always leave in a bad mood because the site doesn't make sense to me. The site might *look* nice, but if I can't find what I need, I don't care. AmEx recently added a little pop-up window that tells you what to do on the home page, but a site should not have to have an extra page of directions telling you how to use it! Nice presentation, but bad usability, which equals bad design. Fred: So, where do they start? Robin: Well, of course testing is very important. To designers I say: tape your mouth shut and sit on your hands while you watch several different people try to do something in your site. It's not enough to have them just wander through the site--give them a *task* to accomplish, like use the search feature to find a particular piece of information, or buy three different items, or find and print an article. If everyone does the *wrong* thing, the users are not wrong -- your site is. And, I recommend doing browser testing and this sort of usability testing, at least the first round, before the client sees the site. Then you've got a chance to fix some things the client shouldn't see. Once you let them in, have them write down their questions and notes on any bugs they may find. There's really no such thing as too much testing before a site launches. It's extremely important to get things right before opening to the general public. And always remember: If you have to change your design to make it more usable, so what? It may be hard to swallow, but it's more important for people to be able to use a site easily than it is for you to satisfy your design ego. While it is possible, always keep the interests of the end user in mind. Fred: What do you know?  I see we've done it again -- run out of time! Before we close, Robin, are there any encouraging words you would like to send to the readers? Robin: Sure. First though let me say I hope the readers have enjoyed the visit as much as I have.  I always enjoy talking about design. Let's do it again! Final words? Take the time to learn about the client and the site before you begin the design processes. The most effective web designer is an informed designer. Then keep the reader in mind as you design and do your homework testing the usability of the site. And lastly, don't forget yourself. You deserve to be happy with the final product. You've worked and probably reworked the design until everyone was either satisfied or worn out. External factors may occasionally get you down, but the end result of your efforts should be something that pleases everyone including yourself! Fred: Thank you very much for joining us today!  Good words, Robin... always a joy to have you. Robin Williams Web Design Workshop Now, readers: just a minute before you leave -- I'm going to take back what I said in the very beginning. I *am* going to evangelize the book after all. It's fresh, it's insightful, and it will make any web designer a better web designer -- whether they're rank beginners, or advanced.  In fact, it's so much like a web design workshop I would want to present for you -- yet Robin and John Tollett and David Rohr have done such a superb job, I'd rather go to their workshop than my own! So, please, follow me now, and zoom over to the Design Bookshelf so I can introduce you to and show you around this "must have" book -- Robin Williams Web Design Workshop from Peachpit Press. Robin's References: Send your client to http://www.VirtualLastChapter.com/forclients/. It is a page of information specifically for clients that will help them learn how to work with you, not against you. Culinary Parts dot com: http://www.culinary-parts.com/ American Express dot com: http://www.americanexpress.com/ Google dot com: http://www.Google.com/ Web Standards: http://www.UrlsInternetCafe.com/classroom/features/ The Design & Publishing Center _/_ WebDesign & Review Comments and critiques are the opinions of the individual posters, and NOT that of Web Design & Review, unless otherwise stated. You are invited to SUBMIT your site for inclusion here. Please post your reactions to our online Site Review Form Or send your comments and impressions to: LETTERS at graphic-design.com Please put "REVIEW" and the name of the reviewed site in the SUBJECT line of the email, or the "Title" line of the review form. Your comments may be published, but your name and/or email address will NOT be published to anyone. This is the Web Design & Review web site at: http://www.WebDesign-Review.com/ Copyright 2001, 2002 WebDesign & Review, all rights reserved.