"Don't Make Me Think"

Review: Don’t Make Me Think

            In a technologically advanced world, understanding how to best grasp an online user’s attention is imperative.  Web designers and usability professionals are attempting to master the concept of audience retention. This can be done through basic concepts, such as navigation, clicks and formatting. These ideas are explored by writers like Steve Krug in Don’t Make Me Think. As ironic as the title may be, it has a lot of meaning to it. In a time where people are obsessed with obtaining information in just seconds, accessibility is key. 

            Creating a website may be simple, but creating a user-friendly website that keeps readers coming back isn’t. For this reason, Krug touches upon several “rules” that should be followed when building a framework for the site. It’s important to keep in mind the number of clicks users must follow before they finally arrive to their desired destination. He stresses the idea that the number of clicks may not be as significant as “the amount of thought required and the amount of uncertainty” about the choices displayed for the viewer. This means, users should be provided with links that are clear and easy to follow to assure them that they are on the right track. According to Krug’s rule of thumb, “three mindless, unambiguous clicks equal one click that requires thought.”

            Choices presented to an audience should be plain, simple and obvious. The web already holds a massive amount of information, and clumping it all together in one tiny screen isn’t going to make it better. Options should further guide the viewer, and even present useful information they didn’t know they needed. For example, the website can include two initial straightforward choices such as “sign up” or “login,” and then proceed with more detailed options. The viewer should be able to make mindless choices without becoming frustrated to prevent them from exiting the website.

            Engagements and unique users who arrive to a well crafted website are more likely to stay hooked, if there is a coherent and appealing flow. The use of color and formatting can be essential in grasping the reader’s attention.  As mentioned in the textbook, The New York Times creates a variety of alternatives for the audience with a series of mindless clicks. The use of categorizing options through relevant questions and selections is proved to be most successful. Oftentimes, the way a website is formatted may be overlooked, but it is truly essential in creating an online site that is friendly. The content presented should lead the eye to what the reader wants as well as recommendations.  

            Brief, timely and unavoidable guidance works best when a website creator is forced to provide an inevitable difficult choice to the reader. According to Krug, only the smallest amount of information is appropriate for the viewer. Selections should be timely to ensure that the reader reacts to the option when they need it. Finally it should be unavoidable so that the option is obvious and hard to miss. Keeping these three golden tips in mind should allow web designers and usability professional succeed in engaging readers in the tech savvy world, according to Steve Krug.

http://www.sensible.com/downloads/DMMT-Revisited-sample-chapter.pdf