Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
From Amazon…
Usability design is one of the most important–yet often least attractive–tasks for a Web developer. In Don’t Make Me Think, author Steve Krug lightens up the subject with good humor and excellent, to-the-point examples.
The title of the book is its chief personal design premise. All of the tips, techniques, and examples presented revolve around users being able to surf merrily through a well-designed site with minimal cognitive strain. Readers will quickly come to agree with many of the book’s assumptions, such as “We don’t read pages–we scan them” and “We don’t figure out how things work–we muddle through.” Coming to grips with such hard facts sets the stage for Web design that then produces topnotch sites.
Using an attractive mix of full-color screen shots, cute cartoons and diagrams, and informative sidebars, the book keeps your attention and drives home some crucial points. Much of the content is devoted to proper use of conventions and content layout, and the “before and after” examples are superb. Topics such as the wise use of rollovers and usability testing are covered using a consistently practical approach.
I read this book many years ago while I was getting a manicure and pedicure (yes – I’m a girl). I love Krug’s ability to take what some would consider very dry information, and make it interesting to learn. As a web designer, I am very concerned with usability and love learning what I can about how a visitor interacts with a website. I picked this book up a few weeks ago and re-read it again. Very easy read for anyone, packed full of valuable information about setting up a successful website, and what things you should avoid. I recommend this book all the time to my new clients, as well as the veterans.
