Welcome to the April edition of the Userfocus usability and user experience newsletter!
- Message from the Editor
- The 3 lenses of usability evaluation
- From our archives: Log usability tests like a pro
- What we're reading
- Online training in user experience
- User experience quotation of the month
Message from the Editor
In this month's article, I look at three different strategies for usability evaluation that I've come across. Each offers value, but as you'll see they are better still when you combine all three. We also have an article from our archives on logging usability tests and links to a wide range of interesting articles on usability and user experience.
In other news, our eBook on using Morae for usability testing has been updated. If you'd like your own copy, you can get it from here.
The 3 lenses of usability evaluation
Over the last few months, I've worked with three clients who have each adopted a different approach to usability evaluation. These approaches are like different lenses used to observe the customer experience. No single approach is adequate on its own, but in combination the three approaches form a powerful strategy. Read the article in full: The 3 lenses of usability evaluation.
From our archives: Log usability tests like a pro
Observing a usability test seems simple but it's easy to lose focus during a session and record only the dramatic or obvious usability problems. As you watch the test, you should make minute-by-minute observations of the participant's behaviour as single letter codes. Datalogging ensures you note all behaviours, not just the ones that stand out, and provides all you need to quickly create a list of usability issues you can pass to the design team. Read the review in full: Log usability tests like a pro.
What we’re reading
Some interesting usability-related articles that got our attention over the last month:
- How to find great participants for your user study.
- The importance of 'insights' in user research.
- 4 Reasons Why Design Is Taking Over Silicon Valley.
- What is ISO 9241?
- Apple's Human Interface Guidelines for Apple Watch.
- Examples of badly designed products that are a big part of your day.
- Short and snappy definitions of 67 cognitive biases.
- So, you're going to be a user researcher: top tips to get you going.
- One of the many problems with text labels inside form fields is that they don't wrap on small screens.
- The unbearable inaccessibility of the carousel UI pattern.
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Online training in user experience
We have three online training courses in user experience. Save money when you purchase them as a bundle.
User Experience quotation of the month
“Here's the formula if you want to build a billion-dollar internet company… Take a human desire, preferably one that has been around for a really long time… Identify that desire and use modern technology to take out steps.” — Ev Williams, Founder of Twitter
Hungry for more?
Foundation Certificate in UX
Gain hands-on practice in all the key areas of UX while you prepare for the BCS Foundation Certificate in User Experience. More details
Newsletter archive
Look back over previous newsletters in the newsletter archive.