
Learnability Isn't Enough
How to Design Apps That Are Easy to Use in the Long Run, Not Just the First Run
Paperback | 31 October 2023
At a Glance
232 Pages
22.86 x 15.24 x 1.35
Paperback
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Some UX problems are temporary. Others are permanent.
This book provides a unique framework to proactively find and fix permanent sources of UI effort. This helps you create apps that are both easy to learn and efficient in long-term use.
Whether you're a seasoned product & UX professional or just starting out, this book is your guide to elevating the everyday user experience, with practical tools and advice for making your app truly user-friendly day after day.
Inside, you'll learn:
- How to catch long-term issues that often aren't noticed right away
- How to spot key improvements and make wiser decisions about where to focus your design efforts
- How to keep users happy from version to version when updating or redesigning your app
==
In "Learnability Isn't Enough," Hans van de Bruggen delves deep into the realm of permanent "ergonomic" effort-the effort that remains even after the learning phase. Through insightful analysis, practical tools, and real-world examples, this book teaches you how to design apps that are not only easy to learn but also easy to use, day in and day out.
Core to this approach is understanding that some sources of effort are temporary, while others are permanent. Learning where to click is a temporary effort that fades with familiarity. In contrast, issues like difficult-to-hit buttons or hard-to-distinguish status indicators are permanent and persist over time. Users can't make an inconvenient button more convenient on their own, leaving them with this difficulty long-term.
Making matters worse, many of these issues only become apparent after prolonged use, which means they often go unfixed until after users have had a poor experience. Instead, this book provides tools to identify and address these issues proactively. By learning to spot permanent effort in the design phase, you can effectively "see the future" and address the sources of effort that will persist for users in the long run.
Discover innovative methods like the CUPID System, speed running, and the Usability Matrix to evaluate and enhance the efficiency and comfort of your interfaces. With these user-centered design principles and tools, you can design products that satisfy and delight users over the long term, avoiding common pitfalls that frustrate and alienate even the most loyal customers.
Whether you're a seasoned UX professional or just starting out, "Learnability Isn't Enough" is your guide to elevating the everyday user experience, ensuring that your products are not just usable but truly user-friendly.
Enhance your design process with the only book focused entirely on long-term usability. Get your copy today and start making a lasting impact on your users' experience.
==
What readers are saying
"A new method of approaching usability [with] an in-depth look at solving harder-to-spot issues."
"An excellent guide to building user interfaces strategically."
"Changed my perspective [about] building any app or software UI"
"I learned so many things from your book!"
"A practical guide for designers [with] tools to proactively identify and solve user interface issues"
"Really opened my eyes. I appreciated the CUPID framework. I already had many knowledge in the field, but this framework [helped] make things more structured."
Industry Reviews
"A new method of approaching usability [with] an in-depth look at solving harder-to-spot issues."
"An excellent guide to building user interfaces strategically."
"Changed my perspective [about] building any app or software UI"
"I learned so many things from your book!"
"A practical guide for designers [with] tools to proactively identify and solve user interface issues"
"Really opened my eyes. I appreciated the CUPID framework. I already had many knowledge in the field, but this framework [helped] make things more structured."
"Van de Bruggen's work offers valuable insights and practical strategies for creating user-centered designs that prioritize long-term ease of use and user satisfaction. The book's focus on proactive design improvements sets it apart as a valuable resource for designers aiming to enhance the usability of their digital products."
-Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) [emphasis added]
PART I
1) Introduction: Two types of "Ease of Use" (pg 3)
- A mistake anyone can make (pg 4)
- Usability testing can be deceptive (pg 7)
- Designing for efficiency and comfort (pg 10)
- Examples of learning effort and ergonomic effort (pg 11)
- What this book will cover (pg 12)
2) How to help your team prioritize long-term vs. short-term usability (pg 17)
- A diagram for showing different types of effort over time (pg 19)
- Focus on how much experience users will get, not on how much experience they currently have (pg 23)
3) How to make changes to your interface without upsetting your users (pg 31)
- Learning is an investment users make (pg 32)
- A redesigned interface adds effort that must be offset (pg 33)
- Providing the paths of least effort (pg 36)
- How to make better interface changes (pg 39)
4) How to assess day-to-day ease of use, beyond learnability (pg 47)
- Three methods for determining the amount of ergonomic effort in interfaces (pg 48)
- Get a more robust view of overall usability (pg 49)
- Interaction Cost Analysis (ICA) (pg 50)
- Speed Running (pg 55)
- "Extended" Usability Testing (pg 58)
PART II
5) The CUPID System: A five-step checklist for improving long-term usability in advance (pg 67)
- How to improve long-term ease of use proactively (pg 69)
- The CUPID System in use (pg 70)
- Meet "Morgan" (pg 74)
- For the sake of clarity (pg 75)
6) C for Clear: How to design interfaces so that users are never mistaken (pg 79)
- Make the state of the app more apparent (pg 81)
- Give obvious and timely feedback (pg 86)
- Provide a distinct sense of context (pg 91)
7) U for Unobstructed: How to design interfaces that stay out of the way of users (pg 97)
- Reduce unnecessary delays (pg 99)
- Improve speed and comfort during unavoidable delays (pg 104)
- Work with human movement (pg 109)
- Make direct paths (pg 114)
8) P for Predictable: How to design interfaces that let users plan ahead (pg 121)
- Create stable targets (pg 123)
- Make inputs more consistent (pg 128)
- Produce dependable outcomes (pg 133)
9) I for Indulgent: How to design interfaces that are more tolerant of messy inputs (pg 139)
- Leverage Fitts's Law (pg 140)
- Create more tolerant inputs (pg 144)
10) D for Digestible: How to design interfaces that unburden and relax the mind (pg 151)
- Let users stay mentally calibrated (pg 152)
- Cut down on the need to remember (pg 156)
- Do the mental heavy lifting (pg 161)
- Help users avoid pain (pg 165)
- Tickle the mind with comfort (pg 170)
PART III (APPENDICES)
A) The Usability Matrix: How to compare interfaces based on their usability (pg 179)
- Each type of effort affects users in different ways (pg 180)
- A power tool for visualizing interface strengths and weaknesses (pg 184)
- Choosing tasks with care is vital (pg 195)
B) The Product Pyramid: A model for understanding user behavior and priorities (pg 199)
- The Principle of Least Effort (pg 201)
- Complete Goal Set (pg 202)
- User Understanding (pg 202)
- Capabilities (pg 203)
- Effort (pg 204)
- Whim (pg 207)
- What this tool can tell us (pg 208)
C) CUPID Cheat Sheets (pg 213)
- Clear (pg 214)
- Unobstructed (pg 214)
- Predictable (pg 215)
- Indulgent (pg 216)
- Digestible (pg 216)
ISBN: 9798988826040
Published: 31st October 2023
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 232
Audience: Professional and Scholarly
Publisher: Hans van de Bruggen
Dimensions (cm): 22.86 x 15.24 x 1.35
Weight (kg): 0.35
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