CHAPTER 1Don’t make me think!
KRUG’S FIRST LAW OF USABILITY
Michael, why are the drapes open?—KAY CORLEONE IN THE GODFATHER, PART II
People often ask me:
“What’s the most important thing I should do if Iwant to make sure my Web site is easy to use?”
The answer is simple. It’s not “Nothing important should ever be more than two clicks away,” or “Speak the user’s language,” or even “Be consistent.”
It’s…
“Don’t make me think!”
I’ve been telling people for years that this is my first law of usability. And the more Web pages I look at, the more convinced I become.
It’s the overriding principle—the ultimate tie breaker when deciding whether something works or doesn’t in a Web design. If you have room in your head for only one usability rule, make ...
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