The 1-hour UI Audit – Jane Portman – MicroConf Europe 2015 Talk Recap

The MicroConf Europe 2015 Talk Recaps can be found on the central “hub” page.

Website: uibreakfast.com
Twitter: @uibreakfast
Slides: The 1 hour UI audit slides

Talk Recap

• Your app/website design is damocles sword hanging over your head: Always threatening, but you never have time
• Top 4 Design Hazards
  • User doesn’t want your product
  • user fails to sign up
  • user fails to get started
  • user fails to reach his goals
• 3 modules, 20 minutes each
  • functionality
  • layout
  • style
• Functionality
  • List the goals
    • Who are your ideal customers?
    • What is their big goal when they sign up?
    • What are their long-term goals, business or personal?
  • List the tasks
    • Primary: What tasks do the users perform daily? What is their daily routine for achieving that big goal?
    • Secondary: What unique tasks are performed from time to time?
  • Extract the objects
    • Work through your tasks from previous step, and list all nouns.
    • Chances are your main menu will list the same objects
  • Define the language
    • Work through list of tasks and objects
  • Classify Existing Screens
    • Primary: items in main menu & first-level descendants
  • Audit each Screen
    • List tasks & objects for each screen
    • Ideal Screen Checklist
      • one big title
      • just one list of objects
      • one prominent task (other tasks subtle)
      • clean corners
      • obvious navigation
  • Now work with the results
    • polish the language
    • split complex screens
    • Group elements in horizontal blocks
    • Polish experience for primary tasks
• Keep your product crispy
  • simple apps are easier to use, build & sell.

-Christoph