Title: When is Learnability More Important than Usability?
Context: Maybe it’s time we stop coddling our users at every turn and give them some credit for being able to learn new systems.
Synopsis: Let’s get this out of the way right up front: usability is hugely important in UI design. But – and this is the point of the article – maybe it’s not the end all and be all of human computer interaction. Sure, if your software (or app or website or what have you) is a labyrinthian maze of UI controls and workflow dead ends then your software sucks. But – there it is again – that doesn’t mean that your design needs to wear every single function on its metaphorical sleeve. Users are (or can be) smart people. It’s not necessary to coddle them like children and design for them as such. Maybe it’s time to stop spelling everything out in the name of usability and start building things that grow with the user’s level of intimacy with the product. Remember the old adage: “Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I’ll remember. Involve me, I’ll understand.”
Best Bit: “If the interface you are designing is critical to your users then it’s far more likely they are going to spend time learning how to use it. The more important the application is the more time they will spend trying to get used to it.”
via uxbooth.com
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