1. Series Introduction | Usability Principles and Practice

Summary

In this introductory lecture, Chris Parker from York's Design at Love University presents a comprehensive course on usability principles and practice, focusing on understanding user needs and enhancing website design. The course promises to improve website effectiveness, covering topics from usability fundamentals to advanced concepts like dark UX and beyond-screen interfaces. Students will develop skills in user evaluation, interface redesign, and creating compelling usability reports, all aimed at boosting business performance.

Takeaways

• 📚 The course is designed to teach about usability principles and practices, focusing on understanding user needs and improving website design.
• 👤 Chris Parker, a lecturer at York's Design at Love University, will be the instructor for this course.
• 🤔 The concept of usability is defined as how well users can use a system to achieve their goals, which is applicable to various systems, not just websites.
• 🛍️ The course will use fashion websites as examples, specifically for buying clothes, to illustrate usability principles.
• 🚫 Usability is not just about functionality; it also involves a positive user experience, including ease of interaction and recovery from errors.
• 🔍 The course will cover identifying and addressing usability and accessibility issues, using psychological principles to influence user interface design.
• 📈 Intellectual skills will be developed to justify the use of user evaluation methods and analyze data to infer usability issues.
• 🛠️ Practical skills will be taught, including preparing and conducting user evaluation tests, and redesigning website interfaces based on findings.
• 🔄 The course emphasizes the iterative nature of website design, viewing each website as a prototype that is never truly finished.
• 📝 Transferable skills include justifying design decisions, operating usability testing environments professionally, and preparing comprehensive evaluation reports.
• 🌐 The course will also explore usability beyond traditional screens, including virtual reality and augmented reality, showing the broad application of usability principles.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the 'Usability Principles and Practice' lecture series?

The main focus of the lecture series is to teach about usability in websites, emphasizing understanding users' needs, identifying how websites do not meet those needs, and then improving website design by applying usability principles.

Who is the lecturer for the 'Usability Principles and Practice' course?

Chris Parker, a lecturer in York's design at Love University, is the instructor for the course.

What is the definition of usability given in the script?

Usability is defined as how well users can use a system functionally to achieve their goals, which is intentionally broad and can apply to various systems, including websites.

Why is it important to consider both functionality and experience when designing a website?

Both functionality and experience are important because a system must not only let users achieve their goals easily but also provide a positive experience. If the experience is poor, users may not use the system even if it functions well.

What is an example of improving usability given in the script?

An example of improving usability is the comparison between an older, cluttered version of LinkedIn and a redesigned, simpler version that removes barriers and allows users to achieve their goals faster.

What are the four key areas of learning covered in the course?

The four key areas of learning are knowledge and understanding, intellectual skills, practical skills, and transferable skills that can be applied in various contexts.

What will students be able to describe by the end of the course regarding usability and accessibility issues?

Students will be able to describe why usability and accessibility are essential and how to uncover issues in user interfaces.

How will the course help students analyze and interpret user evaluation data?

The course will teach students to analyze qualitative and quantitative user evaluation data to infer usability issues from various sources such as interviews and surveys.

What practical skills will students gain in preparing and conducting user evaluation tests?

Students will gain the ability to prepare and conduct rigorous and professional user evaluations to investigate website usability and improve business performance.

How does the course plan to address the iterative nature of website design?

The course will teach students to iteratively redesign existing website interfaces, guided by identified usability issues, emphasizing that a website is always a prototype and there's always room for improvement.

What broader applications of usability principles will the course explore beyond traditional websites?

The course will explore applications of usability principles in various contexts including virtual reality, augmented reality, and other interactive systems.