Nothing is more important than a clear and consistent navigation system.”

How many opportunities do we have to dramatically improve people’s lives just by doing our job a little better?

Visual hierarchy guides users’ eyes to where they need to go first. By strategically placing elements on the page, you can lead users through the site in a logical, easy-to-follow path. The size, color, and position of elements can all be used to create this hierarchy.

Importance of Visual Hierarchy

Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left.”

1.	The Principle of Clarity	2.	The Importance of Visual Hierarchy	3.	Simplifying Navigation	4.	The Role of Conventions	5.	Usability Testing Essentials	6.	The Concept of “Satisficing”	7.	The Power of Minimalist Design

Topics You’ll Learn Today

At the heart of effective web design is clarity. When users visit a website, they shouldn’t have to think hard about what to do next. The content should be obvious and intuitive, allowing users to find what they need without confusion.

Principle of Clarity

Good navigation is key to a user-friendly website. The easier it is for users to navigate, the more likely they are to stay on the site and find what they need. Navigation should be straightforward and consistent across all pages.

Simplifying Navigation

Using conventions—design patterns that users are familiar with—makes websites easier to use. People like things that are predictable and easy to understand, so sticking to tried-and-true methods can enhance usability.

Role of Conventions

Conventions are your friends because they make your site easier to use.

Testing one user is 100% better than testing none.”

Less is often more when it comes to web design. By stripping away unnecessary elements, you can create a cleaner, more effective design that helps users focus on what truly matters. Minimalism also improves load times and reduces cognitive load.

Power of Minimalist Design

1.	Prioritize Clarity: Make your content intuitive and obvious.	2.	Use Visual Hierarchy: Guide users’ eyes naturally.	3.	Simplify Navigation: Keep navigation consistent and easy.	4.	Embrace Conventions: Stick to familiar design patterns.	5.	Test for Usability: Regularly test with real users.	6.	Design for Satisficing: Help users find good-enough solutions quickly.	7.	Keep It Minimal: Reduce clutter for a cleaner design.

Users don’t make optimal choices. They satisfice.

Satisficing” refers to the way users make decisions online—they choose the first reasonable option rather than the optimal one. This means that designers should make it easy for users to find a good-enough option quickly, rather than expecting them to analyze every choice.

Concept of Satisficing

Users don’t read web pages; they scan them.”

Usability testing is crucial for understanding how real users interact with your site. It involves watching people use the site and identifying any areas of confusion or difficulty. Regular testing helps catch problems before they affect a large number of users.

Usability Testing Essentials

“When you’re creating a site, your job is to get rid of the question marks.”

Designing a website? Make it intuitive, clear, and easy to navigate. Steve Krug’s “Don’t Make Me Think” reveals the secrets to creating user-friendly web experiences.

Five years and more than 100,000 copies after it was first published, it's hard to imagine anyone working in Web design who hasn't read Steve Krug's "instant classic" on Web usability, but people are still discovering it every day. In this second edition, Steve adds three new chapters in the same style as the original: wry and entertaining, yet loaded with insights and practical advice for novice and veteran alike. Don't be surprised if it completely changes the way you think about Web design. Three New Chapters! <ul> <li>Usability as common courtesy -- Why people really leave Web sites</li> <li>Web Accessibility, CSS, and you -- Making sites usable and accessible</li> <li>Help! My boss wants me to ______. -- Surviving executive design whims </li> </ul> "I thought usability was the enemy of design until I read the first edition of this book. Don't Make Me Think! showed me how to put myself in the position of the person who uses my site. After reading it over a couple of hours and putting its ideas to work for the past five years, I can say it has done more to improve my abilities as a Web designer than any other book. In this second edition, Steve Krug adds essential ammunition for those whose bosses, clients, stakeholders, and marketing managers insist on doing the wrong thing. If you design, write, program, own, or manage Web sites, you must read this book." -- Jeffrey Zeldman, author of Designing with Web Standards

STEVE KRUG

Similar ideas

Indexing systems

Just get something down

Be precise in communication