Tag: UX

  • Getting the Tone Right

    Getting the Tone Right

    Writing for the web requires a different style of writing than other formats. You need to be succinct, but also clear. Getting the tone right (not too formal, not too informal) is important.

    (more…)
  • Responsive Websites

    Responsive Websites

    A responsive website is one that you can view equally well on a mobile or desktop device. The font size and layout should be readable without zooming, panning, or scrolling horizontally.

    (more…)
  • Organizing your Content

    Organizing your Content

    When you are building or updating your website, you need to think about what your target audience will expect to see.

    There are various ways to find out what they will expect; you can ask a group of people who are likely to use your site what they would expect to see; you can look at other websites offering a similar product or service; or you can experiment with different ways of presenting your information and see which is the most effective.

    (more…)
  • User Stories and Personas

    User Stories and Personas

    A user story is a way of describing a website or product feature in relation to the person who will use it, how they will use it, and why it is useful.

    User stories usually follow the format “as a [role], I want to do [task], so that I can achieve [goal]”. This can also be written “as who, I want what, so that why.

    The role, the task, and the goal are all equally important, and a user story is incomplete without all three being present.

    (more…)
  • Writing for the Web

    Writing for the Web

    Have you ever experienced the fatigue that results from being presented with a giant wall of text on the screen?

    Sure, if you’re committed to learning about a topic in depth, you’ll read a whole long-form article, but if you are not committed, and just want to see the salient details, you’ll likely skip the verbiage and leave.

    (more…)
  • Accessibility

    Accessibility

    Making websites accessible is a very important aspect of user experience. Accessibility benefits everyone, because it makes websites easier for everyone to use. It is also a legal requirement in most countries, including Canada.

    (more…)
  • User Experience

    User Experience

    User experience is an important aspect of website design. Remember the bad old days of the 1990s, with marquees, animated graphics everywhere, an excess of links that were just labelled “click here”, and garish background colours?

    (more…)