KRUG, Don't make me think, revisited

Part 1: First Steps Chapter 1: Don't Make Me Think! Key Concept: Web usability hinges on the principle that users shouldn't have to think about how to use a site. Everything should be obvious

**KRUG, Don't Make Me Think, Revisited** **Part 1: First Steps** * **Chapter 1: Don't Make Me Think!** * **Key Concept:** Web usability hinges on the principle that users shouldn't have to think about how to use a site. Everything should be obvious and intuitive. * **Summary:** Krug explains that users "scan" web pages rather than reading them word for word. They look for items that match their needs and click on the first promising link. A well-designed website should facilitate this process by making navigation and interaction as simple as possible. * **Chapter 2: How We Really Use the Web** * **Key Concept:** Users are often in a hurry, with specific goals, and have no time to waste on confusing interfaces. * **Summary:** Krug describes typical user behavior: they arrive at a site with a goal, scan the content quickly, make satisfactory (not necessarily optimal) choices, and click without hesitation. They don't invest time in learning how a site works if it isn't immediately understandable. * **Chapter 3: Billboard Design 101** * **Key Concept:** Web pages should be designed for scanning, not reading, with clear visual hierarchies and easily identifiable elements. * **Summary:** Krug provides practical advice for structuring content: use clear headings and subheadings, bulleted lists, short paragraphs, highlight keywords, and use web design conventions (underlined links, for example) so users know what to expect. * **Chapter 4: Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral?** * **Key Concept:** Users rely on design conventions to navigate and understand a website. It's important to respect them so as not to disorient users. * **Summary:** Krug emphasizes the importance of web conventions (e.g., logo in the top left, main navigation at the top or on the left). They allow users to easily orient themselves and focus on the content. Innovating at all costs can disrupt users and harm usability. * **Chapter 5: Omit Needless Words** * **Key Concept:** Superfluous content distracts users and makes the site less efficient. Get to the point. * **Summary:** Krug recommends removing unnecessary "fluff," redundant instructions, and overly long introductions. A concise and direct site is more pleasant to use and allows users to quickly find what they are looking for. **Part 2: Making Sense of Things** * **Chapter 6: Street Signs and Breadcrumbs** * **Key Concept:** Clear and intuitive navigation is essential for users to find their way around and find what they're looking for. * **Summary:** Krug compares web navigation to road signs. It must be consistent, visible, and informative, with a clear page name, breadcrumbs, and a logical structure. Navigation should always tell the user where they are, where they came from, and where they can go. * **Chapter 7: The Big Bang Theory of Web Design** * **Key Concept:** Before designing a website, you need to understand the needs, goals, and behavior of your users. * **Summary:** Krug encourages asking questions about the target audience: who are they? What are they looking for? What is their level of familiarity with the web? This information allows you to create a site tailored to user needs. He stresses that this stage is crucial but often neglected. * **Chapter 8: "The Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends"** * **Key Concept:** The site designer is responsible for navigation, not the user. It must be thought out and designed with the utmost care. * **Summary:** Navigation should be a conscious effort on the part of the site designer. It should not be left to chance or be an afterthought. Krug suggests that designing the navigation is a crucial responsibility for the success of a site. **Part 3: We Don't Have to Get Carried Away** * **Chapter 9: 101 Things a Day About Usability That Even Your Boss Can Grasp** * **Key Concept:** Marketing and usability/ergonomics must go hand in hand to create effective and user-friendly websites. * **Summary:** Krug addresses the potential tensions between marketing teams and design teams. He emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between promoting the site and its usability. The goal is to create a site that is both attractive and easy to use. * **Chapter 10: Usability Testing on 10 Cents a Day** * **Key Concept:** Usability testing is essential for identifying usability problems and improving a website. * **Summary:** Krug demystifies usability testing and makes it accessible to everyone. He proposes a simple and inexpensive method for conducting tests with a small number of users. The important thing is to observe users interacting with the site and listen to them verbalize their thoughts. * **Chapter 11: Usability as Common Courtesy** * **Key Concept:** Web accessibility is crucial to allow everyone, including people with disabilities, to use a website. * **Summary:** Krug addresses the basic principles of web accessibility, such as using alternative text for images, keyboard navigation, and sufficient contrast. He emphasizes that accessibility is not only a matter of ethics but also a matter of broadening the site's audience. * **Chapter 12: Accessibility and You** * **Key Concept:** How to handle unrealistic or counterproductive requests from clients or superiors. * **Summary:** Krug provides advice for navigating situations where client or boss requirements conflict with usability principles. He proposes communication and persuasion strategies to advocate for good design practices. **Part 4: It's Over** * **Chapter 13: A Dame, a Smartphone, and a Street Musician Walk into a Bar: Mobile Usability** * **Key Concept:** Creating a user-friendly and accessible website is a form of respect for users. * **Summary:** Respect for the user and their time should be at the heart of web design. A well-designed site is a sign that you care about your users. * **Chapter 14: Road Map** * **Key Concept:** Usability principles also apply to mobile sites, but with specific constraints. * **Summary:** Touch, small screen sizes, and sometimes unstable connections are constraints that must be taken into account when designing mobile sites. He suggests avenues of thought and adaptations of websites to mobile interfaces. * **Chapter 15: Get Out of the Office and Into the Streets** * **Key Concept:** Observation and direct contact with users is essential, and should be regular. * **Summary:** The book concludes by encouraging readers to carry out user tests regularly. Observing users and interacting with them allows you to stay in touch with their needs. * **Epilogue:** Steve Krug concludes by encouraging the application of the usability principles described in the book, emphasizing that even small improvements can have a significant impact on the user experience. In summary, "Don't Make Me Think, Revisited" is a practical and accessible guide to designing intuitive and easy-to-use websites. It emphasizes simplicity, clarity, and adherence to web conventions, all while keeping the needs and behavior of users in mind. These principles resonate strongly with the goals of reducing cognitive load and creating predictable patterns, especially for neurodivergent users navigating the digital landscape. As Romain noted, these concepts have practical applications that can significantly reduce daily cognitive load.

By Romain Peter