In Issue No. 267 of A LIST APART, For People Who make Websites…

Look at it Another Way

by INDI YOUNG

Before you can solve a user’s problems, you must see them as that user sees them. Once you understand what drives people’s behavior, not only do new ideas flow freely, but the ideas that flow are appropriate and useful. Indi Young tells how to get out of your own way and hear what your users are telling you.

and…

Zebra Striping: More Data for the Case

by JESSICA ENDERS

As designers or marketers, we share a desire that our tables and forms be easy to scan, read, and use. Does the widely practiced shading of alternate rows help, hurt, or have no effect? A previous study proving inconclusive, designer and researcher Jessica Enders has tackled the conundrum again, coming up with statistically relevant data and a set of recommendations.

Tags: jessicaenders, indiyoung, mentalmodels, zebrastripe, zebrastriping, alistapart, ALA, happycog, publications

Filed under: A List Apart, Design, Typography, UX, Usability, User Experience, work, writing

6 Responses to “Mental models. Yipes! Stripes!”

1. Small Initiatives said on 12 September 2008 at 5:46 pm:

   Boston Globe to close one of its printing plants NPR’s Palca wins Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting Dear AIGA, where are the web designers? The lessons of September 11, 2002Mental models. Yipes! Stripes!

2. Waveflux by Philip Barron said on 10 September 2008 at 4:33 am:

   Randomized Suburban Guerrilla: Society Mighty Girl: Mighty Love: Make:Grow:Gather Slay, Monstrobot of the Deep!!: The Surprise Ending to Secret Invasion–Revealed Jeffrey Zeldman:Mental models. Yipes! Stripes!Jon Swift: Robert Novak Runs Down Obama Supporter Alternate Brain: “We’re through. Even if we win, we’ve lost.” Petulant Rumblings: Shoe Porn Oh Well: Naked lies William K. Wolfrum: The healing of Emru

3. 
   Paulo said on 14 September 2008 at 4:02 pm:

   No big deal. Just to point out that there is a little typo in the post. The 7 in Issue No. 267 is outside the anchor tag. Sorry if I seem obsessed, I probably am. Anyway, you are one of my heroes.

4. 
   Base said on 26 September 2008 at 7:52 am:

   Very interesting study,
   recently I did some research on my own on how to best present information in various degrees of complexity and came to the conclusion that the really good ways to do it are far from intuitive even if you have already had some experience with information presentation.
   The only way to find THE optimal frame to set your data in can usually be determined by field testing…

5. 
   Trekstor said on 6 January 2009 at 7:35 am:

   You should always try to look over the shoulder of the users or do eye-tracking.