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Title:
Designing Web Usability: the practice of simplicity
Review:
Jakob Nielsen is renowned as a web usability guru, so when this book was published last year it understandably commanded attention. It is the first of two books on the subject of web usability. This first book is about the 'what' of good websites, with the second intending to be about the 'how'. Essentially this book extols the virtue of simplicity and encourages website designers to concentrate on the users' needs rather than fancy design.
The essence of this fairly large volume (over 400 pages) is explained and argued across four main sections, namely page, content, site, and intranet design. Under page design Nielsen engages with cross-platform design, linking, style sheets and frames ("just say no"). Content design includes such topics as writing for the web and the use of multimedia, where the web is described as an 'attention economy' where users will swiftly move on if they do not receive immediate benefits upon arriving at a site. Nielsen then argues for greater consideration to be given to overall site design in the third main section, where the importance of such issues as navigation, search capabilities and URL design are hammered home. The section on intranet design to some extent repeats earlier material, but Nielsen ably differentiates intranet from internet design and illustrates the issues particular to corporate information infrastructures. Two further chapters, considering the importance of designing for both accessibility (for users with disabilities) and the global audience (internationalisation versus localisation) appear before Nielsen attempts to predict the future. In characteristic style he anticipates the death of the web browser, considers bandwidth and searches for a metaphor for the web in other media. The only web constant, he argues, is change. The conclusion looks at the main reasons users visit sites and argues ultimately for simplicity in web design.
Any reader of this book will be left in no doubt that Jakob Nielsen both passionately believes in web usability and knows exactly what he is talking about. Packed with full colour screenshots to illustrate principles, this book sets out the fundamental precepts of good design. Nielsen brings to his book results of surveys and previous work to underpin his points, although he is not adverse to occasionally arguing for a point because he feels it should, quite simply, be so. The text is easy to read, a pleasure with which to engage and, for me as a 'webmaster', a catalyst for development. It is a testament to the usefulness of this book that it has lived beside my terminal at work for the last few weeks as I put the theory into practice.
It could be said that what Nielsen writes is all common sense. Perhaps. That said, Nielsen's insight into usability and its application brings to life a topic too often neglected in favour of flashy design. Together with his web site this book should be required reading for all those who are serious about wanting people to use their web sites. I, for one, will look forward to the second volume.
Free Pint Reviewer:
Ian Tilsed is a Computing Development Officer for the University of Exeter Library and Information Service where, among other duties, he is responsible for the library web site and some popular pages on library and information science resources. He is a member of the management committee of the UK Online User Group (UKOLUG), the Internet News column editor for the UKOLUG Newsletter and a regular reviewer for a number of publications.
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