Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Usability
The user experience for our Web portfolio project relies on persuasive
communication and exquisite presentation of our skills and experience. If the
Web portfolio has ambiguous, difficult usability issues, the experience and the
attempt at persuasion will fail. Usability cannot be achieved simply with
repetition. It must be a thoughtful hierarchy. True, we want navigation to be
super consistent throughout the Web portfolio site. We do not want to sacrifice
cost or time by creating redundant designs that do not serve our needs, simply
to think that we have covered the bases when it comes to usability.
There are three important usability issues to focus on when you design your
Web portfolio (Kristof & Satran, 1995):
•
Keep the interface and navigation clutter free.
Resist the temptation
to put something on your page that has no content or navigation value. Do
not be redundant and duplicate the same controls on the same page. This
wastes time, effort, and screen real estate. Moreover, cluttered interfaces
can be a cause for user confusion.
•
Use shortcuts to get to your most impressive assets.
Do not wait
around and expect the user to hunt for your portfolio pieces or your highest
regarded work, provide a quick route right to the work. Get creative on
the lowest, simplest levels and focus to design access that will move the
user towards what is most important. For example, during my last Web
portfolio design, I placed publications as the first content that is seen when
the main navigation page is loaded. I did this because I recently published
an edited topic. I felt that my users, who include academic colleagues,
potential clients, and students, would want to know about my recent
publication. I feel that the accomplishment of producing an edited topic
was one that I needed to communicate to my audience immediately. As
you assemble content, you will notice that some things are more important
than others are. Make these items prominent in their access routes. You
want to keep that in mind as your information design of evolves. As well,
when you have new accomplishments you would like to have them
immediately available on the most accessed Web page in your Web
portfolio. This page is obviously the main page. However, you can
structure the site to work so that after any initial animation or motion
graphic, the site will go to any page or location that you decide.
