I don't think e-commerce sites should avoid words that IxDA members don't understand, as long as those words are not required to find and evaluate the product. They add precision for the people who do understand them.
I agree with Jared visual cues are more relevant than product names and descriptions in women's apparel, although catalog taxonomy and search seem to play more of a role in the lingerie sub-category. In his list of apparel navigation priorities (images, price, etc.), I would add brand (http://www.brandkeys.com/news/press/042209 WWD Women Seeking Value.pdf), as well as size category or department (misses, petite, etc.), particularly if it is a store that women shop at retail locations in addition to online. Just in case any women's apparel e-retailers happen upon this thread, I have a suggestion for you. Consider offering a rear view of products in the image options where relevant. Quite a few women that I've interviewed said they would not proceed to purchase in an online shopping session because they wanted to see what an article of clothing looked like from behind. Oprah thinks it's important too, at least with jeans. Her audience (http://www.quantcast.com/oprah.com) represents a significant portion of online apparel shoppers, since by some estimates 65% of online apparel sales are made by women over age 35 (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124286245782441235.html#mod=rss_Weekend_Journal). Paul Bryan Usography (http://www.usography.com) Blog: Virtual Floorspace (http://www.virtualfloorspace.com) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=47247 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
