Our familiarity with computers affects how we design websites. Just because it makes sense to us, doesn't mean it will make sense to most/many/any of the site's users. I haven't taken part in any usability testing before, but I'd really like to. Now that Silverback (http://silverbackapp.com/) is out, it doesn't take much work to get some usability testing done. I believe that most websites should have this done, but I'm interested to hear how many actually do. If you're interested in usability, you should definitely read "Don't Make Me Think" (http://www.sensible.com/buythebook.html). It's great and really isn't very long. Users shouldn't have any doubt about the actions they are choosing. Keep it simple and to the point. People are used to using popular sites, and many of these sites employ similar design patterns. Making use of them on yours, rather than being too creative and smart, will help the user to feel familiar with your website even if they haven't visited it before. There are some great design pattern library sites around ( http://delicious.com/locomotive/design+pattern). The DMMT book outlines quite a few too.
Dylan 2009/2/8 Adam Meehan <adam.mee...@gmail.com> > > I'm using the Blueprint CSS framework reset. I've been happy with it. > A blank slate is the ideal place to start for me. > > Dan: that list looks great. Ironically those topics sounds like > coverage of the fundamentals, but thats exactly what I would like > hear. It also demonstrates the gap between a designer and non-designer > like me. That being a handle on the broader scope of the process and > principles of web design. A top down view if you like. > > PS. Dan, codeape.net seems to be dead. > > > On Feb 8, 3:59 am, Dan Cheail <dan.che...@me.com> wrote: > > I use a reset css, but I don't like the syntax of the YUI grid stuff - > > prefer to roll my own > > -- > > Dan Cheail > > Chief Geek, Codeape. > > phone: 0402 114 697 > > web:http://codeape.net > > > > On 08/02/2009, at 3:14 AM, Xavier Shay wrote: > > > > > > > > > Dan Cheail wrote: > > >> As another deverloper/designer who handles both sides of the coin, > > >> I'd > > >> be inclined to suggest that the most valuable means of presentation > > >> is > > >> something practical and to the point. Trying to teach design > > >> principle > > >> fundamentals in a single 15-20 minute presentation is going to be > > >> difficult at best, and will be even harder for someone to take > > >> anything > > >> away from. > > > > >> I've just started a new rails-based app at work, and as part of it, > > >> I've > > >> built a set of stylesheets, templates and FormBuilders that I'm > > >> happy to > > >> open-source and use as a practical demonstration of some basic design > > >> and usability principles, ie: > > > > >> - advantages of grid-based layouts > > > kind of related, does any one use the YUI grid and reset CSS? > > > They seem like a "Good Thing" > > > > >> - ui consistency > > >> - Fitt's law / usability fundamentals > > >> - effective use of HTML and CSS for layout and usability > > >> - 960-based layouts > > > > >> I'd also be willing to do a basic "makeover" of someone's admin > > >> interface if people think it would be a good teaching method. > > > > >> -- > > >> Dan Cheail > > >> Chief Geek, Codeape. > > >> phone: 0402 114 697 > > >> web:http://codeape.net > > > > >> On 07/02/2009, at 2:47 PM, Brodaigh wrote: > > > > >>> That's all really nice fellers but it doesn't answer my question > > >>> (bar > > >>> a couple). > > > > >>> I deliberately left the original post open-ended so as to see what > > >>> might come up fully aware that one way of looking at it is, there is > > >>> no answer. > > > > >>> I'm not looking for the forest I'm looking for the trees. > > > > >>> So, let's focus on aesthetics and lets make this really simple; > > >>> what's > > >>> one thing that you think, if you improved or understood better or > > >>> even > > >>> liked better would enable you one success. > > > > >>> Forget "I'm not a designer, I'm a developer" that's like saying "I'm > > >>> not gay, I'm straight so i cant dress like a gay guy", whether you > > >>> want to or not, is what's relevant. I could take that further but in > > >>> good taste, I won't. > > > > >>> Oh and yes aesthetics -subjective. Ok but lets just say that you > > >>> want > > >>> to make something that looks good to you. > > > > >>> It may be how you come to a decision and having a point where that > > >>> decision needs to meet. > > > > >>> I could assume there's no technical issue because you're all good > > >>> at solving technical issues. > > > > >>> Anyway, if anything comes to mind it would be great if peeps could > > >>> post it here or email me, broda...@gmail.com <mailto: > broda...@gmail.com > > >>> >. > > > > >>> PS. did you notice all my paragraphs are out of alignment? > > > > >>> :-) > > > > >>> On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 4:41 PM, Stuart Coyle <stuart.co...@gmail.com > > >>> <mailto:stuart.co...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > > > >>> And for Linux users there's Agave! I find it quite useful for > > >>> color > > >>> scheme selection. > > > > >>> On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 3:09 PM, Xavier Shay <xavier-l...@rhnh.net > > >>> <mailto:xavier-l...@rhnh.net>> wrote: > > > > >>>> Paul Fraser wrote: > > >>>>> I have just discovered this page which is quite spectacular, > > >>> play around > > >>>>> with it.... > > >>>>>http://kuler.adobe.com/#create/fromacolor > > >>>>http://www.colourlovers.com/you don't need flash > > > > >>>>> Paul Fraser > > > > >>>>> Paul Fraser wrote: > > >>>>>> Gareth Townsend wrote: > > > > >>>>>>> I think I a lot of us could benefit from a principles of > > >>> design talk: > > > > >>>>>>> How to pick a group of colours that work together. > > > > >>>>>>http://kuler.adobe.com/#themes/mostpopular is of assistance > > >>> in this > > >>>>>> pursuit. > > > > >>>>>> Cheers > > >>>>>> Paul Fraser > > > > >>> -- > > >>> Stuart Coyle > > >>> stuart dot coyle at gmail dot com > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby or Rails Oceania" group. 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