Improving Discoverability
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The document discusses the concept of discoverability in software, which refers to how easily users can find features and manage tasks within an application. It highlights the importance of discoverability for user satisfaction and cost reduction, providing tips such as leveraging mental models, offering contextual focus, and utilizing just-in-time content. Overall, the document emphasizes that good discoverability contributes to good design.
Improving Discoverability
- 1. Improving Discoverability Suzanne Ginsburg, HOW Interactive 10.30.2012 Photo by Sandy Honig
- 2. What is Discoverability? HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 2
- 3. What is Discoverability? In the software world—desktop, web, mobile, tablet— discoverability typically refers to the ease at which users may find a feature to complete a specific task they have in mind. But it may also refer to the ability to simply get started with a new application, or the ability to discover features unknown to the user, e.g., those that may improve performance. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 3
- 4. Why is Discoverability important? HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 4
- 5. Why is Discoverability important? Makes users happy Minimizes help documentation Lowers customer care costs Good discoverability = Good design HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 5
- 6. Why has Discoverability become increasingly important today? HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 6
- 7. Why is Discoverability important today? HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 7
- 8. What can you do to improve Discoverability? HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 8
- 9. The Discoverability Hierarchy User Education Visual Language Screen Design InformationSS Architecture Concept HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 9
- 10. Discoverability Tips 1. Leverage Mental Models (Concept) 2. Provide Contextual Focus (Information Architecture) 3. Include Sneak Peeks (Screen Design) 4. Show Just-in-Time Content & Tools (Screen Design) 5. Exploit Physical Characteristics (Visual Language) 6. Spell it Out (User Education) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 10
- 11. Tip #1. Leverage Mental Models (Concept) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 11
- 12. #1. Leverage Mental Models Turning pages is easy to discover since most everyone is familiar with how a real book works. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 12
- 13. #1. Leverage Mental Models Leverages mental model of chore wheel. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 13
- 14. #1. Leverage Mental Models Hipstamatic (earlier version) leverages mental model of camera . HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 14
- 15. #1. Strong Conceptual Foundation But you must be committed to the mental model. Address Book breaks down since users can’t tap here to turn pages. Version 5.0.1 HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 15
- 16. Tip #2. Provide Contextual Focus (Information Architecture) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 16
- 17. #2. Provide Contextual Focus Evernote’s Contextual Focus helps improve discoverability. When mobile, geo-tagging available. This feature is less relevant on desktop. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 17
- 18. #2. Provide Contextual Focus Yelp also has Contextual Focus. Maps, Call & Directions are front & center for mobile. They’re still available for the Web but reviews & other content take center stage since users tend to be in more of a research mode. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 18
- 19. #2. Provide Contextual Focus Contextual Focus isn’t always about the platform. You can have contextual focus within an app, like AllRecipes Cooking Mode HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 19
- 20. Tip #3. Include Sneak Peeks (Screen Design) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 20
- 21. #3. Include Sneak Peeks Sketchbook Pro shows the toolbar when app loads then slides out of view. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 21
- 22. #3. Include Sneak Peeks Flickr slideshow filmstrip works the same way as the previous example. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 22
- 23. Tip #4. Show Just-in-Time Content (Screen Design) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 23
- 24. #4. Just-in-Time Content Just-in-time features enable Pulse to devote as much real estate as possible to reading experience. The app shows other articles when user reaches end or swipes to top. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 24
- 25. #4. Just-in-Time Content Path also provides Just-In-Time content on their timeline. Date and time only shown when user scrolling timeline. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 25
- 26. Tip #5. Exploit Physical Characteristics (Visual Language) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 26
- 27. #5. Exploit Physical Characteristics Paper exploits physical characteristics of Moleskines and real paper. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 27
- 28. #5. Exploit Physical Characteristics Convertbot’s uses metal visuals and sound to communicate the ability to tinker. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 28
- 29. Tip #6. Spell It Out (User Education) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 29
- 30. #6. Provide User Education Citibank shows annotations just before first use. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 30
- 31. #6. Provide User Education Pulse uses similar approach but more sketchy style. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 31
- 32. #6. Provide User Education Contextual User Education on Bing (instead of showing tips all at once) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 32
- 33. #6. Provide User Education Contextual User Education on Flipboard similar to Bing example HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 33
- 34. #6. Provide User Education Flipboard animates on first use to introduce signature Flip. HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 34
- 35. To recap, here are the 7 Discoverability tips: 1. Leverage Mental Models (Concept) 2. Provide Contextual Focus (Information Architecture) 3. Include Sneak Peeks (Screen Design) 4. Show Just-in-Time Content & Tools (Screen Design) 5. Exploit Physical Characteristics (Visual Language) 6. Spell it Out (User Education) HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 35
- 36. Thanks! suzanne@ginsburg-design.com @suzanneginsburg HOW Interactive Copyright © Suzanne Ginsburg 36