Customization allows users to make selections and set preferences in a system, with the intent of giving users more control over the user experience. Customization allows users to select the content, layout, functionality or design that appeals to them. However, customization tools require work and input from users, so need to be designed in a way that entices and attracts usage, and provides adequate payoff for the work invested by the user.
Here are 7 tips for creating a successful customization experience:
1. Show users that customization is available.
It is not enough to offer customization to users. If users don’t know about the feature or can’t find it, they...
Over many years of seeing customization tools implemented in a variety of systems in a variety of ways, we often find that users do not use them. The fact that customization relies on users’ actions means that the potential benefits of customization will reach fewer users than personalization
Currently, the only generic Web commands that truly work are those in browsers rather than on individual sites. Examples include Back, Forward, and Print. In the latter case, it would be much more useful if the generic Print button subsumed a page's Printer-friendly version feature; clicking Print
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Moving Towards web3.0 Using Blockchain as Core Tech
The invention of Bitcoin and blockchain technology sets the foundations for the next generations of web applications. The applications which will run on peer to peer network model with existing networking and routing protocols. The applications where centralized Servers would be obsolete and data
Sharing Economy 2.0: Technology is Removing the Need for Single Asset Ownership
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When Will You Be Able to Use Cryptocurrency to Buy a Pack of Gum?
The single biggest puzzle that cryptocurrencies need to solve is how to persuade merchants to take the leap. So far, there’s not much upside for retailers. In fact, crypto adds complications for businesses, including the headache of exchanging crypto for fiat currency in order to pay their
Experience Design: Bridging Brand Intention and Brand Interpretation
Designers extended these elements to create user interactions that aligned with Google brand attributes. The dot animations that reflect the “expressions” of listening, thinking, replying, incomprehension, and confirmation not only serve as a way to indicate system status (remember, this is one
7 tips for successful customization
Beyond Usability: 3 User Experiences Reshaping Their Industries
Pre Uber we were all plagued with standing on the corner, possibly in the rain, belongings in hand while attempting to wave down one of the few free taxis. (The worse the rain, the fewer the taxis — that’s a law of nature.) An abundance of unknowns adding further anxiety: how much is it going
Portfolios for UX Researchers: Top 10 Recommendations
Remember that attention spans online are short. A hiring manager, industry peer, or conference organizer may be more invested in reading than the average person browsing the internet, but you should still try to make a strong impression quickly. Select the projects that you feel are most important
Split Buttons: Definition
A poorly designed split-button can look like a standard menu button (which always opens the menu). Strong visual signifiers for split buttons include a dividing line within the button or a slightly different color for the region around the arrow. The visual separation between the default action and
Profit Maximization vs. User Loyalty
The classic example used in most presentations about differential pricing is to monitor a user as he or she is moving through a site. If they just keep looking instead of putting something into the shopping cart, then the user is considered unlikely to buy at the current prices and is offered a
3 Design Considerations for Effective Mobile-App Permission Requests
Since the implementation of the GDPR requiring unambiguous consent for EU citizens, some app developers have begun implementing dark patterns to nudge users to agree to their permission requests. In some cases, app developers try to couch a permission request as an informational dialogue (like in
WP Engine Launches World's First Global Edge Security For WordPress with Cloudflare
Created by the leading brands in WordPress digital experiences and cloud security, WP Engine’s Global Edge Security is a cloud-first, high performance, advanced security solution built on Cloudflare’s intelligent network, providing the best security protection against top Open Web Application
7 tips for successful customization
StudioPress Theme Spotlight: New Breakthrough Pro
As we continue to showcase a sample of the amazing StudioPress themes now available to WP Engine customers, we’re extra excited to bring you this new StudioPress Theme: Breakthrough Pro, which is the first new theme to be launched since our acquisition of StudioPress in June. Breakthrough Pro
WordPress for Good: The Price of Water .
After a day of distribution, only a handful of customers took the challenge despite the fact that they were only being asked to walk a fraction of the distance a Somali child walks every day. After quenching their thirst with the water, the salesman asked them to check the ingredients on the label
Decision Frames: How Cognitive Biases Affect UX Practitioners
Framing is a well-known phenomenon in psychology. Psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky explored the effect of decision frames and found that the exact same information can lead to opposite conclusions, depending on the frame used to present the decision. For example, a price which is
Parallel Design and Testing by Jakob Nielsen and Jan Maurits Faber
Our parallel design phase deviated from what we would recommend. First, we would not ask each parallel designer to redesign without seeing other designers' versions. Thus, versions 2.a-d were produced only for research purposes. Generally, the merged version would be the only version 2. Second, we
Customer Journeys and Omnichannel User Experience
Nowadays, air travel is a lot more streamlined and enjoyable. When I am away from my computer, I still have access to tools like my smartphone and airport kiosks that help with travel-related tasks. However, the biggest reason for the improved air-travel experience is that airlines use these tools
Data Privacy Attitudes and Connected Cars: A Deeper Look
Soon after the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation went into effect, California passed a digital privacy law that requires companies to disclose what information they are collecting, why, and with whom it’s being shared. It also gives consumers the “right to forget” and to
A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity
Melissa Hathaway came across our radar recently when President Obama tasked the former Bush administration aide with leading a 60-day review of Bush’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative; a largely classified, purported $30 billion, multi phase plan to address cybersecurity issues
Enterprise App Design: Does iOS Fare with Android in terms of Security?
More enterprises are investing in mobile applications on platforms preferably iOS. The 2016 enterprise mobile apps report brought out by Adobe reinforces the growing need for enterprises to invest in mobile apps. With Apple constituting a major share of the world smartphone market, iOS tend to be
A Startup Should Take out a Business Loan that Makes Sense
Irrespective of the type of business, you will need specific equipment. It may be IT tools or machinery, but you will need these to make your business operations more accessible and add to efficiency and productivity. Taking out a loan in such situations is a possible decision because the equipment
7 tips for successful customization
A 60-Second Trailer of the 60-Day Report on Cybersecurity
Melissa Hathaway came across our radar recently when President Obama tasked the former Bush administration aide with leading a 60-day review of Bush’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative; a largely classified, purported $30 billion, multi phase plan to address cybersecurity issues
For Startups, a SaaS Solution is an HR Killer App
Any of the above solutions would make an excellent addition to a startup’s HR arsenal. They all act as force-multipliers, allowing fewer HR staff to stay on top of endless floods of job applicants, and see to the voracious talent needs of a growing business. They all accomplish that without
7 Tips for Successful Customization | Flat-Design Best Practices
Flat-Design Best Practices
Even if your organization’s characteristics fit that list, we usually advise against a totally flat UI in most situations. There are some cases where a totally flat design won’t do much harm — in designer portfolios or very simple marketing sites, for example. Such sites those can benefit
The Role of Enhancement in Web Design
Some gestures or actions may start as enhancements and later become so standard that they no longer need extra support in the interface and can become the only way through which an action is performed. However, we advise a high degree of conservatism in disabling older interaction mechanisms, since
No More Pogo Sticking: Protect Users from Wasted Clicks
Pogo-stick behavior on the Redbox website: After specifying a kiosk location, the list of movies still included options not available to rent at the chosen kiosk. This did not match the expectation set by selecting a location, and forced me to pogo stick through each movie in the list until an
