Don't Make Me Think

  Steve Krug

April 23rd 2020


Don't Make Me Think is a must read for not just web designers but for anyone using the internet so that you can appreciate the work that goes into making an aesthetically as well as easily usable website. This book is a guide to designing good websites that are seamless and easy to use. The book itself is an easy, short read with funny cartoon graphics throughout the chapters. Steve Krug first published this book in 2000 and with small revision it still remains as relevant today.

" Usability of basic principles are the same even if the landscape has changed because usability is about people and how they understand and use things, not about technology. And while technology changes quickly, people change very slowly."

What is usability?
“ A person of average (or even below average) ability and experience can figure out how to use the thing to accomplish something without it being more trouble than it's worth.”

Having read and studied a little web development (with only a small focus on design) in college, I was aware of some of the ideas Krug talks about. However, there are several ideas in the book that were insightful and new to me.

  1. Scanning, Satisficing and Muddling

    1. We don’t read, we scan.
      “ Most web use involves trying to get done and usually done quickly. As a result, Web users tend to act like sharks: They keep moving, or they will die. Scanning is how we find the relevant bits. We’re good at it. It’s a basic skill: When you learn to read, you also learn to scan.”

    2. We don’t make optimal choices. We SATISFICE.
      “ In reality, though, most of the time we don’t choose the best option- we choose the first reasonable option, a strategy known as satisficing. As soon as we find a link that seems like it might lead to what we’re looking for, there’s a very good chance that we’ll click.”

      This is something I do on a regular basis but haven’t even noticed until now. As soon as I think a link is what will take me to the desired page, I click on it. Hence, it is crucial to make the buttons and links obvious as to where it will take you.


    3. We don’t figure out how things work. We muddle through.
      “ ... people use things all the time without understanding how they work or completely wrong-headed ideas about how they work. Faced with any sort of technology, very few people take the time to read instructions. Instead, we forge ahead and muddle through, making up our own vaguely plausible stories about what we’re doing and why it works.”

      I love tech gadgets and I make it a point to buy them if I can. Just like most things, these gadgets always come with an instruction guide which I don’t remember ever reading. I would rather watch youtube videos on how to use it then to read an instruction and I am sure I am not an exception.

    2. With just these three ideas, it has made me think of my website and any future web design differently. After reading this, I have decided to cut my description of different categories on my homepage short. So the next time you visit my page, the descriptions will be much shorter if not all deleted.

  2. With such easy accessibility for anyone to make their websites, it has forced us to try and do new things or as it's commonly said “think out of the box.” However, at the same time conventions and consistency make it harder to “think out of the box.” Oftentimes designers are pushed back from creating new designs to replace existing conventions in order to avoid usability issues. Krug gives two simple guidelines to solve this issue.
    1. Make it so clear and self-explanatory that there’s no learning curve — so it’s as good as the convention.
    2. Add so much value that it’s worth a small learning curve.

  3. Delight, Learnability and Memorability.

    These three ideas have been ingrained deep in me after reading this book. I have never thought of these three ideas throughout all the websites I have built.

    1. Delight
      “ Delightful apps usually come from marrying an idea about something people would really enjoy being able to do but don't imagine is possible.”

      Although Krug doesn’t mention it, I think the aesthetics of the design also falls under this. I can’t remember it off the top of my head but sometimes I find websites where the background of the webpages are incredibly new and innovative and a delight for the eyes.


    2. Learnability

      In terms of mobile apps and design, learnability is key to having your users not only return but choose you over other similar products. Humans are not fond of changes. If a user learns to navigate your app easily, it will deter them from turning to another product and having to learn everything from fresh.


    3. Memorability
      “ Once you have figured out how to use an app, will you remember how to use it next time you try or will you have to start over again from scratch.“
      I think memorability ties in together with learnability. The easier it is to learn, the more memorable it will be.


You know the old saying when you do good you are rarely noticed but the minute you do something bad, everyone knows? Well, web designs are the same as well. When a website is well thought out and designed, you rarely ever think about the design. On the contrary, you notice all the flaws and usability issues immediately when website’s are poorly designed.


10 Ministries of Bhutan’s website review.

COMING SOON