Articles

Jakob Nielsen

Jakob Nielsen, Ph.D., is a retired principal and co-founder (with Dr. Donald A. Norman) of the Nielsen Norman Group. Jakob established the "discount usability engineering" movement for fast and cheap improvements of user interfaces and invented the heuristic evaluation method.

Articles and Videos

  • Accuracy vs. Insights in Quantitative Usability

    Better to accept a wider margin of error in usability metrics than to spend the entire budget learning too few things with extreme precision.

  • Mobile UX Sharpens Usability Guidelines

    Many guidelines are similar for mobile and desktop design, but their mobile interpretation is much more unforgiving.

  • Ecommerce Usability Improvements

    Sites have improved, and we now know much more about e-tailing usability. Today, poor content is the main cause of user failure.

  • Mobile Content: If in Doubt, Leave It Out

    Writing for mobile readers requires even harsher editing than writing for the Web. Mobile use implies less patience for filler copy.

  • Mobile Usability 2nd Research Study

    The user experience of mobile websites and apps has improved since our last research, but still has far to go. A dedicated mobile site is a must, and apps get even higher usability scores.

  • How Long Do Users Stay on Web Pages?

    Users often leave Web pages in 10–20 seconds, but pages with a clear value proposition can hold people's attention for much longer. To gain several minutes of user attention, you must clearly communicate your value proposition within 10 seconds.

  • Transmedia Design for the 3 Screens (Make That 5)

    Mobile use will rise, but desktop computers will remain important, forcing companies to design for multiple platforms, requiring continuity in visual design, features, user data, and tone of voice.

  • Try to Be a Test User Sometime

    In pilot studies, you can occasionally relax the need for real users and let members of your own team serve as test participants. It's good for them.

  • Defer Secondary Content When Writing for Mobile Users

    Mobile devices require a tight focus in content presentation, with the first screen limited to only the most essential information.

  • Intranet Portals: Personalization Hot, Mobile Weak, Governance Essential

    19 new case studies of enterprise portals find slow growth in new features; the focus is on robust integration and formalizing governance.