128
votes
Is there a term for "the user can't use anything wrong" design?
Yes, there is a term for this ("the user can't do anything wrong"):
foolproof
But as other answers point out, making something completely foolproof isn't feasible. On wikipedia I found a ...
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116
votes
Is there a term for "the user can't use anything wrong" design?
Accommodation for every possible user interaction is impossible.
Let's use your example, but switch the USB to a whole computer. A user can pull the power cord and expect the computer to safely turn ...
- 1,094
83
votes
Do some technical documentation websites purposely have very plain design?
In design, you always have to ask: Who is the user and what is his or her intent?
With technical "user manual" pages, the user is probably an engineer or sysadmin trying to find information as ...
- 12k
53
votes
Is there a term for "the user can't use anything wrong" design?
User-Centered Design
What you’re describing is a consequence of User-Centered Design (coined by Don Norman himself). I’ve heard your principle expressed as “the user is always right” and “it’s not ...
- 1,194
50
votes
Should we auto-select a new default payment method when the current default expired?
Don't select a new default card for the user. Usually it's nice for the system to help the user recover from a problem through strong new default, but your instincts are valid in this case. Even if ...
- 12k
49
votes
Accepted
What's the rationale behind Google's "no save" approach?
Save is a byproduct
Save is a byproduct of early hardware- and software design. It doesn't have a common equivalent in the real world.
Consider: If you take a pencil and make a mark on paper, that ...
- 6,386
44
votes
Is there a term for "the user can't use anything wrong" design?
I wonder if the concept you are looking for is Poka-yoke (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poka-yoke). This is often more associated with mechanical design (e.g. zoo cage double doors which can't both be ...
- 441
40
votes
Do some technical documentation websites purposely have very plain design?
Something to keep in mind is that all of the documentation pages you have linked to are for tools which are designed to be used from text-only interfaces. It makes sense, then, that the documentation ...
- 501
39
votes
Accepted
Why do we keep asking if our users would use/recommend our product/service again?
What you are reffering to is called Net Promoter Score (NPS).
The Net Promoter Score is calculated based on responses to a single
question: How likely is it that you would recommend our
...
- 7,761
36
votes
Number keyboard UX
Phonewords
Phonewords are mnemonic phrases represented as alphanumeric equivalents of a telephone number.2 In many countries, the digits on the telephone keypad also have letters assigned. By ...
- 16.2k
33
votes
Accepted
Prepare a user to perform an action before proceeding to the next step
I think you are putting too much expectation in the video without any prior warning of what will happen.
I have the image of the Olympic's dive: before the jump there's an animation on the screen of ...
- 17.7k
30
votes
How to make checkbox selection less of an eyesore?
Note: This answer is a frame challenge.
The checkbox should not be there at all.
According to your screenshot, your users use your search engine to find a solution to their billing problem.
You write ...
- 2,487
24
votes
Do some technical documentation websites purposely have very plain design?
tl;dr Yes, because of a design school of thought called "Content is King."
… old, dull and seemingly poor design.
All of these are subjective. "Old" to many people equate to "familiar," which ...
- 1,488
23
votes
Accepted
Is there a term for "the user can't use anything wrong" design?
No. It is not a widely held view among UX designers. Unfortunately.
Even less so amongst those using SO and considering themselves to be UX Designers.
I suspect this is mainly because UX design is ...
- 2,248
21
votes
What to answer when Product Owner/Manager says "this feature [requested by users] needs a lot of time to develop, so we'll never do it"?
In terms of satisfaction, return on "expected features" is very low
Consider this from the PM's point of view - you want to tie up a large amount of engineering time to create a feature that ...
- 579
20
votes
Which is faster to fill-out: Paper or digital forms?
Why not have both and cater for those less comfortable with electronic devices, whilst catering for those that do?
Increases the number of sign-ups you can accept at any one time.
My advice if you ...
- 6,296
18
votes
Accepted
Should we auto-select a new default payment method when the current default expired?
...user should have full control over what card they want to use for a transaction...
Rather than make that decision for users, give them the ability to make that decision beforehand...
Replace ...
- 2,580
16
votes
Is there a term for "the user can't use anything wrong" design?
This is a common UX design principle. The best error message, is to avoid an error message in the first place. There are many examples of design principles out there, but no standard set.
Jacob ...
- 366
14
votes
Accepted
Number keyboard UX
Here's why:
Current Scenario
Such keyboards appear in two cases:
Number keyboard - Such keyboards ONLY appear when you need to dial-in a phone number or search for a contact. The need of having the ...
- 6,789
13
votes
Accepted
Using genders in physiologically oriented UCD
If this is a healthcare app, there is at least two very different ways to tackle the issue, based on the diversion of mental health and physical health.
If this is a non-healthcare app, asking for ...
- 4,938
13
votes
Which is faster to fill-out: Paper or digital forms?
You're asking which is faster, it depends on the type of content and your target audience.
Depending on your audience: Oldies, go paper; Youngsters, go digital (put up an url on the wall and let them ...
- 2,298
12
votes
Do some technical documentation websites purposely have very plain design?
i don't think this is the case in general. There are plenty of websites with technical documentation that have great design.
a few examples
https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-...
- 10.6k
12
votes
Google flights mobile app feedback/research
That's going to be tough.
I've skimmed your existing text, and you make it sound like Google Flights is currently not user-centered. That's blankly incorrect. The first thing you've got to realize is ...
- 1,155
11
votes
Do some technical documentation websites purposely have very plain design?
Bjarne Stroustrup gave the canonical answer to this question. Quoting from the FAQ on his homepage:
Q: Why don't you make your website look modern?
A: I'm a "contents provider" not a ...
10
votes
Accepted
Is there an intuitive way to display weeks as text?
Ah Socrates answered whilst I was drawing, so ignore the text ones as I'm suggesting the same thing, the other type is a calendar control programmed to select a week, for the line on which you place ...
- 6,296
9
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between user centered design (UCD) and Design Thinking?
Both DT and UCD is about putting your self in the shoes of the user.
I would say the main difference is that Design Thinking is a method to develop solutions which nail the actual problem which the ...
- 106
9
votes
How to make checkbox selection less of an eyesore?
Try using actions that represent a clear choice between two outcomes. Phrase in the form of a question or a command to address them directly.
Your question is about graphic emphasis, but I'm ...
- 24.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Is there a difference between "user-centered" and "user-centric" design?
I have no reference on this topic other than all the weird people I've worked with / for over the years.
User-centered design
Solve for the user, validate that you've addressed the business need.
...
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8
votes
Is there an intuitive way to display weeks as text?
The matter is a bit subjective and it would require testing to ensure your users get the right idea.
Apart from keeping these UI elements contextual i.e Have text that clearly indicates that the user ...
- 1,751
8
votes
Do some technical documentation websites purposely have very plain design?
For the Linux example specifically, the original documentation for Unix was designed to be printed on paper, since back then graphics terminals were too useful for displaying graphics to "waste" them ...
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Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible