Moving WebWord: Usability on a Shoestring and Prayer

Learning About Usability on a Shoestring and a Prayer

People have asked me how they can become familiar with usability without taking a million courses and without paying too much money. My answer is always the same. The best way to learn about usability is to spend time with users, and try to thinking like a user would think.

Obviously there are other important ways of learning about usability, but thinking about users is the first step. While some of my suggestions are tried and true, others might be a bit unclear. Choose what is best for you and start your journey, or continue on if you’ve already begun.

(By the way, a colleague pointed out that my list of suggestions would be a great way for someone to learn about usability even if they were planning to pursue a degree. Further, such techniques could be used to learn about almost any topic.)

Here is my laundry list of suggestions:

1. Build your own Web site as a showcase and test bed. Don’t focus on technical wizardry, focus on content development, planning, and good design. Learn the appropriate tools and learn HTML. Test your site with friends and family, and other users.

2. Join online discussion groups and newsgroups. For example, see Online-Writing and comp.human-factors. Gently ask these groups to evaluate your site; thank them for their feedback. See also my list of recommended Web sites.

3. Spend time surfing; analyze and critique Web sites. Trash the sites and keep a log. Submit these recommendations to the Web master. Such feedback can result in an internship, or even a job. If the changes are made that you suggest, all the better.

4. Network with folks that are already in the field. Ask for their advice and recommendations.

5. Read online journals and magazines, such as Moving WebWord the Alertbox.

6. Search for jobs in usability, web and interface design, and human factors. Read the descriptions that companies provide. Take note of the skills, educational requirements, and experience levels that they are looking for. You will probably see quite a spread of descriptions and qualifications. Be sure to conduct both online and off-line searches.

7. Get an internship or work as an expert’s apprentice.

8. Read books, articles, and magazines related to usability and human factors.

9. Attend conferences that are related to usability and human factors, such as the annual meetings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), ACM SIGCHI, and the Usability Professionals Association (UPA).

10. Usability and human factors are highly related. Learn about human factors by reading WebWord.com's brief introduction.

Short of getting a degree in human factors or taking classes in Web site design, this is about it. However, if you do have other suggestions, please email me. If I feel the suggestion is appropriate, I’ll append them to this column.

Subscribe Today to the WebWord.com Usability Newsletter