Video · 2 min

Jakob's Law of Internet User Experience (video)

Jakob Nielsen · Nielsen Norman Group Free Beginner

A two minute explanation of one of the most practical rules for founders: users spend nearly all their time on other apps, so they expect yours to work the same way. This is your best defense against a designer or founder who wants to be clever with novel navigation. Familiar is usually the right call.

  • Users bring habits from every other product they use
  • Novel patterns cost users effort they did not agree to spend
  • Follow conventions unless breaking them is clearly worth it

It answers 3 questions

  1. What are the core UX principles every founder should know?
  2. What are the psychology 'laws' behind good UX?
  3. Should I just copy the UI patterns of apps my users already use, or does that make my product forgettable?

Read with it

  1. The most accessible, practical intro to usability ever written, you can read it in a weekend and immediately fix your product.... sensible.com Book · ~200 pages Don't Make Me Think, Revisited Steve Krug
  2. The foundational text on human-centered design that every product person should read once. It rewires how you see every... jnd.org / Basic Books Book · ~350 pages The Design of Everyday Things Don Norman
  3. Users judge attractive products as more usable, which is why polish matters and also why it can hide real problems. As a... Nielsen Norman Group Article · 8 min read The Aesthetic-Usability Effect Kate Moran
  4. Design tactics written specifically for developers and non-designers who need to ship good-looking UI without a design... refactoringui.com Book · ~250 pages Refactoring UI Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger
  5. A crisp, visual reference of the psychology principles behind good UX, perfect for a founder who wants the 'why' without a... lawsofux.com Article · reference site Laws of UX Jon Yablonski
  6. This is the one principle that answers your worry head on: users spend most of their time on other apps, so they expect yours... Laws of UX Essay · 5 min read Jakob's Law Jon Yablonski (principle by Jakob Nielsen)
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