Essay · 7 min read

Jakob's Law of the Internet User Experience

Jakob Nielsen · Jakob Nielsen (Substack) Free Beginner

The law in the author's own words, with the reasoning and the stakes spelled out. Nielsen explains why users transfer expectations across sites and what it costs you to fight that. Read the primary source once so you understand the idea, not just the slogan.

  • The principle direct from the person who named it
  • Explains why users transfer habits between products
  • Makes the real cost of ignoring conventions concrete
Open on jakobnielsenphd.substack.com ↗

It answers 2 questions

  1. What are the psychology 'laws' behind good UX?
  2. 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. 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)
  4. A two minute explanation of one of the most practical rules for founders: users spend nearly all their time on other apps, so... Nielsen Norman Group Video · 2 min Jakob's Law of Internet User Experience (video) Jakob Nielsen
  5. 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
  6. The book behind the site, and worth it if you want the reasoning, not just the rules. Yablonski walks through familiar apps and... Laws of UX Book · Approx. 150 pages Laws of UX: Using Psychology to Design Better Products and Services Jon Yablonski
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