Article · 12 min read
Trustworthiness in Web Design: 4 Credibility Factors
Aurora Harley · Nielsen Norman Group Free Intermediate
Research, backed breakdown of what actually makes users trust a site: design quality, upfront disclosure, current and comprehensive content, and connection to the wider web. It tells you where to spend your credibility budget instead of guessing. Useful when you want to justify design work to a co, founder who thinks polish is cosmetic.
- Visual design quality is a real trust signal, not vanity
- Being upfront about pricing and terms reduces user anxiety
- Trust builds slowly, so avoid anything that feels like a letdown
