10 Usability Slogans


1. Your best guess is not good enough

  • Users behave in unexpected manner
  • It is necessary to validate, it is no shame to revise

2. The user is always right

  • The user is not stupid – it’s a design problem

3. The user is not always right

  • You can’t just ask the users
  • Users can’t predict how they will behave with future systems
  • Users will have divergent opinions

4. Users are not designers

  • N/AB don’t customize
  • Customization itself needs an interface
  • Too much of customization may lead to inconsistency

5. Designers are not users

  • Knowledge is a one way street - it is difficult to remember, it is impossible to forget

6. Vice presidents are not users

  • Client acceptance testing is not usability testing

7. Less is more

  • Solutions could lie in taking things away

8. Details matter

  • Interface design
  • Information design
  • Visual design

9. Help doesn’t

  • Good help is no good on a bad interface
  • It is better if the user can work without help

10. It is a process

  • There is no right answer

[As learnt @ IDC, IIT Mumbai]

Create a new concept


Either create a new concept or make a disruptive innovation to change the market (Change the battle field). Once you follow, you always follow……

Know your capabilities first, then come out with the concept, talk to the user, think, see data points gathered, don’t assume. Creates ‘wow’ elements into the products, increases stickiness and emotional connection to the product and ensures right product positioning and segmenting.

Observe and act (Observe what is going around)

Go to small time shop keeper, observe the shop, the way he talks, the way he understand your requirements…. It is everywhere - the product design idea. Products and services that create outstanding user experience add value to user’s life. Add value and business will follow.

Do what you want to do and not what others want you to do

Believe in yourself, listen to your heart use your brain. Everybody have some capabilities, hear it from within. Give your 100% in what you believe you can do, you will get returns sooner or later.

Will add more soon…

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