Persuasion Triggers in Web Design

Web Design and information architecture go together like peas and carrots. Whether you have an information architect to work with or you are flying solo, a basic understanding of the interaction between the two is a fundamental in designing successful websites. Design is a layering process, and a general understanding of information architecture (IA) is pivotal to web designers seeking to excel in their craft. Information architecture is a fundamental cornerstone of a successful website – employing its principles ensures that the site’s users will experience functionability, ease of navigation, and easily discoverable content.

Do experience designers shape how users feel or do they shape with respect to how users feel? A small but important nuance. Did you catch it? No? Then let me ask you this way: Do architects design houses or do they design “inhabitant experiences?” The bullshit answer is “They design inhabitant experiences.” The pragmatic answer is: “They design houses.” The cautious answer is: Architects design houses that lead to a spectrum of experiences, some foreseen, some not. But they do not design all possible experiences one can have in a house.

People’s perceptions of user interfaces are too different to be pre-cogitated by a single person. Yes, I designed this site. But no, I don’t know exactly how you experience it right now (but I do have sort of an idea).

Ideally, if you were going to build a house from scratch you would first start by understanding who would be living in it and what their patterns of behavior are. How many people will be occupying the house? What are their ages? What tasks will they perform? What do they need? With that in mind, you can start "architecting" the blueprints for the house's design. This helps to ensure the house is used properly and is enjoyed by all its participants.

As an Information Architect who aims to make her wireframes and digital experiences as user friendly as possible; I often run into problems with form pages. Are there enough instructions for the user to complete the form without error? Does each form field name make sense to the user? Will my users know what to type into the form field?

In efforts to make filling out the form as easy as possible some IA's and form designers have started adding instructions and guides about the forms within the form fields. But is adding help and hints to the text boxes causing more trouble for the user than no instruction at all?

Read what UX Matters has to say: http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2010/03/dont-put-hints-inside-text-boxes...

"While this might not be the right approach for everyone or business, for some this technique is proving very effective. Freelance designers, writers, and other independent contractors, who establish relationships through both online and offline networking, are quickly jumping on the single page train..."

Read on: http://www.toponereport.com/single-page-layouts-as-social-media-funnels/