A look into a Web Design Bible
Justin Sattelberg
Jim Gerland
MFC 215 Essay
April, 25, 2013
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In Steve Krug’s book Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Wed Usability
Krug gives his tips and suggestions on how to create a website that caters to the way that
people normally search the web. Krug’s book is simple and short but is packed with
information that any web designer can use to create a webpage that is less frustrating and
more functional.
Krug starts off by saying that a good webpage is one that does not make the user think.
This seems odd but as Krug explains it: the more people have to think when using a webpage
the more time it takes them to accomplish their goals, and the less likely they are to revisit the
site or even complete their search on the first visit. A simple thing like having an object that
looks clickable but has a style that may not clearly state it is and forces people to think about
whether or not it is truly clickable. This causes them to think which takes away from the overall
appeal of the website. Krug also explains that people do not go on a website to see all that it
has to offer; he explains that people always have a goal when they use any site and that they
will only use the site to achieve their goal. What he is trying to say is that people scan pages
really fast, look for the first reasonable option, and guess at where to go next; making pages
that have obvious buttons, a hieratic format, and less clutter such as long instructions or
“happy talk” makes for a successful website because people will be able to find what they want
much faster.
Krug also explains, in depth, the way to achieve a website with less clutter and more
ease of access is through having good navigation. Krug says that one of the most important
ways to keep people coming back to a site is to allow them to navigate it in a clear and
consistent manner. He explains that having sections and sub-sections on a website allows
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people to find what they want with just a few clicks and uses an example looking for a chainsaw
at Sears; first people look in the power tools section and, if they cannot find it, they look in the
gardening section until they find it. Having an “you are here” indicator or having a list of what
route has been taken to reach the webpage that is on the screen, called breadcrumbs, is also
efficient in helping people find their way.
Krug also explains that the homepage is one of the hardest pages to control. This is
because the homepage is where people will start looking for what they want, and there is so
much stuff to put on the homepage that it can become messy. What Krug suggests to do to
keep the homepage less crazy is to always remember to keep the big picture of the company on
the homepage; this means that the homepage has the tagline of the company and something
that explains what the site can do for the users. Once that is accomplished, Krug says that the
homepage should be similar to the other pages with the organized sections and sub-sections
and even more space for identity of each section.
The rest of Krug’s book explains how to achieve a successful website in a business
setting. The number one problem with making a website for a business is that people argue
about the small aspects of the site such as the color scheme. What Krug suggests them to do is
to first focus on the usability of the website which should be done in the early stages of the site.
Usability tests can tell designers what actual people think of the website and what can be
improved of the website before it is even uploaded to the internet. This can help increase
goodwill towards the company and help with any problem that can be faced. Krug also stress
the importance of accessibility because it is a common courtesy.
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Krug’s book Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Wed Usability is a very
successful in explaining the problems that web designers face when making a website and why
they face them while also giving suggestions on how to fix them. Krug’s ability to keep his
explanations to the point allows the book to be a quick read that is packed with information
that all designers can use, regardless of experience. Krug’s help sounds like common-sense, but
can be hard to see when designers forget to think like users think while searching for their goals
in a timely manner.