When you work on the web and create products for users, you can get caught up with all the technology.
You want to work on the fastest machine, fanciest monitor, latest smartphone, and quickest connection for your work.
We often forget: that’s not what our users are using.
Creating digital products for the general public means your users won’t have the latest Mac or Windows computer. Or the most recent Android or iPhone.
Your users are working on tablets, phones, and computers that may be two, three, four, or even five years old. Or even older.
Their connection isn’t blazing fast, it might be 3G.
Their business environment may control what operating system runs on their device. Or your users may be using assistive technology to access the web.
It can be easy to forget: we are not are users.
Which is why I enjoyed my friend Luke Pettway’s tweets this morning.
Luke and I met online via Twitter and met in person at WordCamp US 2015 last December.
I quickly discovered we shared similar thoughts about designing sites to be useful and accessible to everyone.
Luke is a web developer who employs an empathy-driven process to build products that help users solve a problem.
What drives him? Ensuring we design to solve real problems.
If we test real life situations, such as limited or no internet, we gain a greater respect for finding solutions to these conditions.
I asked Luke if I could share his tweets on my blog; I was delighted when he agreed!
Creating Designs with Users in Mind
Luke’s tweets will guide you toward creating more usable and accessible designs that delight your users.
1. Use Real Devices for Testing
Online browser testing is great, but don’t forget to use real devices. An old Windows box will show you how your performance really is.
— Luke Pettway (@LukePettway) May 16, 2016
2. Expand Your Testing to Include Assistive Technology
The same goes for accessibility, learn how to use a Screen Reader. It takes time but you’ll understand how frustrating non-a11y sites are.
— Luke Pettway (@LukePettway) May 16, 2016
3. Set Up a Device Lab
Getting a device lab setup can allow you to rapidly test your sites too, using a tool like https://t.co/DOBJrtCCjx.
— Luke Pettway (@LukePettway) May 16, 2016
4. Invest in Devices for Testing
You don’t need to spend lots of money, buy used devices, they are cheaper than you think. Even if they have a cracked screen they are useful
— Luke Pettway (@LukePettway) May 16, 2016
5. Throttle Your Connection Speed
Also, and this is important. Throttle your internet connection. You can do this using QoS on a router or tools like https://t.co/YittombmwX.
— Luke Pettway (@LukePettway) May 16, 2016
How many times have you been in a hotel with horrible Wi-Fi? That is the ultimate performance test.
— Luke Pettway (@LukePettway) May 16, 2016
There are still places in the US using dial-up, or 3G connections. Many of them, and this is the case for a large part of the remote world.
— Luke Pettway (@LukePettway) May 16, 2016
Summary
Keep your users in mind as you design. Remember they may not be using the latest technology.
Test your product with the devices and connections your users have.
Do you use these strategies in your design work? Do you have other suggestions? Share them in the comments.
