This post originally appeared in 2011 on ‘Forms that Work’ – the companion website for Caroline’s book with Gerry Gaffney Forms that Work: designing web forms for usability. If you’re selling something on the web, then you’ll inevitably come toContinue reading… Designing e-commerce and checkout forms
Tag: forms that work
Forms design: what matters to users?
These slides come from a seminar I ran for MSc students at the University of York in February 2011. MSc Seminar on Forms Design from Caroline Jarrett
The question protocol: how to make sure every form field is necessary
What is a question protocol? A question protocol is a tool for finding out which form fields are required. It lists: every question you ask who within your organisation uses the answers to each question what they use them forContinue reading… The question protocol: how to make sure every form field is necessary
Helping a user choose from a very large list
Sometimes it is necessary for users to select a precise entry from a very large list. For example, one client described the need (for compliance purposes) to have users choose an ‘Occupation’ code from a list of almost 1000. SheContinue reading… Helping a user choose from a very large list
Progressive disclosure: valid or sneaky?
Gianpiero (@gpiero on Twitter) asked: “What do you feel about progressive disclosure in forms? Valid or sneaky (considering you’re probably hiding a lot of fields)?” I’m a huge fan of progressive disclosure, provided it’s used in an honest way. Let meContinue reading… Progressive disclosure: valid or sneaky?
Designing paper forms
This post was originally posted on Caroline’s Forms That Work website – the companion site to her book with Gerry Gaffney Forms that work: Designing web forms for usability, Morgan Kaufmann/Elsevier, November 2008. We love working with paper forms, butContinue reading… Designing paper forms
New book published: Forms that Work
Publication day for the book that brings together much of what Gerry Gaffney and I have learned about creating better forms over more than a decade of practice, consultancy, teaching and research. Here is what the publishers Morgan Kaufmann haveContinue reading… New book published: Forms that Work
Expert review helps to improve a complex form
Applying for Lasting power of Attorney is often something people do at a time of challenge or stress. In this presentation to the Sixth International PLAIN Language Conference I describe a case study for the US Department of Constitutional Affairs where ourContinue reading… Expert review helps to improve a complex form
How to look at a form in a hurry
Anyone who has heard or read more than one of my presentations will be familiar with my mantra: ‘test, test and test again’. It’s the only way to find our whether something really is usable, and yet we’re sometimes put in a positionContinue reading… How to look at a form in a hurry
Improving usability: case study of Inland Revenue Employer’s Pack
This presentation, given to the 49th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Nashville, USA, offers an overview of my work with the UK Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue and Customs). It records some our findings on usability, and the changes we made as aContinue reading… Improving usability: case study of Inland Revenue Employer’s Pack