Usability: Can a user accomplish THEIR goal? Use actual users in usability testing. Investment in usability usually offers 10x-100x return in increased profit. Creating structure: Organize Prioritize Most important stuff is most obvious Group Similar stuff goes together Separate Differentiate Don't defy user expectations (ex: link description doesn't match where it goes) - it makes them mad. Reduce barriers: Allow quick account creation and signon. Pict.com lets you upload pictures even before you create an account. Don't require framework (Flash, Javascript, Silverlight) to be enabled/installed, at least not right away. Try to anticipate problems. Phone number validation - for God's sake, don't use 3 separate fields! Affordances: Increase text size. Make form fields bigger. Add label tags that move cursor to field when clicked. Give feedback: Make it clear and obvious that your app is responding appropriately. If validation fails, mark the fields with problems directly (indicator *right* next to them). Anticipate actions: Really cool - validate fields (in Javascript?) even before user submits form. Simplify: "Every time you provide an option, you're asking the user to make a decision." Avoid it where possible. Principles: Reduce How many elements can you take out of the signup form? Get rid of COPPA age validation. Tumblr got it down to 2 - username and password. Replace Hide Hide things that can't be acted on right now. Remove Remove info that isn't necessary. Use terminology user is comfortable with: it's "delete", not "destroy".