Don't Make Me Think, Revisited

A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

Steve Krug

10 min read
51s intro

Brief summary

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited argues that websites work best when people can use them without confusion or effort. It shows how to design for real user behavior, like scanning pages and choosing the first workable option, instead of for internal assumptions.

Who it's for

This is for anyone who designs, builds, or manages websites and wants to create more effective, user-friendly experiences.

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited

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Make Every Page Obvious

A website should be so clear that people can understand it without stopping to figure it out. When someone lands on a page, they should know what it is, what they can do there, and where to begin. That clarity matters more than clever design, because people come to a site to complete a task, not to decode the interface.

Confusion usually comes from small things. A button may not look clickable, a heading may sound clever instead of clear, or a label may force people to guess. Each small moment of uncertainty adds mental effort, and those moments quickly become tiring.

The goal is not to remove all thought from every task. Some tools and services are naturally complex, so people may need to make choices or learn a small amount. Even then, the interface should make each step easy to understand and easy to trust.

Clear wording, familiar layouts, and obvious actions help people stay focused on what they came to do. When a page feels effortless, users feel capable instead of confused. That feeling shapes how they judge the entire organization behind the site.

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About the author

Steve Krug

Steve Krug is a user experience professional with over 25 years of experience as a usability consultant for clients such as Apple, NPR, and the International Monetary Fund. He is best known for his influential books, including "Don't Make Me Think," which have made the principles of web usability and human-computer interaction accessible to a broad audience. Through his writing and consulting, Krug has become a highly respected voice in the field, advocating for intuitive, human-centered design and do-it-yourself usability testing.

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