Media: Digital Web on getting Users to act responsibly

"Forging a partnership between designer and user" is a contentious piece because it seeks to give responsibility to the user for their Web experience. In a piece that advocates user-centred design, there also comes the advice 'For a truly user-centered Web we need to share control and responsibility with the person who actually knows what is best when it comes to personal usability issues: the user.'

Sarah Horton, one author of Web Style Guide, suggests both designers and users need to change their approach: 'users need to become better acquainted with their Web environment. They need to learn the functions and features that are under their control, and use the available tools to customize their environment.'

She counters concerns that users are not good at customisation by suggesting that guidance is given in the help function.

'Unless we establish this type of partnership, user-centered Web design will remain a benign dictatorship, with the designer making somewhat informed assumptions about what is best for the user.'

An interesting set of comments accompanies this piece, where the issue of customisation gets a lot of attention.

Associated Link: Digital Web: Forging a partnership between designer and user

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