How to effectively transfer information to users

One of the duties of the product manager and designer in designing the product is to effectively communicate the information to the user. In the Internet products, operation guide, the results of feedback, interface elements, size, color, etc., can be regarded as the transmission of information.

Efficient and accurate information delivery is the foundation of a good user experience. The following summarizes several simple principles for effective message delivery:

First, the use of user-friendly language

The process of passing information is like a dialogue, and a dialogue needs language. The language may be in the form of words or pictures, but it may also be flickering, discolored, size, etc. However, no matter what form of "language" is used, a basic requirement is to ensure that users can "hear" understand. For example, you should try to avoid using jargon that users do not understand, symbols with ambiguous meanings, inaccurate animations, and so on.

GOOD DESIGN: icon

Icon is a classic way of passing information, a good icon design allows users to know at a glance what is behind the corresponding program is used, vivid and intuitive. So now popular system, many of the icons used to identify the program.

As you can see in the image above, we can guess what these icons represent even without text.

GOOD DESIGN: iBooks list interface

In iBooks, the interface that displays the list of books does not feel like a regular list. Instead, it uses a quasi-physical way of presenting it in the form of a bookcase full of book covers that the user has already downloaded, You really face a bookcase with the same books. In this case, the user can easily recognize that as long as the book "win", you can read.

BAD DESIGN: a mobile operator's online business hall tips

The figure below is an operation prompt on a mobile operator's website:

My feeling for the content of this dialog is that although I know all the Chinese characters (well, the numbers all know), I do not even know what it's saying and I do not even know how to make a mistake. Well, it looks like there are illnesses and typos ...

In fact, I guess a long time, combined with my whole operation flow, I feel this dialog box may want to tell me may be: "unable to shut down the GPRS service, because it has not opened" ...

BAD DESIGN: The total area of ​​real estate ads

In recent years, the domestic real estate market is extremely hot and the advertisements are overwhelming. For ordinary buyers, the point of concern is also different in all aspects, for example, some people concerned about the area, price, size, some people concerned about traffic, environment, education and so on. Good ads should be able to cut the user's pain points, the user is most concerned about the accurate expression of information to the user.

For example, these real estate ads above, from top to bottom, the following information is expressed: the size of the house, the relatively cheap price and relatively good environment. In general, the expression of information is still concise and clear. Sometimes, however, there are often ambiguous or inaccurate expressions on these real estate advertisements. For example:

This ad is the overall size of the real estate. However, what is the size of 1.8 million square meters, and what is the benefit of such a large community for home buyers, many people do not have a concept. It is not like housing area, price, environment and other information so easy to understand. So perhaps it is not an "effective" way of delivering information.

Second, explain in time

Sometimes, subject to objective conditions, we may not be able to communicate directly with the user in a "user-friendly language." At this time, apply the phrase "Do not Make Me Think": "If you can not do it self-evident, at least let it self-explain."

GOOD DESIGN: iPhone settings

If we need to fill in or set a form, we must first understand the meaning of each item on the form to be able to accurately fill or set. There are some common items, such as "name", "phone number" and so on, do not need too much explanation, everyone can see at a glance; but there are some options, then not so easy to understand. At this time, may wish to provide users with answers in time when the user is confused.

In the iPhone's "network" setting interface, there is an option called "data roaming." For ordinary users, looking at the literal meaning of this option, seemingly can not clearly aware that it will open or close it, what will happen. So, just below it, there is a text description that prompts the user that this option is used to prevent the high cost of roaming when traveling off-site. Also listed are some of the most commonly used data traffic may occur, such as "Web browsing" "e-mail" and so on. In this way, even if the user is completely unsure of the "data services" of the handset, he also realizes that using these features while roaming may be "heavily charged."

GOOD DESIGN: Shenzhen bus stop

Busy sections of the city often have plenty of buses passing by. When stopping at one station, it would be crowded with roads near the station if it happened to catch up with more cars at the same time (a high probability). In this case, the common method is to set up two or more stations separately from the stations of the same station name. Although this has alleviated the problem of congestion, it has created another problem, as shown in the figure:

Bus station near Tencent company called "Deep North Gate." This is a busy road with up to 50 bus lines going by. So the station's platform is divided into two construction. Also called "deep north gate" of the two platforms, about 300 meters apart.

Imagine this user scenario: I'm going to visit a friend who called to tell me: "You start from the company? Then you go to deep North Gate to take bus line B, get off at xx station." Well, the weather is very hot, I set out from Tencent, go east, found the "deep north gate" station. I tried my best to find the bus line B which I intend to take. I found it for a long time and found that I could not find it ... I was sweating. At this moment, I do not know that there is actually another nearby platform. Or even if I know, I can not figure out where the other platform is, where I should go east or west.

Poor user experience, is not it? However, the solution is actually very simple solution, see Figure:

First, we found the station name followed by a number. For example, as shown on the map, "Deep North Gate ②". At this moment, I will realize that there should be a nearby site of "Deep North Gate ①".

Then, below the "Tips." Tell me the specific location of another platform, as well as a list of the routes that stop at another platform. At this point, the problem is solved.

Third, another point of view

Sometimes users really care about, not the information itself, but also the meaning behind them.

GOOD DESIGN: Line chart in the analysis tool

If we need to tell the user a value change over time, what should we do? Do you have a form?

The data in the table is very clear, we can also easily see the day more, less day. However, it is not very intuitive to see the trend of these data. At this time, may wish to express it from another perspective, for example, line chart:

I remember just what we want to express is the trend of this data in this period of time, right? Therefore, the data value itself is not so important, the line chart above can not accurately see the specific data value of a day, but the trend at a glance.

GOOD DESIGN: yesterday's temperature

For a weather app, showing the day's temperature is one of its important functions. However, not everyone may be able to accurately prepare clothes based on the temperature. For example, can you react immediately, 28 degrees or 32 degrees, what kind of clothes to wear it?

At this point, we may wish to guide the user to another way of thinking to solve the problem.

In a weather app, not only provides recent temperature data, but also provides a "yesterday" temperature. Logically speaking, yesterday have passed, tell me what the significance of yesterday's temperature?

In fact, yesterday's temperature and today's temperature together, you can convey an important message, that is, "Today is still hotter than yesterday or hot yesterday." Imagine, if I tell you, today the temperature is 2 degrees lower than yesterday, so that you can according to yesterday's dress, to decide today's clothing changes. This effect than I tell you 32 degrees today easy to understand and operate it?

Fourth, the use of contrast

What information is more important? What actions are dangerous? Which is our recommended way? These can be expressed in contrast.

GOOD DESIGN: network disk operation button

When the interface involves some important or dangerous operation, we can visually distinguish these operations, to prompt the user the importance or risk.

In the cloud this app, delete button is designed to be red. In most users' perceptions, red stands for caution, danger, etc. This design can reduce the misoperation to a certain extent, protect the user's data.

GOOD DESIGN: a news app list interface

For a news app, how to express "important news" or "hot" information to users? Front page headlines, of course, can be solved; add the number of readings behind each news, but also ok. However, there may be more vivid and natural ways, for example:

With the size of the block to express the news of the heat. The more people you follow, the bigger the area occupied by this news headline and the bigger its size. This is not more vivid it?

Fifth, reduce noise

Sometimes we may need to convey multiple messages to users at the same time. Messages that are useful to the user are like "signals" in the communication process; those redundant, useless messages are like "noise." In the design, generally need to try to enlarge the signal, reduce noise.

GOOD DESIGN: Album List

In common file management applications, we are used to using file names to identify files. However, for image files, file names are often automatically generated when shooting (similar to IMG_0932.JPG), which in itself is meaningless, while thumbnails are the easiest and most intuitive way to retrieve images. So if we want to design a list of images, do we have to give a long list of filenames?

Obviously, in this case, the file name has become "noisy". So we can omit the file name, only thumbnails can be displayed.

BAD DESIGN: Remittance interface of a bank app

Imagine what information should I fill out if I need to send money to someone? There may be each other's account, username, remittance amount. If there are multiple accounts under my name, I may also need to choose which account to withdraw from. However, if you click on a button called "Remittance", an interface like this appears:

Will suddenly become overwhelmed? Perhaps you will have many questions, such as: "real-time transfer" with "ordinary transfer" What is the difference? It sounds like "real time" will be faster, but how slow is it? Real-time needs additional fees? "Inter-bank transfer" What does it mean? Sounds like it will receive money? But I do not want to collect money, I want to give money to others ... Phone number transfer is doing?

So, this interface is more like an "entrance portal," pushing all "responsibility" to the user rather than guiding the user through the task.

There are many ways and techniques for the transfer of information, which is hard to explain in this article. But one thing is clear, that is, we want to think from the user's point of view. Put yourself in the mining user problems encountered in the actual operation, reasonable interpretation, accurate and clear to provide users with the information he really needed.

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