Let’s be real: nothing’s more annoying than using an app or website that feels like it’s stuck in the early 2000s. Enter Shneiderman’s 8 Golden Rules—the ultimate cheat code for making interfaces user-friendly. These rules help make sure that when we’re online, things just work and don’t make us want to throw our phones across the room. Let’s break down these golden rules in a way that makes sense:
1. Strive for Consistency: Don’t Mess with the Flow
When you hop from one part of an app to another, you don’t want it to feel like you’ve entered a completely different world. Everything—buttons, menus, interactions—should work consistently so you’re not constantly re-learning how to use the app.
Translation: Make everything look and work the same so we don’t get confused.
2. Enable Shortcuts: Let Us Go Turbo Mode
For those of us who know our way around, shortcuts are a lifesaver. Think keyboard shortcuts or swipe gestures. It’s like leveling up from casual to power user, but for an app.
Translation: Give us shortcuts so we can get stuff done faster.
3. Offer Informative Feedback: Give Us a Sign
When we click something, we want to know what’s happening. Whether it’s a loading spinner or a confirmation pop-up, giving us instant feedback makes us feel like we’re in control.
Translation: Don’t leave us hanging—let us know what’s going on.
4. Design Dialog to Yield Closure: Close the Loop
When you finish a task—like submitting a form or making a purchase—there should be some sort of closure. A thank-you message or a “success” screen gives us that sweet feeling of accomplishment.
Translation: Give us a digital high-five when we finish something.
5. Prevent Errors: Don’t Let Us Fail
Instead of letting us mess things up and then having to fix it, just don’t let it happen in the first place. Whether it’s a warning message or smart design that prevents mistakes, this rule is all about making sure we don’t trip.
Translation: Stop us from doing something dumb in the first place.
6. Permit Easy Reversal of Actions: Oops? No Problem!
Everyone makes mistakes (we’re only human). Whether it’s deleting a file or sending a message, give us an undo button. We want the freedom to make mistakes without stressing about permanent damage.
Translation: Let us hit undo because mistakes happen.
7. Support Internal Locus of Control: Let Us Drive the Car
This is a fancy way of saying the user should always feel in control. We don’t want apps making decisions for us without asking. The user is the driver; the app is just along for the ride.
Translation: Let us be the boss of the app, not the other way around.
8. Reduce Short-Term Memory Load: Don’t Make Us Remember Stuff
We’ve got enough to remember—passwords, dates, the latest TikTok trend. Don’t make us memorize how to navigate your app or website. Keep things visible, like navigation bars or frequently used features, so we don’t have to work too hard.
Translation: Make things easy to find so we don’t have to remember every little thing.
Shneiderman’s 8 Golden Rules are all about making tech less annoying and more intuitive. For Gen Z, who are practically born with smartphones in our hands, these rules make sure we spend less time figuring things out and more time getting stuff done. When apps and websites follow these rules, they’re smoother, less stressful, and—let’s be honest—a lot more fun to use. So next time you’re using an app that feels super easy to navigate, remember: it’s probably thanks to Shneiderman’s golden touch.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash