Looking for good, reliable references for usability? There are many good ones.
Here are some of our recommended resources to consult when planning a new website or product redesign, when you want to make sure it’s as usable as it can be.
- The Basics from Usability.gov
Usability.gov has a lot of excellent learning resources, as well as downloadable tools and templates. It’s put together by the Digital Communications Division in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and so is a great provider of content on the subject of usability. - Research Insights from Nielsen Norman Group
Jacob Nielsen and Don Norman have been “doing” usability longer than just about anybody we know. Although as industry consultants they also publish some pricey reports, they provide many excellent articles that are distillations from their research. It’s worth signing up for their free eNewsletter. - Usability Design Articles from Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine tends to focus on design, but they have a trove of well-written articles on designing for usability. They also have many articles on related topics such as accessibility and user experience. - Recommended Reference Books from UX Booth
The authors of UX Booth orient their articles to workers with or beginning and intermediate of usability and user experience, and have put together a nice list of publications for someone interested in digging a little deeper than an online article.