Web 2.0 has revolutionized the Web world with its wide array of new interaction styles and concepts. Web developers have found it extremely useful, as it offers a powerful platform for application development. Till recently, web audiences were not familiar with terms like RSS, tagging, drag-and-drop, slide transitions and many other new paradigms. So it is very essential that users should come to know about these latest arrivals in the Web world. There are certain design elements which can be put to effective use for communicating the value of these new interactions to their target audience.

Instructive design is one such technique that uses design elements to help users grasp Web 2.0 applications quickly. This includes very typical elements such as text, graphics and video, but in this case, it is not about what you use, it is all about how you use it. The main purpose of instructive design is to educate users about an interaction as effectively and efficiently as possible. Many tricks can be used to achieve this objective. But the most common among them is Plain ol’ Text.

Most of the users overlook those paragraphs of instructions displayed at the top of an application screen. They are more focused on doing the tasks on hand rather than reading them. The users can not even notice a Help button. If text is used well, however, it can be your saving grace. You just need to follow a few simple rules:

Keep your instructive text short and simple, i.e. to a maximum of one or two lines. Anything more will less likely to be read. After writing instructive text, go over it quite a few times to see how you can cut down it.

You also need to ensure that the instructive text is visually different from section headings, field labels and so on. People are always interested things that look different from other objects in a web page. Apply a unique style to the text so that it is noticeable. Use small font sizes coupled with slightly lighter color to be effective.

Place instructive text as closely as possible to the element the instructions are about. If the text explains what type of data to enter into a form field, for example, place it immediately above or below the field. Better yet, use the text as the default value for the field, so it is impossible for users to miss it.

These practices keep new users well-versed about how to make use of an application. At the same time, stay clear of the way of experienced users, so that they don’t stumble over them while trying to get things done. Teaching users about RSS, tagging, and drag-and-drop interactions requires a little more creativity than a simple line of instructive text, but it’s not any more complicated, if you keep the concepts of instructive design in mind while you create applications.

The final thing to reveal in instructive elements is how to interact with the design. In addition to unfolding the benefit and purpose of an interaction, we also need to make it clear how to use it. Moving forward, just keep the principles summarized here in mind as you design application screens. Expectantly, you’ll catch yourself next time you decide to write a paragraph of instructions at the top of the page and try something different.

Tags: Web 2.0 – The Learning Curve for User