3 ms·

I assumed list would do better. There's basic underlying usability rules that permeate through everything. The human eye scans like an F. It's almost the gol

I assumed list would do better. There's basic underlying usability rules that permeate through everything. The human eye scans like an F. It's almost the golden rule of design. Always build your layouts in an F structure for the most important items. A list design goes hand in hand with complimenting the F average.

betterlabs 15y ago
You articulated my point better than I could have. I too guessed and have always believed vertical listings are "more natural" way of consuming information than the grid listings. Grids are too overwhelming to digest any of the information and make a decision. They are probably good to browse sometimes. I also wanted to say that a common perception that prettier is better is rarely true. Google is a great example and so was Plentyoffish. Utility and usability pretty much make the biggest difference and can make up for lack of pretty design. Infact sometimes pretty design is often not the most usable design.
jayfuerstenberg 15y ago
There is also a cultural element to consider. Some regions, like Japan, prefer high-information density, cluttered UIs. A prime example is yahoo.com VS yahoo.co.jp White space is an important tool in controlling that density.
- charliesome 15y ago
  I don't think Yahoo Japan is any more dense or cluttered than regular Yahoo. Maybe it's just the unfamiliar characters giving that appearance?
  - kstenerud 15y ago
    Nope. They're all cluttered. http://www.rakuten.co.jp/ http://www.rakuten.co.jp/ http://www.bk1.jp/ http://www.bk1.jp/ http://www.goodwill.jp/ http://www.goodwill.jp/ http://www.matsuzakaya.co.jp/ http://www.matsuzakaya.co.jp/ https://www.apita.co.jp/ https://www.apita.co.jp/ http://www.minimini.co.jp/ http://www.minimini.co.jp/ http://www.nrt.co.jp/ http://www.nrt.co.jp/
tcarnell 15y ago
Interesting - have you got any external links you can post about this 'F' behaviour? I'd be interesting in reading them!
- banjomonster 15y ago
  http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html

betterlabs 15y ago

You articulated my point better than I could have. I too guessed and have always believed vertical listings are "more natural" way of consuming information than the grid listings. Grids are too overwhelming to digest any of the information and make a decision. They are probably good to browse sometimes. I also wanted to say that a common perception that prettier is better is rarely true. Google is a great example and so was Plentyoffish. Utility and usability pretty much make the biggest difference and can make up for lack of pretty design. Infact sometimes pretty design is often not the most usable design.

jayfuerstenberg 15y ago

There is also a cultural element to consider. Some regions, like Japan, prefer high-information density, cluttered UIs. A prime example is yahoo.com VS yahoo.co.jp White space is an important tool in controlling that density.

charliesome 15y ago
I don't think Yahoo Japan is any more dense or cluttered than regular Yahoo. Maybe it's just the unfamiliar characters giving that appearance?
- kstenerud 15y ago
  Nope. They're all cluttered. http://www.rakuten.co.jp/ http://www.rakuten.co.jp/ http://www.bk1.jp/ http://www.bk1.jp/ http://www.goodwill.jp/ http://www.goodwill.jp/ http://www.matsuzakaya.co.jp/ http://www.matsuzakaya.co.jp/ https://www.apita.co.jp/ https://www.apita.co.jp/ http://www.minimini.co.jp/ http://www.minimini.co.jp/ http://www.nrt.co.jp/ http://www.nrt.co.jp/

tcarnell 15y ago

Interesting - have you got any external links you can post about this 'F' behaviour? I'd be interesting in reading them!

banjomonster 15y ago
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html