Consistancy

Why Consistency is important

Users need consistancy throughout a design scheme so that they don't have to relearn things, or learn different methods of doing things. In addition, costs are reduced where a small set of templates can be designed for the entire site, rather than designing each section from scratch.

Internal consistancy

Internal consistancy in websites is important.

In a recent study (Seeking clarity on consistency) the following elements were indentified as being important to a users view of consistancy. In decreasing order of importance they are:

Color - The consistant use of colour across a site is the most important element in maintaining a consistant feel
Layout grid/navigation structure - When the search button and the navigation bars are always in the same place across the site they are easier to find and therefore save users' time
Background elements and font
Logo - surprisingly, perhaps, the logo was the element select least often to denote consistancy across a website.

Language should also remain consistant - use the same term for the same item or concept across the site. This reinforces the language used to the user (particularly important if the terms and concepts are new to the user) and reduces the liklihood of confusion. The tone used should alse remain the same throughout - either friendly and warm or professional and more removed but not both. Pick one at the start of a particular project and stick to it.

External Consistancy / Conventions

Websites and multimedia artifacts should also be externally consistant, that is they should have elements which behave the same as other sites' elements do.

User interface elements

In general apply user interface elements as they were designed to be used. For example a radio button should be used when only one choice of a selection is available to the user, as this is the normal behaviour of this element.

Layout

Navigation, Content, Logo, Breadcrumbs, Search and promotional Material often appear in the same positions on many sites. In usability tests, users have been confused when the interface elements were in an unusual position.

Links

Links have standard default colours. Usability is highest where these default colours are used.

Exercise - External Consistancy

Quickly jot down the positions you would expect to find the following elements on websites.

Navigation,
Content,
Logo,
Breadcrumbs,
Search
Promotional Material (advertisements)

Exercise - Consistancy Analysis

Analyse a well known site for the following:

Consistancy of terms
Consistancy of tone
Correct & consistant use of user interface elements
Consistant layout – internally & externally
- logo placement
- Navigation placement
- Breadcrumbs placement
- Content placement
- Related material and promotions placement
- Search placement
Consistant Visuals
- Headings
- Fonts
- Backgrounds
External Consistancy
- Use of (non)standard link colour

Implementation - Style Guides

Style Guides can be used to enable a web or multimedia design & development team to create a consistant interface. This can be particularly difficult (and hence particularly important) when there are many people working on the same project.

Creating a style guide

Select key members of the team to contribute to the style guide. These individuals should have a range of technical, design and usability expertise
These contributers should describe the guidelines and standards for the products and the methods for ensuring consistency across products. This guide should provide the basic templates, style sheets, rules of design and methods for checking that these templates and rules have been adhered to.
Each new developer on the project should read the entire style guide document before beginning any work on the system.

Understanding HCI