1. Usability secrets for
entrepreneurs
Janna Cameron
Senior Usability
Specialist, Desire2Learn

5. Focus people!
What’s good for Nancy
Isn’t always good for Ashley

6. Consider their..
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Goals for using your product
Knowledge, skills and experiences
Training
Equipment
Rules and policies

11. No monopoly on good ideas

12. Usability is the “extent to which a
product can be used by specified
users to achieve specified goals with
effectiveness, efficiency and
satisfaction is a specified context of
use.” - ISO

14. Is this usable?

15. Test early and often. Be ready to iterate.

16. “A new SureType keyboard
technology from Research In
Motion (RIM) is drawing early praise
for its ingenuity and effectiveness
and appears to have hit a usability
sweet spot..”
- gizmag.com

18. Go and test like crazy!

20. The explainer
• Too eager to answer
questions
• Doesn’t try to get enduser perspective

21. The salesperson
• Demonstrates the
product
• Talks almost the
whole time

22. The mood ring
• Tells people what they
are thinking
• Has a habit of
interrupting people

23. The problem solver
• Enjoys musing about
solutions
• Secretly wants to
design the product

24. Start developing your inner
mediator

25. Moderation tips
• Pay attention to how much you’re talking
• Remain neutral
• Clarify and check your understanding

28. Start with personas. Test and
iterate like crazy. Be a good
listener.

29. janna.cameron@desire2learn.com
twitter: jannacameron

30. Credits
• Ashley Miles is from the Fluid Project out of the Inclusive
Design Research Center at OCAD University
• Nancy was posted on Flickr by footage.
• The Windows 8 video is by lockergnome on YouTube
• The moderation personas were made using
clayyourself.com