The impact of delivering online information neglecting user-centered information design principles
- Submitting institution
-
Birmingham City University
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 32Z_OP_D0056
- Type
- D - Journal article
- DOI
-
10.1075/idj.00005.san
- Title of journal
- Information Design Journal
- Article number
- -
- First page
- 151
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 2
- ISSN
- 0142-5471
- Open access status
- Other exception
- Month of publication
- -
- Year of publication
- 2019
- URL
-
https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/idj.00005.san
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
2
- Research group(s)
-
-
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- The aim of this project was to establish the efficacy of cyber security websites in informing internet users how to protect themselves online.
The project hypothesised that neglecting user-centred design principles may compromise cyber awareness, because disregarding those principles impairs the users’ ability to locate, understand and recall necessary information. To test the proposition, a study was devised in order to establish the effectiveness of the cyber security advice given on two UK websites: Cyber Aware and Get Safe Online. Project participants were asked to locate specific information on both sites, and quantitative analysis methods were used to interpret the results. In addition, qualitative data was produced by interviewing users about feelings during and after their interactions with the websites.
The findings suggested that greater importance should be given to ‘lasting impressions’ when designing websites. While much research has been carried out on the importance of ‘first impressions’ in information design (Lindgaard, Dudek, Brown, 2006), little investigation has been undertaken as to the lasting impressions made on the user and how it affects their ability to remember instructions and advice. This article presents the concept of ‘lasting impressions’ in design; demonstrates its importance when applied to situations such as cyber security; and suggests that, where serious information is at stake, ‘accessible design’ alone is insufficient to engender a sense of trust and security among users.
By presenting the results of the project and detailing the responses of internet users, this article provides a guide on how to improve the design and development of websites.
The project was funded the School of Design, University of Leeds, and the researcher acted as research assistant on the project, conducted the experiments, and analysed the data. The researcher was also third author on the ensuing article, which presents the project’s findings and conclusions.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -