Some context: We’re reviewing wireframe templates for the next iteration of our project.

Wireframes. Not design concepts.

The overarching intent of the exercise is to simplify the large amount of information available to the user and parse things out slowly, simply.

The conversation…

Riddler:
We should have icons for all the major options on the main menu. And buttons for the links. And videos for each patient interviewed on the site (say, 3 videos). And an illustration. And highlight the anatomy section and dictionary and bibliography and recommended reading.
HPDEB:
Umm.. The purpose of our site is to make things simple for our users.
Riddler:
But the page needs more life, more design.
HPDEB:
This is just a wireframe.
Riddler:
It needs to speak to them, They need see the variety of options in the site.
HPDEB:
We want to make it clear what their choices are instead of bombarding them with visual distractions.
Riddler:
It’s really hard to argue with you when you make it sound so logical.
HPDEB:
Uhh…

Other brilliant suggestions:

  • We should change the “My Account” link to “myINFO™”. Why? Because he wants everything branded. So instead of creating your ‘account’, a user will create their ‘myINFO™ account’. Yeah.

  • Change the link titled “Clinical Trials” to “Clinical Trials For You!” Why? Because it’s personalized.

How is it personalized? It’s not. I respond:

HPDEB:
That’s not personalized at all.
Riddler:
Sure it is. They select search words based on their condition so it’s personalized.
HPDEB:
Well, then so is any search result from Google. Because you entered search terms based on what YOU wanted. So really, it’s not personalized at all.
Riddler:
Well we have to convey that our home page is customized for the user.
HPDEB:
But it’s not. Not at all. Not in the least. And that’s really not the important concern for the user at all.

Continuing on with the suggestions:

  • Make the “Clinical Trials (For You!)” link the highest priority item on the home page, before any ‘welcome’ message. Why? So the user knows we have clinical trials info. Why is that stupid? Users aren’t here for clinical trials info, and this info is relevant only to a very small group of people.

  • Change the “Related Links” title to “Related Links For You”. See above. Again, it’s not personalized in any way.