We continue our discussionof insights from the Intranet Seminar.  Today we’ll discuss design idead

- Baseline usability testing ideas
- Interesting stories from other intranets
- Pagemaster/Template ideas
- Improvement opportunities
- Design Ideas
- Functionality Ideas
- User-Community engagement ideas
- Things we’re doing right

The following design ideas will provide users an easier way to use the intranet and get to useful information on the intranet.

  • Personalization.  I saw several great examples of personalization.  This idea extends the myFavorites drop down and involves the user taking control of his/her environment.
  • Simplicity. The trend is simplicity.  Simplier navigation (social tagging), simplier interfaces (white space, fewer graphics), and simplier content (written for online reading).
  • Provide guidelines that give the user more consistency.  Example.  For forms, have two columns.  The left column is the form. The right column is help or other information relevant to the form. Make this a design column that is followed by every application. For example, from the expense report form, provide links to the travel guidelines document.  Our HR section does a good job of this. 
  • Implement better error pages
  • Don’t use “Clear” or “Reset” buttons unless there is a good reason for it.
  • Use tables and bullets whenever possible.  This is better than making the user read “walls of text”.
  • Name features according to task. Stay away from cleaver labels.  Don’t use icons.  Words are better.
  • Stay away from expandable menus.