The principle of least effort

The fool is starting something new, and doesn’t know what to expect. The fool is confident that things will work out well. The Fool just wants to get the task done, and is optimistic, possibly naively thinking he can achieve it. For his user experience he should expect to complete his task as efficiently as possible.

In 1894 the French philosopher Guillaume Ferrero with his ‘Principle of least Effort’, argued that people will naturally choose which ever path is of the least resistance and effort. As Neilsen argues, ‘Perhaps the most important goal of usability is that of minimising the interaction cost.’

Delight the fool by designing a path of least effort. Matching the fool’s expectation that they should be able to complete their tasks as quickly and as easily as possible.

We are all foolish and UX should design for fools.