For a long while now, I’ve been worrying about how to design forms for people with learning disabilities. It’s not been a pressing problem because frankly, a lot of the forms that I work with don’t even work for peopleContinue reading… “Easy Read” and writing for people with learning disabilities
Tag: forms that work
Hooray, I’m Doing the Forms!
Here’s a little secret that I’d like to share with you: most people just aren’t all that thrilled by forms. They don’t like filling them in, they don’t like thinking about them, and they certainly don’t like the idea ofContinue reading… Hooray, I’m Doing the Forms!
Making a better web form
Which usability changes make the biggest difference? Invited by LoanBright to review their forms, we were surprised by some of the results. Among the changes we tested – layout, wording of questions, addition of extra pages – the only one to make a significant differenceContinue reading… Making a better web form
Five factors for choosing forms software
At any time there are dozens of forms products on the market so how do you choose the right option for physically creating your form? In this paper for the Business Forms Management Association Symposium, I explore five areas you need toContinue reading… Five factors for choosing forms software
Making web forms easy to fill in
Introduction and definitions What is a form? BFMA has its own definition, but for this tutorial I am going to propose one that looks at a form from the point of view of the person who fills it in –Continue reading… Making web forms easy to fill in
Improving usability: case study of Inland Revenue Employer’s Pack
This presentation, given to the 49th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Nashville, USA, offers an overview of my work with the UK Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue and Customs). It records some our findings on usability, and the changes we made as aContinue reading… Improving usability: case study of Inland Revenue Employer’s Pack
Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web
No. Don’t use a drop-down. Updated in 2023. Back in 2001, Sarah Allen and I wrote this paper, and I delivered it at the 48th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Chicago, Illinois. We had done plenty of testing ofContinue reading… Should I use a drop-down? Four steps for choosing form elements on the web
Why users don’t complain about bad forms
Originally written in response to the Florida vote controversy in the US 2000 presidential election, here are plenty of reasons why you may never know that users are struggling with your form. This article first appeared in January 2001 in UserContinue reading… Why users don’t complain about bad forms
Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form
A version of this paper was first delivered at the 47th Society for Technical Communication Conference in Florida. Most people do not enjoy filling in a form If you want to create a usable form, the first step is to understandContinue reading… Designing usable forms: the three-layer model of the form
Case study: Improving a paper form for the Open University
A large proportion of the costs of dealing with forms comes from sorting out the mistakes that people make when they fill in the form. Back in 1999, I worked with the Open University on their paper Registration Agreement and associatedContinue reading… Case study: Improving a paper form for the Open University