Web guides

Create intuitive and efficient user experiences

Usability is all about making it easy for users to find and understand the content on your pages. Understand the five principles that guide you to create better websites.

5 principles of usability

Users should be able to quickly decode what your site is about and what they need to do.

You can achieve this by:

writing clear and concise web copy.

limiting the number of options and guiding the user towards the desired action.
Read more about web texts
A consistent layout and language makes it easier for users to navigate.

You can ensure this by:

following the SDU design guide for colours, typography and image style.

using the same icons and terms consistently.

adhering to web accessibility and search engine optimisation standards.
Read more about search engine optimisation
A logical structure helps users find what they are looking for.

Remember to:

evaluate and optimise your menu structure.

ensure links and buttons are clear and work properly.

remove dead links and create redirects when URLs change.

add relevant metadata for better searchability.

create visual hierarchies with headings and sections.
Read more about web analytics
All users should be able to access and understand the content, regardless of their abilities.

You can achieve this by:

writing alt-texts for images, videos and documents.

avoid placing text in images.

using headings correctly (heading1, heading2, heading3) to structure content.
Read more about web accessibility
Users should be able to find what they are looking for without unnecessary obstacles.

You can ensure this by:

eliminating redundant form fields.

avoiding or limiting the use of pop-ups.

disabling autoplay on videos.

optimising image sizes for faster loading.
Read more about image sizes

Testing usability

Usability is not just a set of principles - it must also be tested in practice. At SDU, we work systematically with user testing to ensure that our websites work as they should. By testing with real users, we can identify challenges and improve the user experience.

Tools for improving usability

We use SiteImprove to monitor and optimise our websites. SiteImprove helps identify errors, improve accessibility and optimise SEO.

Learn more about SiteImprove

What is usability?

Usability is about making it easy for users to use and navigate a website.

The goal is to minimise distractions and make it easy and clear for users to achieve their goals on the website.

Do you have any questions?

If you have any technical questions, or questions about setup, language etc. please write to the web coordinator at your faculty or SDU Communication - Web. Remember to include the URL and screenshot of the page you need help with.

Search