Education Without Frustration: Doing Mobile Tutorials Right
Mobile tutorials are designed to get users up and running as fast as possible. But it can be challenging to give users all the information they need without forcing them through endless swipes. And some of the most commonly used onboarding methods routinely fail usability tests, according to Theresa Neil, author of “Mobile Design Pattern Library.” She likes to say, “Common practice doesn’t equal best practice.”
So what’s a conscientious app designer supposed to do?
Check out how game designers do it, says Theresa. They let users learn by doing, give them positive feedback, and let them move on. All of the learning is contextual—nothing’s front-loaded. It happens in small, manageable steps. New skills build on established ones and are continually being reinforced. And perhaps most important of all, it’s always fun.
adapted from “Rethinking Mobile Tutorials” a conference talk by Theresa Neil.
