Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Don't Make Me Think

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability is a seminal book on (UX) design and web authored by . First published in 2000 by , the book presents practical principles for creating intuitive digital interfaces that minimize user frustration and . It emphasizes strategies for , , and testing, making it accessible to designers, developers, and product managers. Steve Krug, a longtime usability consultant, drew from his professional experience to write the book, aiming to distill complex UX concepts into straightforward advice. The original edition, released on October 13, 2000, spanned 195 pages and quickly gained traction in the burgeoning field of . Subsequent editions followed: the second in 2005, updating examples for evolving web technologies, and the third—titled Revisited—in 2014, spanning 216 pages including a new chapter on usability and fresh illustrations. The book's core philosophy revolves around Krug's "first law of usability": interfaces should be self-evident, requiring no conscious effort from users to navigate them. Key topics include optimizing billboards (above-the-fold content), reducing choices to avoid decision paralysis, and conducting affordable with just a few participants. These ideas extend beyond websites to mobile apps, desktop software, and even non-digital products like appliances or voting systems. Since its debut, Don't Make Me Think has sold over 700,000 copies worldwide in 15 languages, establishing itself as a foundational text that introduced UX principles to a broad audience. Its humorous, illustrated style and focus on actionable insights have influenced generations of professionals, remaining relevant amid shifts like responsive design and app ecosystems. The third edition, published by ( 978-0-321-96551-6), continues to serve as an essential primer for creating user-friendly digital experiences.

Background and Publication

Author

Steve Krug is the founder and principal of Advanced Common Sense, a consulting firm based in , specializing in making websites and applications more intuitive for users. With over 40 years of experience as a , Krug has worked with a diverse range of clients, including Apple, Bloomberg.com, .com, , and the , focusing on practical improvements to digital interfaces. Krug's career began in the with and creating computer manuals, sparked by his introduction to through a job in . As the gained prominence in the 1990s, he shifted to consulting, conducting hundreds of usability tests that emphasized real-world over theoretical models. This hands-on experience, drawn from early web projects and iterative testing sessions, cultivated his signature commonsense , prioritizing and user intuition in design. Holding a degree in from college, Krug's education initially started in physics but pivoted due to gaps in the curriculum, such as untaught , leading him toward writing and communication. This background informed his straightforward, engaging writing style and workshop teachings on do-it-yourself . Krug's expertise extends to other works, such as Rocket Surgery Made Easy, which builds on his testing methodologies.

Editions

The first edition of Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability was published on October 13, 2000, by , comprising 195 pages and emphasizing foundational principles of web during the height of the dot-com boom. This edition, with 978-0-7897-2310-9, focused on practical advice for designing intuitive websites amid rapid growth. The second edition appeared in August 2005, also by , expanding to 216 pages with ISBN 978-0-321-34475-5. It introduced three new chapters addressing why users abandon websites, strategies for creating usable and accessible sites, and techniques for conducting , reflecting evolving practices. The third edition, subtitled Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web and Mobile Usability, was published on December 24, 2013, by (an imprint of Peachpit, part of ), totaling 216 pages with 978-0-321-96551-6. Key updates included a new Chapter 10 on mobile usability, refreshed examples incorporating smartphones and tablets, and revisions to eliminate or update references to obsolete technologies such as . These changes were motivated by Steve Krug's ongoing consulting work in , adapting the book to contemporary digital landscapes.

Synopsis

Guiding Principles

Krug's First Law of , articulated as "Don't make me think!", posits that web pages should be self-evident and obvious to users, ensuring that common elements such as links and buttons require no cognitive effort to understand or interpret. This principle emphasizes designing interfaces where users can intuitively grasp functionality without hesitation, reducing friction in everyday interactions. In examining user behavior on the web, Krug highlights that people rarely read content fully; instead, they scan pages in patterns resembling an "F," focusing on headings, bold text, and initial segments while skipping dense paragraphs. This scanning habit stems from the web's fast-paced environment, where users seek quick rather than immersive reading. Complementing this, the concept of describes how users opt for the first "good enough" option that meets their needs, rather than exhaustively evaluating all choices for the optimal one, as originally theorized by in decision-making contexts. Additionally, refers to users' tendency to tolerate ambiguities and improvise solutions to proceed, even when interfaces are imperfect, allowing them to complete tasks despite minor confusions. To accommodate these behaviors, Krug advocates for "billboard design," where web pages function as visual hierarchies optimized for scannability, employing techniques like bold headings, color contrasts, and generous spacing to guide the eye without demanding linear reading. This approach treats pages as advertisements meant to convey key messages at a glance, prioritizing clarity over comprehensive detail to align with users' rapid processing. Krug further notes users' preference for "mindless choices," where interfaces provide straightforward, conventional options that minimize , such as binary radio buttons instead of intricate forms, thereby avoiding cognitive overload and . These predictable elements foster familiarity, enabling users to act without deliberation. Finally, Krug's Third Law of stresses omitting needless words, drawing from William Strunk and E.B. White's maxim in The Elements of Style to advocate for concise labeling and instructional copy on the web. This involves stripping away redundant phrases, "happy talk" verbiage, and instructions, ensuring that text supports by being direct and essential.

Design and Navigation Essentials

Krug's exploration of design and essentials in "Don't Make Me Think" focuses on creating intuitive structures that minimize user confusion, drawing from real-world practices to ensure seamless and movement. In Chapter 6, "Street Signs and Breadcrumbs," he outlines key navigation aids designed to answer fundamental user questions: "Where am I?" and "Where can I go from here?" These elements function like urban signage, providing constant cues without demanding attention. Persistent navigation, such as fixed headers visible on every page, ensures users always have access to primary sections like , Products, and , preventing the need to hunt for options. Site IDs in the upper left corner reinforce and location, while utility links (e.g., for search or ) are grouped unobtrusively to avoid clutter. Breadcrumbs—text trails like " > Category > "—are highlighted as vital for deeper pages, allowing users to trace their path and jump back levels effortlessly, particularly in hierarchical sites with more than two layers. Tabs offer another convention for categorizing content, mimicking familiar physical organizers to signal mutually exclusive options without explanation. Clear page naming further supports navigation by ensuring the browser tab or page title matches what users clicked, eliminating guesswork upon arrival. Krug stresses that subsections and local navigation must receive equal design care as top-level menus; neglecting them leads to dead ends where users feel lost. For instance, poor navigation often manifests as overly broad or ambiguous labels in cluttered horizontal menus, forcing exhaustive scanning and increasing frustration, whereas effective designs employ hierarchical dropdowns that expand only on hover, revealing logical sub-options like "Electronics > Laptops > Gaming" for precise targeting. These approaches leverage established web conventions, such as blue, underlined text for links, which users instinctively recognize and reduces cognitive load by aligning with learned expectations from years of browsing. Deviating from such patterns, like styling links as plain text, compels unnecessary thinking and slows progress. Chapter 7, "The Big Bang Theory of Web Design," positions the as the critical launch point—the "Big Bang" from which all user journeys emanate—requiring it to instantly clarify the site's identity, mission, and to avoid early abandonment. It must balance brevity with informativeness, featuring a prominent as the first element to empower direct access, alongside concise that encapsulate purpose, such as a brief phrase explaining "what we do" in 6-8 words. Overloading with too many choices or irrelevant promotions overwhelms newcomers; instead, the should prioritize a welcome blurb, targeted content teasers, and feature highlights that guide without dictating. exemplifies this well, with its immediately signaling "Earth's biggest selection" through a straightforward and streamlined categories, enabling users to grasp the focus and proceed confidently within seconds. Building on users' tendency to scan rather than read, these elements ensure rapid comprehension, setting a positive trajectory for the entire site experience. Search functionality emerges as an indispensable safety net in Krug's framework, integrated prominently (especially on the ) to rescue users when browsing paths prove inadequate, allowing keyword-based jumps to content without retracing steps. This "get out of jail free" tool compensates for imperfect navigation hierarchies, but Krug warns it should complement, not replace, intuitive structures—relying solely on search risks alienating non-expert users who prefer visual cues. Overall, these essentials prioritize familiarity and efficiency, ensuring websites feel like well-mapped territories rather than mazes.

Usability Testing and Validation

In Chapter 8 of Don't Make Me Think, Steve Krug addresses the common pitfalls of intra-team debates over usability decisions, arguing that such arguments often devolve into unproductive opinion-based standoffs that hinder progress. He advocates shifting focus to empirical user data obtained through testing, which provides objective evidence to resolve disputes without relying on subjective preferences. To foster collaboration, Krug employs the "farmer and cowman" analogy from the musical Oklahoma!, illustrating how team members with differing roles—such as designers envisioning user flows and developers prioritizing technical constraints—can achieve harmony by grounding discussions in observed user behaviors rather than personal convictions. Chapter 9 introduces Krug's practical framework for , encapsulated in the phrase "usability testing on 10 cents a day," which emphasizes affordable, frequent sessions to iteratively improve designs without requiring specialized equipment or large budgets. The core process involves recruiting 3 to 5 representative users—ordinary web users who match the , compensated with a modest of $50 to $100 each—to perform realistic tasks on prototypes, sketches, or live sites while observers watch without interfering. Sessions are moderated simply: define clear goals upfront, such as assessing whether users can complete key actions like finding information or making a purchase; allow participants to verbalize their thoughts aloud during tasks they partially select to ensure natural behavior; and limit interference to clarifications only, avoiding leading questions that could bias results. Following observation, the team analyzes patterns across sessions—typically lasting under an hour each—to prioritize and fix major issues before retesting, creating a low-cost that costs around per round when using basic recording tools like a . Krug stresses qualitative insights from these observations, such as confusion points or unexpected paths, over quantitative metrics like success rates, as the goal is to uncover flaws through behavior rather than prove hypotheses statistically. Common pitfalls include mistaking focus groups for testing—where opinions dominate—or delaying sessions until late in development, both of which miss opportunities for early fixes. A key tenet Krug promotes, drawing from established , is that even imperfect testing with a small number of users reveals approximately 80% of problems, making it far more efficient than exhaustive studies. This rule underscores the value of starting small and iterating, as patterns in user struggles—such as ambiguities—emerge quickly without needing perfect conditions.

Broader Applications

In the third edition of Don't Make Me Think, Revisited published in 2013, introduced a new chapter dedicated to usability, recognizing the rise of smartphones like the as transformative for . He emphasizes designing for touch interfaces, where fingers replace mice, requiring larger tap targets—at least 44 pixels square—to accommodate imprecise touches and prevent errors. Responsive design is highlighted as essential, allowing sites to fluidly adapt layouts across screen sizes without separate versions that can cause user disorientation, often described as "vertigo" when switching between and experiences. Krug advises avoiding hover-dependent , such as drop-down menus that rely on mouse-overs, since touch devices lack this interaction; instead, use persistent or tap-activated alternatives to maintain intuitiveness. Examples from the illustrate these principles, showing how its gestures and optimized apps set standards for seamless navigation. Krug extends principles to ethical considerations in Chapter 11, framing good as a form of that respects users' time and . He argues that minimizing —through clear, non-misleading messages that explain issues and suggest fixes—builds trust and reduces , treating users as valued guests rather than obstacles. respect is a core tenet, with recommendations to avoid deceptive practices like hidden or forced registrations, instead providing transparent policies and options to foster goodwill. This courteous approach counters common annoyances, such as intrusive pop-ups or slow-loading pages, positioning as a in digital interactions. Chapter 12 addresses as an integral extension of , asserting that a site cannot be truly user-friendly if it excludes people with disabilities. Krug advocates compliance with (WCAG), a set of international standards from the that ensure perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust content. Practical measures include adding descriptive alt text to images for screen readers, enabling full keyboard navigation to bypass mouse requirements, and using tags for structure that aids assistive technologies. He stresses balancing these with overall , warning against overcomplicating designs—such as excessive contrast changes—that might hinder non-disabled users, and encourages testing with real assistive tools to verify inclusivity without compromising simplicity. The book's final chapter, Chapter 13, provides a pragmatic for implementing amid organizational challenges, coining the phrase "usability where you live" to advocate for practical adoption tailored to real-world constraints. Krug outlines strategies for overcoming resistance, such as educating stakeholders on usability's through quick wins like informal testing that demonstrates tangible improvements in user satisfaction. He recommends starting small—focusing on high-impact areas like —rather than overhauling entire systems, and involving cross-functional teams early to build buy-in and avoid siloed efforts. By framing as an iterative, low-cost process integrated into daily workflows, Krug empowers designers to embed these principles sustainably within any organization. The 2013 edition incorporates updates across these areas, particularly enhancing mobile discussions with iPhone-specific examples of touch-optimized interfaces and responsive adaptations that reflect post-iPhone market shifts.

Reception and Influence

Critical Reception

Upon its release, Don't Make Me Think received widespread praise for its accessible approach to web , making complex concepts approachable for beginners and non-experts. The has highlighted the book as a key resource for understanding careers, recommending it alongside other foundational texts for its practical insights into usability principles. Jakob Nielsen, a prominent usability expert, has referenced Krug's central tenet—"Don't make me think"—as a fundamental for usability, describing Krug as a colleague whose work complements efforts to minimize user . Reviewers often commended its witty tone and effective use of illustrations, with outlets like SitePoint noting the engaging, conversational style that employs humor and real-world examples to simplify design concepts. The book garnered strong acclaim from major review platforms, reflecting its broad appeal. A 2001 review in Information Research described it as a "refreshingly thin" and sound introduction to web usability, emphasizing its brevity and clarity without overwhelming detail. On , the third edition holds an average rating of 4.24 out of 5 from over 30,000 ratings, with readers frequently praising its humor, diagrams, and timeless advice on intuitive navigation. Similarly, users rate it 4.6 out of 5 based on more than 4,500 reviews, highlighting the book's entertaining illustrations and practical guidance, though some noted its examples feel dated post-2013. Critics acknowledged the book's introductory nature as both a strength and limitation, ideal for novices but lacking depth for advanced practitioners seeking rigorous methodologies. While the 2013 edition was lauded for its new chapter on mobile usability, updating core principles for smartphones and responsive design, some reviewers critiqued its brevity in addressing like touch interfaces and app ecosystems. Despite these points, the book has been included in "best UX books" lists by publications such as Smashing Magazine and Mopinion, recognizing its foundational role in the field. Translated into 15 languages, Don't Make Me Think has achieved global reach, with sales exceeding 700,000 copies worldwide, underscoring its popularity among designers and developers. Reader feedback consistently emphasizes its enduring relevance, even amid web evolution toward mobile and AI-driven interfaces; many describe its principles as "timeless" in and reviews, applicable to modern despite evolving tools.

Impact on UX Design

The book has sold over 700,000 copies worldwide, establishing it as a cornerstone text in (UX) education and practice. The book is frequently incorporated into UX curricula at leading institutions, such as Stanford University's d.school resources and Carnegie Mellon University's HCI program, where it serves as an introductory guide to principles. Its emphasis on intuitive design has popularized the concept of "" in the UX industry, where users opt for the first acceptable option rather than the optimal one, influencing how professionals prioritize quick, low-effort interactions in digital products. The book's principles have shaped practical tools and guidelines across the field, including contributions to agile UX testing methodologies that integrate rapid evaluations into iterative development cycles. It has informed broader industry standards, such as elements of government usability resources like usability.gov, by advocating for clear navigation and reduced in public-facing digital interfaces. Similarly, its focus on and adaptive has been referenced in the evolution of web standards, aligning with the (WCAG) through shared goals of minimizing user effort for diverse audiences. In corporate contexts, the text's ideas resonate in frameworks like Apple's , which echo Krug's call for self-evident interfaces that avoid unnecessary . Culturally, the book's titular phrase "Don't make me think" has permeated communities, inspiring memes, quotes, and discussions on platforms dedicated to UX professionals, symbolizing the push for effortless interactions. This influence extends to workshops led by Krug and others, where participants apply the book's testing techniques in hands-on sessions to refine prototypes and interfaces. By 2025, the principles remain relevant for emerging AI-driven interfaces, adapting to challenges like voice and search by emphasizing predictive, low-friction experiences that supplement rather than replace foundations.

References

  1. [1]
    Don't Make Me Think, Revisited - Steve Krug
    Here's why I wrote it: After years as a usability consultant helping my clients make their products easier to use, I knew that what I did was valuable.
  2. [2]
    Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 3rd Edition | InformIT
    **Summary of "Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 3rd Edition":**
  3. [3]
    Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability ...
    In this second edition, Steve adds three new chapters in the same style as the original: wry and entertaining, yet loaded with insights and practical advice.
  4. [4]
    About - Steve Krug
    Steve Krug (pronounced “kroog”) is best known as the author of Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, now in its third edition.
  5. [5]
    Steve Krug - Peachpit
    For almost 30 years, Steve Krug was a usability consultant for a wide variety of clients like Apple, Bloomberg.com, Lexus.com, NPR, the International ...
  6. [6]
    Steve Krug | Usability, mostly.
    Mar 22, 2025 · Usability/UX consultant Steve Krug (pronounced "kroog") is best known as the author of Don't Make Me Think and Rocket Surgery Made Easy.About · Rocket Surgery Made Easy · Downloads · Don't Make Me Think, RevisitedMissing: biography | Show results with:biography
  7. [7]
    Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability ...
    Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Second Edition [Book] ... 2005. Beginner. 216 pages. 4h 25m. English. New Riders · Read now. Unlock full ...
  8. [8]
    A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 3rd Edition - Peachpit
    30-day returnsDon't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 3rd Edition ... Don't make me think! Chapter 2. How we really use the ...
  9. [9]
    Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to ...
    Steve returns with fresh perspective to reexamine the principles that made Don't Make Me Think a classic–with updated examples and a new chapter on mobile ...
  10. [10]
    Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability ...
    “Don't make me think!” I've been telling people for years that this is my first law of usability. And the more Web pages I look at, the more ...
  11. [11]
    Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability ...
    CHAPTER 2How we really use the Web. SCANNING, SATISFICING, AND MUDDLING THROUGH. Why are things always in the last place you look for them?
  12. [12]
    CHAPTER 3 Billboard Design 101 - Don't Make Me Think! - O'Reilly
    Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Second Edition · CHAPTER 3Billboard Design 101 · About O'Reilly · Support · International · Download ...
  13. [13]
    Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability ...
    Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Second ... Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain ...
  14. [14]
    Don't Make Me Think!: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability ...
    CHAPTER 8“The Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends”. WHY MOST WEB DESIGN TEAM ARGUMENTS ABOUT USABILITY ARE A WASTE OF TIME, AND HOW TO AVOID THEM.
  15. [15]
    [PDF] Usability testing on 10 cents a day - Steve Krug
    Sadly, this is how most usability testing gets done: too little, too late, and for all the wrong reasons. Repeat after me: Focus groups are not usability tests.
  16. [16]
    [PDF] User Experience Careers - Nielsen Norman Group
    Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability –. Steve Krug. Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer ...<|separator|>
  17. [17]
    UX must alleviate the cognitive burden of time
    Oct 23, 2025 · My good buddy Steve Krug famously said, “Don't Make Me Think,” as his rule number one for achieving usability. While this is still a good ...
  18. [18]
    Designer Must Reads: Don't Make Me Think Revisited - SitePoint
    Nov 11, 2024 · 'Don't Make Me Think' was the the UX bible before UX was a thing. Now Steve Krug has rewritten the book for the mobile generation.Missing: influence | Show results with:influence
  19. [19]
    Simplicity, usability: secrets of Web design - Information Research
    The first of these is refreshingly thin! Steve Krug's Don't make me think has only 195 pages and his reasons for making a thin book are very sound: 'If it's ...
  20. [20]
    Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach…
    Rating 4.2 (30,537) Read 2041 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Since Don't Make Me Think was first published in 2000, over 400000 Web designers and de…
  21. [21]
    5 Best User Experience (UX) Books to Cozy up with this Winter
    Nov 14, 2019 · 1. Smashing UX Design · 2. Don't Make Me Think · 3. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People · 4. Lean UX · 5. The Design of Everyday ...
  22. [22]
    Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to ...
    In stock Store nearbyDec 24, 2013 · Steve Krug (pronounced "kroog") is best known as the author of Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, now in its second ...
  23. [23]
    How User Interface Design Impacts Product Development - DevSquad
    Apr 7, 2023 · 4. Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug has sold more than 600,000 copies in twenty languages. It's the go-to book on user experience and it ...
  24. [24]
    Resources | User Experience Community - Stanford University
    Universal Principles of Design · Universal Methods of Design · Don't Make Me Think · A Web for Everyone: Designing Accessible User Experiences · Web Form Design.
  25. [25]
    [PDF] 2010 Senior Thesis Project Reports
    May 1, 2010 · In Don't Make Me Think, Krug lays the foundation for his first law of usability stating that websites should not have elements that make ...
  26. [26]
    UX Reality Check: 14 Hard Truths About Users - Fast Company
    May 17, 2016 · This is called satisficing. It's a term promoted by Steve Krug in his seminal book on web usability Don't Make Me Think. Satisficing is just ...
  27. [27]
    RITE+Krug: A Combination of Usability Test Methods for Agile Design
    Don't make me think: A common sense approach to the web usability(2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA, USA: New Riders Publishing. Krug, S. (2010). Rocket surgery made ...
  28. [28]
    [PDF] Accessibility, Cascading Style Sheets, and you - Steve Krug
    Reprinted from Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Second Edition. Copyright 2006, Steve Krug For personal use only. Smarter adaptive.Missing: summaries | Show results with:summaries
  29. [29]
    WEEKEND READ: DIGITAL FAIRNESS MATTERS! | Richard Turrin
    Oct 4, 2025 · Steve Krug wrote the UX bible Don't Make Me Think 25 years ago. I don't think even he imagined a world where we go from not thinking to not ...
  30. [30]
    Are you teaching a UX/usability course? - Steve Krug
    Oct 28, 2020 · One of the things that's surprised me about Don't Make Me Think is how often it's being used in courses, ranging from high school to grad ...