Joost de Valk on WordPress Design: Decisions and Options

A short explanation of why useful defaults can make a product easier to use.

JDJoost de ValkGast · Emilia Capital
Kanal
20VC with Harry Stebbings
Veröffentlicht
20. Apr. 2023
Video
0:20
Lesezeit
1 Min.
Original
Englisch
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In 30 Sekunden

Joost de Valk describes a WordPress design principle: choose a sensible default for most users while leaving a code-level extension point where appropriate.

  1. 1Decisions, not optionsChoose useful defaults instead of exposing every choice.
  2. 2Keep an extension pointA code-level filter can support exceptional needs.
  3. 3More settings have a costAdditional options can make an interface harder to use.

Das Wichtigste

  1. Good defaults reduce the number of decisions users must make.
  2. Additional settings can make an interface harder to navigate.
  3. Extension points can support needs outside the default.
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01

A design principle

In this short interview excerpt, Joost de Valk describes a WordPress design principle: make a sensible decision for users instead of exposing an option for every choice.

In this short interview excerpt, Joost de Valk describes a WordPress design principle: make a sensible decision for users instead of exposing an option for every choice.

02

Defaults and exceptions

He says that if a default works for most people, the interface need not add a setting for it. Developers may still have a code-level filter for exceptional cases.

He says that if a default works for most people, the interface need not add a setting for it. Developers may still have a code-level filter for exceptional cases.

03

The usability tradeoff

His reasoning is that more options can make a product harder for ordinary users to navigate. The tradeoff is between a simpler default experience and the needs of people who want customization.

His reasoning is that more options can make a product harder for ordinary users to navigate. The tradeoff is between a simpler default experience and the needs of people who want customization.

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