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Article published In:
Information Design Journal
Vol. 24:2 (2018) ► pp.151–177

The impact of neglecting user-centered information design principles when delivering online information

Cyber security awareness websites as a case study

| University of Leeds, UK
| University of Hull, UK
| Birmingham City University, UK

Information design principles are overlooked in cyber security awareness websites. An Information Design Process Model has been devised to help frame and interpret how online information is processed and the role information design principles play in facilitating that processing. Two websites have been compared, and results show significant differences in terms of performance, behavior and perception. The results also show that in situations where serious information is at stake, such as cyber security, a more accessible design does not seem to be sufficient to project a sense of trust and security among users. All these findings have led to original insights regarding the design of online information in terms of lasting impression and user-centered design approaches.

Keywords: information design, online information, information processing, user-centered information design principles, cyber security
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Context
    • 1.2Aim and hypothesis
  • 2.Information processing: A theoretical model
    • 2.1 start task
    • 2.2 continue task
    • 2.3 find & extract information
  • 3.Evaluation: Design principles
  • 4.User testing
    • 4.1Participants
    • 4.2Stimuli
    • 4.3Procedure
  • 5.Results
    • 5.1Time
      • 5.1.1Summary and discussion
    • 5.2Behavior
      • 5.2.1Passwords
      • 5.2.2Software
      • 5.2.3Shopping
      • 5.2.4Video
      • 5.2.5Summary and discussion
    • 5.3User perception
      • 5.3.1Description of the website
      • 5.3.2Feelings after using the website
      • 5.3.3Design preferences
      • 5.3.4Summary and discussion
  • 6.Discussion and conclusion
    • Lasting impression
    • User-centered design approaches
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Published online: 18 April 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.00005.san
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