Time really does zip by, doesn't it? We’ve already hit Article 3 of our personalization blog series.
In our second article, we turned to the English naturalist Charles Darwin by borrowing a page from his book “On the Origin of the Species” - quite literally - to help us explain why adaptive websites are so important.
If you missed this second act, no stress – our content doesn't expire like a Netflix show. You can always catch up on the article about why having an adaptive website is crucial in our blog section.
Why does an Adaptive Website work well for users?
Allow me to answer this question with another: What exactly makes a website work well for its users?
This question takes me back to a book I recently read, "The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald A. Norman. Norman’s book starts with an anecdote about Kenneth Olsen, the engineer behind Digital Equipment Corp., who admitted he couldn't figure out how to use his company's microwave to heat a cup of coffee.
Norman continues by sharing that someone else was puzzled by a digital watch, saying, "You'd need an engineering degree from MIT to work this.” Well, here's the twist: Norman has an engineering degree from MIT, and Kenneth Olsen has two, but he can't figure out a microwave oven.
If our minds are designed to understand the world, why do we struggle with simple tasks? The same struggle applies to websites. If you've ever spent ages searching for something online and ended up more frustrated, know that it's not your fault—it's the website's failure to align with users. Norman’s book emphasizes the importance of user-centered design and websites, just like products, should prioritize the user. Adaptive websites work well for users because, like a well-designed door handle that knows whether to push or pull, they adjust to users' needs and preferences. They simply put the user first.
