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Jakob’s Law was introduced by a UX designer called Jakob Nielsen, it is here to highlight the importance of familiarity in design. Instead of creating completely new features or interfaces, designers should follow common patterns and layouts that users already use and would recognise. This improves usability, and makes navigation easier.
Jakob’s Law states that users prefer websites and apps that work similarly to ones they already know because it makes them easier to use and remember how to navigate. Instead of learning a new system from scratch, people feel more comfortable with familiar layouts, navigation, and functions.
You could apply Jakob’s law in many different ways in University whether this is for projects and work or for methods of studying or researching.
When applying Jakob’s Law, universities can create digital experiences that can improve efficiency, and help students focus on learning rather than struggling with confusing platforms.
If the student portal follows common design patterns like those used throughout mainstream services in Google or social media, for example easy and clear menus, search bars, and dashboards, students will navigate it more easily.
University learning services like Blackboard use familiar features that are similar to YouTube and Google Drive, with this students will spend less time figuring out how to submit assignments or access lectures.
Some people often find it difficult to access the timetables, maps, and event bookings. So a university based app would be a good idea and it should follow popular app structures mainly being social media, to make it easy for students to find information quickly.