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Users spend most of their time on other sites. This means…

“Users spend most of their time on other sites. This means that users prefer your site to work the same way as all the other sites they already know.” quote by Jakob Nielsen
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“Users spend most of their time on other sites. This means that users prefer your site to work the same way as all the other sites they already know.”

Jakob Nielsen

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People tend to favor familiar interfaces, so they expect new sites to behave like existing ones.

In simple terms: Users want consistency across sites.

Key Takeaway

Design for familiar patterns.

Themes

usability design consistency

Mood

practical analytical

Type

advice guideline

When to use this quote

  • website redesign
  • app onboarding
  • feature rollout
  • user testing

Key Concepts

human‑centered design habit formation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you balance novelty with familiarity?
  • What familiar elements can you keep while improving?
A Different Perspective

If innovation is needed, familiarity can hinder adoption.

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