Results from the UI patterns investigation

by Anders Toxboe on September 2, 2009

The UI pattern survey initiative was launched back in April and has slowly been collecting replies ever since. With over four thousand replies, the data collected has considerable momentum.

The purpose of the survey was to crowd-source locating various standard elements on some of the biggest sites out there. The survey had two types of questions: coordinate questions and regular closed-option questions.

Coordinate questions

The following questions were answered by the user being asked to locate a certain element. He or she then pointed the cursor to the element on an iframe and clicked it. The coordinate the user clicked on was recorded and the images below were the result.

All sites were viewed in a 1024×800 dimensioned iframe, which the images below illustrate. Each square on the image equals a 40px X 40px square in the iframe. White color means that nobody clicked on that particular square. Darker color means more clicks – that is more sites have the respective element located in this location.

All replies to questions are summed up per site basis and thrown away if the standard deviation is too big. If the data is valid, it is included in the final results.

Closed option questions

The closed option questions was about the look or form of specific elements on each website. The results were:

The login link or form is represented by a…

Form 20.73% (on 17 sites)
Text Link 67.07% (on 55 sites)
Text button 6.10% (on 5 sites)
Icon 1.22% (on 1 sites)
Icon button 2.44% (on 2 sites)
Other 0.00% (on 0 sites)

Can you refine your search by more options than a text-field

No, there is only a text field and a search button 43.90% (on 36 sites)
Yes, there is also a drop down that allows me to seach particular parts of the site 18.29% (on 15 sites)
Yes, I can click on links that leads me to new search pages. 2.44% (on 2 sites)
Yes, there is an advanced search option. 7.32% (on 6 sites)
There is no search function on the site. 19.51% (on 16 sites)

If a manage account link exists, what kind of icon is it represented by?

Writing instrument (pen, pencil, etc.) 2.38% (on 2 sites)
Folder/file box 1.19% (on 1 sites)
Check mark 0.00% (on 0 sites)
Documents 0.00% (on 0 sites)
Key (representing “Login”) 5.95% (on 5 sites)
No icon used 66.67% (on 56 sites)

What orientation does the main navigation menu have?

It’s a horizontally laid out menu 79.52% (on 66 sites)
It’s a vertically laid out menu 12.05% (on 10 sites)

Is the main navigation tab based?

Yes 24.39% (on 20 sites)
No 73.17% (on 60 sites)

Is the colorscheme of the site light or dark?

Light 83.95% (on 68 sites)
Dark 16.05% (on 13 sites)

In what section is the sign-up link (not form) placed?

In the header 71.08% (on 59 sites)
In a prominent position of the page (not the header) 21.69% (on 18 sites)
In a not prominent position of the page (not the header) 0.00% (on 0 sites)

How is the sign-up link (not form) titled?

Start here 3.61% (on 3 sites)
Other 8.43% (on 7 sites)
Join 9.64% (on 8 sites)
Sign up 44.58% (on 37 sites)
Register 15.66% (on 13 sites)
Create account 7.23% (on 6 sites)