haiku.baby is very fun and I love the simplicity of the interface. Have you considered a small help link or modal interface for users landing on the site with no context of what to do next?
In all seriousness, obviously we can always do a better job of making things accessible and clearly understandable. But I also believe there are certain times where over-explaining the thing takes away from the experience, and we have to utilize context and trust people. In this case, you’re coming to a website with “haiku” in the name, likely because someone shared it with you or you stumbled across it because you interact with me, and you're greeted with a largely blank canvas, three lines, and your cursor is blinking on the first line. The first time you type, you’re already using the site, and getting contextual feedback. From there the experience folds out.
Personally, I think explaining how to use the site isn’t nearly as rewarding as a person discovering what the site is and does by using it.
haiku.baby is very fun and I love the simplicity of the interface. Have you considered a small help link or modal interface for users landing on the site with no context of what to do next?
Great question! No!
I like to design
weird things for curious folks
who will poke around.
In all seriousness, obviously we can always do a better job of making things accessible and clearly understandable. But I also believe there are certain times where over-explaining the thing takes away from the experience, and we have to utilize context and trust people. In this case, you’re coming to a website with “haiku” in the name, likely because someone shared it with you or you stumbled across it because you interact with me, and you're greeted with a largely blank canvas, three lines, and your cursor is blinking on the first line. The first time you type, you’re already using the site, and getting contextual feedback. From there the experience folds out.
Personally, I think explaining how to use the site isn’t nearly as rewarding as a person discovering what the site is and does by using it.