Jakob's Law
People spend most of their time on other products, so they expect yours to work the same way.
Why it matters
Familiar patterns let people use what they already know, so they can focus on their goal.
How to use it
- Use common patterns for navigation, carts and forms.
- Keep familiar icons for familiar meanings.
- When you redesign, let people ease into the change if you can.
Example
People look for the cart near the top right of a shopping site because most sites put it there.
Watch out
This does not mean copying everything. Break a pattern only when the benefit clearly beats the relearning cost.