Long time ago (2006) I had a client who wanted their educational web-site (Provider of e-signature) to be created with user centric design first approach.

I had a vast interest in the topic due to my exposure to Nielsen Norman Group teachings and research based UX. In one of the test I introduced a big search field positioned in the top of the screen with clear contrast as a starting UX point.

The test failed miserably. People rejected the notion that they must type, mostly of _fear_ of making a mistake.

As a result all the data suggested that the targeted audience will feel comfortable with "precompiled" list of important topics as a UX starting point. After carefully creating adequate structure I introduced 9 starting points and solved the problem. /Warning: Cyrillic / Retro UI/ (https://web.archive.org/web/20080820012158/http://www.b-trus...)

This was in the time when most of the users associated Internet with the blue "e" icon of Internet Explorer.

I think that this mindset is still present. Users in general are in the same space. Facebook icon replaced the IE icon successfully.