Principles of good GUI Design

1
Principles of good GUI Design

• James Hobart
• http//axp16.iie.org.mx/Monitor/v01n03/ar_ihc2.htm

2
Forgetting the User

• Developers often design for what they know, not
  what the users know.
• It makes the user feel incapable of using the
  product. Avoid this error diligently.

3
Give Users Control

• Flexibility in user interfaces
• Empowering for the user

4
Too Many Features at the Top Level

• VCR 1985 Vs VCR 1995.
• Features used frequently are readily available.
• Avoid the temptation to put everything on the
  first screen or load the toolbar with rarely used
  buttons.

5
GUI Successes

• Successful GUIs share many common
  characteristics.
• For example, Visa and MasterCard logos on buttons
  that identified how a customer was going to pay.
• Avoid repainting the screen unless it is
  absolutely necessary.
• Mnemonics, accelerator keys, and toolbar buttons
  with meaningful icons.

6
Dos And Don'ts

• Every good developer should have goal
• YOU need some rules for repeatable successful
  designs.

7
Understand People

• Applications must reflect the perspectives and
  behaviors of their users.
• To understand users fully, developers must first
  understand people.

8
Be Careful Of Different Perspectives

• Many designers unwittingly fall into the
  perspective trap when it comes to icon design or
  the overall behavior of the application.
• Unfortunately, the users of the system had no
  idea what metaphor the icon was supposed to
  represent.

9
Design for Clarity

• GUI applications often are not clear to end
  users.
• To increase the clarity of applications is to
  develop and use a list of reserved words. A
  common complaint among users is that certain
  terms are not clear or consistent.
• What is the difference between
• "Item"
• "Product"
• "Merchandise"

10
Design for Consistency

• Good GUIs apply consistent throughout the
  application
• Provide the user with as many consistent
  behaviors as possible.
• Each new and exciting experience you provide in
  the software can become an anxiety-inducing
  experience or an expensive call to your help desk.

11
Provide Visual Feedback

• Your users will greatly appreciate knowing how
  much longer a given operation will take

12
Keep Text Clear

• Developers often try to make textual feedback
  clear by adding a lot of words.
• Concise wording of text labels, user error
  messages, and one-line help messages is
  challenging.

13
Provide Traceable Paths

• Providing a traceable path is harder than it
  sounds.
• You must also identify areas where you can
  flatten the menu structure and avoid more than
  two levels of cascading menus.
• Providing a descriptive title bar within each
  dialog box will help greatly to remind the user.

14
Implementing Effective Standards

• Ensure consistency among your GUI applications is
  to implement GUI standards that are easy to use,
  clear, and concise.

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Conclusion

• Designing good GUIs is a critical skill for
  application
• Good GUI designs don't happen naturally.
• Remember, good GUI design makes your users have
  an easier time getting their jobs accomplished