User Interface Design Flashcards
1
Q
Cardinal Axiom of
User Interface Design
A
“A user interface is well-designed when the program behaves exactly how the user thought it would.”
-Joel Spolsky,
User Interface Design for Programmers
2
Q
UI Design
Guidelines (6)
A
- Recoverability
- Ensure “UNDO” works in every situation
- Reduce User’s Memory Load
- Establish meaningful default values
- Use Metaphors:
- helps establish a user’s conceptual model
- Provide Help
- (but make it sparing and highly context specific)
- Be consistent in your design
3
Q
UI Design
Constraints/Assumptions (6)
A
- Users DO NOT read the manual
- Users won’t read more than 2 or 3 words at a time
- Users always click ‘OK’
Users don’t like
- making choices
- being frightened (Error alerts)
- being confused/lost
4
Q
Reducing User’s Memory Load:
Design assumptions
about the human brain
and choices
A
The Human Brain:
- Never searches for or compares all options
- Prefers small sets of options (4 or less)
- Picks the first option that looks good enough
- Makes a compromise between speed and accuracy
5
Q
UI Design
Process Stages
A
Note: May return to stages multiple times throughout the process
- Analyze and understand User Activities
- Produce “Paper” Design Prototype
- Evaluate with End Users
- Design Prototype
- Produce Dynamic Design Prototype
- Evaluate with End Users
- Executable Prototype
- Implement Final User Interface
