Elements of Good GUI Design
Well used designs always contain these elements
The majority of any new IT project that requires human interaction devotes far more time to the way information is presented and collected than how it is stored. In this day and time, data is most often presented in a graphical format. The graphical user interface (GUI) consumes 30 to 60 percent of the majority of IT development budgets. Yet, according to recent surveys, one of the most attractive features a resume can display is experience with GUI design.
Consider The User
One mistake programmers make designing GUI products is forgetting who the user is, and how the user will view the finished product. For this discussion we will not touch on the obvious “generation gap” issues, although this does play a small role in some IT departments. The point to stress here is “user awareness”. By and large, users of modern commercial software outside gaming, “myspace”, and AOL are of the middle aged to older adult variety. In this user base, perception is key. If the user perception is that the software is “broken” or “too hard to use”, the user is not necessarily at fault. Good GUI design will give the impression of simplicity and ease of use.
Start Out Simple
When designing web pages and desktop applications, first impressions are very important. Your web home page should be fast loading, and simple as well as decorative. One often committed error in web design is allowing aesthetics to overshadow the goal. There are thousands of beautiful web home pages that are abandoned before they even get fully loaded because they take 2-5 minutes to load on broadband connections. This is a serious mistake. Make your web home page or application startup window appear as quickly as possible, even if there is still construction or initialization necessary for first use. The user must get the PERCEPTION that the web page or application is fast and responsive. Simplicity underscores this principal. The use of movies and animation on a web page or first window should be avoided when possible. While it may be attractive, it requires a lot of download time and more often than not, it is skipped altogether. Not what you want on a home page.
Convey the message
Good GUI design (home page or desktop application) must convey the message to the user that the author or sponsor wishes to convey. Highly decorated, very complex (busy), home pages or first window designs give many users the instant impression that it is “too hard to learn”. The message is lost in the decorative appearance and complex navigation. Avoid novelty and “neat programming tricks” unless ease of use increases significantly or the message is magnified greatly. It may inflate the programmers ego but confuse and frustrate the user. First window designs or home page designs should start with the central message of the company or sponsor. Avoid making menus more than 3 to 4 levels deep, as this adds the false impression of complexity to the user.
Build From The Simple And Expose The Complex
Starting out simple means the designer must devise better ways to expose more complex aspects of the application or web site. Take time to think about how the user would like to see information presented. This is not necessarily in a logical way or in a way programmers are used to. This is where good relations with the sponsor or customer are essential. Much insight into user expectations can be gained by extensive mock up designs and interaction with the customer or sponsor. They should know their users better than a programmer or graphic artist.
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