User-interface
Usability by intuition
What is User-Interface (UI) design?
User-Interface (UI) design is concerned with human-machine interfaces and interactions. The requirements below are used by research + DESIGN to ensure usage is appropriate for websites, kiosks, and/or industrial equipment.
- Functional requirements:
Key meta-level functional requirements outline what an interface is required to facilitate, and may influence the design process. - Information architecture:
Plotting the flow of information reveals potential usage pathways, ambiguous duplicity, and unforeseen omissions. - Zero state:
A zero state is the user’s first experience with the design, and as such, needs to include a suitable introduction. - User conformance:
Rather than dictating to the user, the user-interface should dovetail, adapt, or motivate for a change in the user's workflow. - Look and feel:
The general look and feel of the interface is managed by a consistent use of colour, images, typography, and composition. - Language:
Language should support contextual needs, and, if multilingual usage is expected, universal icons provided. - User feedback:
Feedback on status, progress, and goal achievements is provided with graphing, colour, and audio. - Navigation:
Navigation provides the means for a user to understand what is available, how to get there, and where they are currently. - Information granularity:
A granular information flow allows for secondary detailed information to be hidden and only retrieved when required. - User-input:
User-input design takes into account user experience, technology platform, and importantly, site-specific nuances. - Backend considerations:
Server-side hardware is selected based on scale of usage, technical-support, security, and eventual project hand-over. - Legacy considerations:
Client-side hardware, and in some instances software, has legacy limitations that may dictate user-interface design. - Design evaluation:
Quick and iterative testing of ideas can be provided through sketches, sticky notes, and numerous third-party applications.