Best Practices & Principles for GUI design [closed]

Answer 1

I would recommend to get a good solid understanding of GUI design by reading the book The Design of Everyday Things. Although the main printable is a comment from Joel Spolsky: When the behavior of the application differs to what the user expects to happen then you have a problem with your graphical user interface.

The best example is, when somebody swaps around the OK and Cancel button on some web sites. The user expects the OK button to be on the left, and the Cancel button to be on the right. So in short, when the application behavior differs to what the user expects what to happen then you have a user interface design problem.

Although, the best advice, in no matter what design or design pattern you follow, is to keep the design and conventions consistent throughout the application.

Answer 2

As my data structure professor pointed today: Give instructions on how your program works to the average user. We programmers often think we're pretty logical with our programs, but the average user probably won't know what to do.

Answer 3

Show the interface to a sample of users. Ask them to perform a typical task. Watch for their mistakes. Listen to their comments. Make changes and repeat.

Answer 4

(Stolen from Joel :o) )

Don't disable/remove options - rather give a helpful message when the user click/select it.

Answer 5

Try to use verbs in your dialog boxes.

It means use

instead of

Answer 6

Be Powerful and Simple

Oh, and hire a designer / learn design skills. :)