User Interface Design [closed]

Answer 1

If you're writing desktop applications, simply following the UI guidelines for your chosen platform will take you a long way.

If it's on the web then you're broadly screwed, you just need a designer.

That said, don't get fooled into thinking that UI design is all about the the visual appearance. Having the right interaction model is probably more important. A graphic designer isn't going to help you with that. If you don't have access to a UI specialist then try starting with User Interface Design for Programmers.

Answer 2

You don't have to be a great designer to come out with a decent UI and a great user experience for your application.

I think there are certain principles you can follow that can dramatically improve your application.

At a high level this includes:

• Identifying your top 3 use cases
• Measuring and reducing the number of clicks it takes to get through the top use cases
• Sketch, Prototype, Throw it away, and challenge yourself to do it with less

I've written a blog entry that attempts to write out some principles related to GUI design. Check it out and let me know what you think.

How to improve the User Experience of your GUI application with some simple principles.

Answer 3

I usually do it all myself - just because my budget is quite limited.

However there are some books that might be worth reading:

• Homepage Usability - 50 Websites Deconstructed by Jakob Nielsen & Marie Tahir
• Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug
• Designing Interfaces by Jenifer Tidwell
• Prioritizing Web Usability by Jakob Nielsen & Hoa Loranger

And it's always a good thing to look what other sites do that you like :)

Answer 4

It seems pretty obvious but I'd suggest "User Interface Design for programmers" by Joel Spolsky. Versions available on paper and online. You can read it in half a day and get a good understanding on UI.

Answer 5

Google User Experience and The laws of simplicity are very good starts.

I was always bad at design, but after reading a lot about usability, simplicity, design and starting to analyse google's design and other designs based on simplicity, my UIs started to suck less.

Answer 6

In the home automation of world there are plenty of independent designers. I prototype with a very simple interface and then use the graphics and layout from GuiFX