UI DESIGN GUIDE - Web Application Design, Design Examples, Design Lessons » blog responses

Blog Response: What’s Your Design Sign?

uidesigner — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:05:39 +0000

This morning I came across a great article on Overdesign for IPHONE applications. While the article focuses primarily on new IPHONE design the same holds true for all aspects of UI Design. Consistency is your key to a usable application.

When you examine say Norton,or Adobe products, the consistent design allows the user to quickly locate and find your way around other different tools in the suite. Furthermore; if you are going to push a consistent product brand your design needs to fall within the expect mental model.

If a stop sign said GO would you know to stop? If the color changed would you know to stop? The same is true for your application. If you as the UI designer changed your cancel and your ok buttons around, would the user be able to predict the next screen interaction?

In the end it comes down to the customer experience. Yes, you still want your application to have that “wow” factor, but don’t sacrifice the “wow” for the now. That is to say don’t interrupt me by changing something I’m used to. And if you DO MAKE ME THINK. You better make damn sure the application is and will continue to be worth my time and money.

Fighting The Brains Trained Responses

Take a look at how hard Bing is working to remove the image of google from our heads. When you think search most users automatically think GOOGLE. When you think Tissue most users think Kleenix.

A consistent application UI can be a powerfull tool when trying to associate your interface with a particular word or phrase. Attaching an easy to recognize and predictable interface is your key to promoting your brand. Without it your just holding up a green stop sign.

Blog Response: Do You Love Wireframes?

uidesigner — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:58:20 +0000

Over at one of my favorite blogs Konigi, there was a new article posted regarding a brand new Flickr wireframe group.

The purpose of the Flickr group is to share wireframe photos of all types.

There are a lot of great ideas floating around in the group. If you are a UI designer and want to publicize some of your wireframes, methods, etc. I encourage you to do it. In the end it can inspire and teach you new techniques. After I finish working on a new wireframe project for an application I’m building I hope to get some pictures listed in the group.

Blog Respose: Bowman Leaves Google

uidesigner — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:02:11 +0000

This topic has been blowing up all over the design world online. For the full blog post from Bowman Lead Visual Designer at Google visit his blog.

The quick summary is this. He left because of design V.S. engineering issues. The article goes on to talk about the almost obsessive need to validate and back up every design decision with statistical data. While it is true that design does have a logical component a lot of how we precieve design varies from person to person. That is why it is necessary to hire a person with experience and knowledge of fundamental design principles.

From the blog post Bowman goes on to say:

Yes, it’s true that a team at Google couldn’t decide between two blues, so they’re testing 41 shades of blue to see which one performs better. I had a recent debate over whether a border should be 3, 4 or 5 pixels wide, and was asked to prove my case. I can’t operate in an environment like that. I’ve grown tired of debating such minuscule design decisions. There are more exciting design problems in this world to tackle.

I’ve been in this boat more times then I can count. And while most of the blogosphere is jumping on these statements as being the reason for his leaving. Personally I believe it was a series of design by committee driven ideals that pushed him out the door. I’ve been there, and sometimes you just don’t want to fight the battle any more. This is especially true if you have constantly fought about the same issue (s)over and over again. IE: This color is wrong, This should be an image, I want sound on my homepage, etc…

When Is Enough Enough?

At what point do you either a just not care, or b continue to fight and push your own insanity to the breaking point. As UI designers we fight these challenges every day. It is no easy task and sometimes only your passion for exceptional design can get you through the next day, project, or year.

In one way it is comforting to see that even huge “cutting” edge companies fight and struggle with these issues. In another way, it is sad to see design and aesthetics reduced to a mere algorithm. This is especially disheartening when you are considered the expert and were hired for your skills, experience, and love of great design.

No one can work in an environment where they are praised for superior skills one moment and then second-guessed the next.

when I have worked with teams of designers and lost one of the flock it can be morally crushing. This is even more so if the reason for the team member leaving is due to design difference. In the case of google it appears machine v.s. man has won this round.

Blog Response: IE 6 The Devil Not In Disguise

uidesigner — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:46:20 +0000

The other day I came across an interesting article “Stop Developing for Internet Explorer 6” . My initial thought was great I finally can stop developing for IE 6. Of course, that was just a pipedream. On many of my applications I still have a large captive IE 6 audience. Unfortunately, I can’t quite yet yank the rug out from them and force upgrades.

IE 6 gives me headaches beyond belief. Instead of developing standardized code. I sometimes have to bastardize the syntax. Even when using my own modified reset.css style sheet inspired by Eric Meyer there are still issues that pop up that cause additional work.

IE 6 is a demon that still won’t go away. Sadly, I still have to make my time sacrifice to the demon. I can only hope that Google Chrome will solve IE 6 issues sooner so we as experience, web application, and web designers don’t have to suffer through the tortue and pain of a relatively new browser on the scene.