UI Concepts

The User Interface (UI), is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine from the human end, whilst the machine simultaneaously feeds back informatio that aids the operatiors' decision making process.

Examples of this broad concept of user interfaces include the interactive aspects of computer operating systems, hand tools, heavy machinery operator controls, and process controls. The design considerations applicable when creating user interfaces are related to or involve such disciplines as ergonomics and psychology.

UI and UX Concepts

Generally, the goals of UI Design is to produce a UI which makes it easy, efficient, and enjoyable (user-friendly) to operate a machine in the way which produces the desired result. This generally means that the operator needs to provide minimal input to achieve the desired output, and also that the machine minimizes undesired outputs to the human.

There are many different design principles for UI, so we will focus on 4 most fundamental principles taken from "The 4 Golden Rules of UI Design" article (listed below):

User Control
Comfortability
Reduce Cognitive Load
Consistent UI

User Control

Effective interfaces instill a sense of control in their users. Keeping users in control makes them comfortable; they will learn quickly and gain a fast sense of mastery.

This means that the user should always be able to quickly backtrack whatever they are doing. This allows users to explore content without constant fear of failure - when a user knows that their errors can be quickly undone, this encourages exploration of unfamiliar options. On the contrary, if a user has to be extremely careful with every action they take, it leads to a slower exploration and nerve-racking experience that no one wants.

Creating easy ways to navigate - such as providing visual cues can serve as reminders for users. Allowing users to navigate easily through the interface by providing points of reference as they move through a product interface. Page titles, highlights for currently selected navigation options, and other visual aids give users an immediate view of were they are in the interface. A user should never be wondering, "Where am I?" or "How did I get to this screen?".

Providing information feedback can help users too. For every user action, the system should show a meaningful clear reaction. A system with feedback for every action helps users achieve their goals without friction. Notifying the user of their actions can help them a lot.

Showing the visibility of system status - Users are more forgiving when they have information about what is going on and are given periodic feedback about the status of process. Progress wheels for example, or loading circles can help.

Accommodating users with different skill levels - Helping more experienced users, and also less experienced users can help to get more users to use yor program / system. Tutorials and help menus can help a lot.

Comfortability

Comfortability for users when they interact with your system / app is important.

Eliminating all elements that are not helping your users - Interfaces shouldn't contain information that is irrelevant or rarely needed. Irrelevant information in UI competes with the relevant information and diminishes its relative visibility. Simplify interfaces by removing unnecessary elements or content that does not directly support user tasks. Ask yourself when you look at every element on your app - "Is this really needed?", and think that less is more.

Don't ask users for data they've already enetered - Don't force users to have to repeat data they've already enetered. Users are easily annoyed by tedious data-entry sequences, especially when they have provided all required information before. The most effective apps perform a maximum of work while requiring a minimum amount of information from users.

Avoid jargon and system-oriented terms - When designing a product, it's important to use language that is easy to read and understand. The system should speak the user's language, with words, phrases, and concepts familiar to the user, rather than jargon or system-oriented terms.

Applying Fitts' Law to interactive elements - Fitts' Law stats that the time to acquire a target is a function of the distance to and size of the target. This means that it's better to design large targets for important functions (Big buttons are easier to interact with).

Accessible Interface Design - A well designed app needs to be accessible to users of all abilities, which includes, but not limited to, people with low vision, blindness, hearing impairments. Having the right colours (usually colours that all people can see) can be the difference between a good app and a great app.

Use real-world metaphors - Real world metaphors empower users by allowing them to transfer existing knowledge about how things should look and work. Metaphors are often users to make the unfamiliar familiar. For Example the recycling bin on Windows OS, it holds rubbish, and then gets rid of it. Using metaphors on your app to relate to your service / product that you are adveritising / selling can really help push yours out there.

Engineer for errors - Always make clear messages for the users if they every experience an error.

Protect a user's work - Ensure that users never loser their work. Users should not lose their work as a result of a error on their side, a system error, problems with an internet connection, or any other reason other than those that are completely unavoidable, like an unexpected power loss.

Reduce Cognitive Load

Cognitive Load is the amount of mental processing power required to user a product. It's better to avoid making users think / work too hard to use your product.

Chunking for sequences of information or actions - This rule can be used when organizing and grouping items together. Breaking up phone numbers into smaller pieces for example, can help the user to remember this.

Reduce the number of actions required to complete the task - When designing a UI, strive to reduce the total number of actions required from a user to achieve the goal. It's worth remembering the three-click rule, which suggests the user of a product should be able to find any information with no more than three mouse clicks.

Recognition over recall - One of the Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics advises promoting recognition over recall in UI design. Recognizing something is much easier than recalling it because recogition involves more cues in our brain. So for example, using visual tooltips and icons can help.

Promoting visual clarity - Good visual organization improves usability and legibility, allowing users to quickly find the information they are looking for and use the interface more efficiently. You shouldn't present an information overload on the screen, and you should apply the general principles of content organisation such as grouping similar items together, numbering items, and using headings and prompt text.

Consistent UI

Consistent design is intuitive design. Consistency is one of the strongest contributors to usability and learnability. Transferable knowledge is the main idea.

Visual Consistency - Users should ever question the integrity of a product. Having the same colours, layout, font types, icons provides a consistent look of the system. Don't change visual styles within your product for no apparent reason.

Functional Consistency - Consistency of behaviour means the object should work in the same way throughout the interface. The behaviour of interface controls, such as buttons and menu items, should not change within a product. Users don't want surprises or changes in familiar behaviour - they become easily frustrated when things don't work. This can inhibit learning and stop users from feeling confident about consistency in the interface. Do not confuse your user - keep actions consistent, no need to surprise. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

Sources: (click on them to see them)