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GUI Bloopers 2.0, 2nd Edition

GUI Bloopers 2.0, 2nd Edition

by Jeff Johnson
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann
Release Date: October 2007
ISBN: 9780123706430
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Book Description

GUI Bloopers 2.0, Second Edition, is the completely updated and revised version of GUI Bloopers. It looks at user interface design bloopers from commercial software, Web sites, Web applications, and information appliances, explaining how intelligent, well-intentioned professionals make these mistakes – and how you can avoid them. GUI expert Jeff Johnson presents the reality of interface design in an entertaining, anecdotal, and instructive way while equipping readers with the minimum of theory.

This updated version reflects the bloopers that are common today, incorporating many comments and suggestions from first edition readers. It covers bloopers in a wide range of categories including GUI controls, graphic design and layout, text messages, interaction strategies, Web site design – including search, link, and navigation, responsiveness issues, and management decision-making.

Organized and formatted so information needed is quickly found, the new edition features call-outs for the examples and informative captions to enhance quick knowledge building.

This book is recommended for software engineers, web designers, web application developers, and interaction designers working on all kinds of products.

  • Updated to reflect the bloopers that are common today, incorporating many comments and suggestions from first edition readers
  • Takes a learn-by-example approach that teaches how to avoid common errors
  • Covers bloopers in a wide range of categories: GUI controls, graphic design and layout, text messages, interaction strategies, Web site design -- including search, link, and navigation, responsiveness issues, and management decision-making
  • Organized and formatted so information needed is quickly found, the new edition features call-outs for the examples and informative captions to enhance quick knowledge building
  • Hundreds of illustrations: both the DOs and the DON'Ts for each topic covered, with checklists and additional bloopers on www.gui-bloopers.com

Table of Contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Introduction
    1. Why was this book updated?
    2. Why is this book needed?
    3. What is a GUI blooper?
    4. How were the bloopers compiled?
    5. How is the book organized?
    6. Who should read GUI Bloopers 2.0 and how should they use it?
    7. GUI-Bloopers2.com
  7. 1: First Principles
    1. Introduction
    2. Basic Principle 1: Focus on the users and their tasks, not on the technology
    3. Basic Principle 2: Consider function first, presentation later
    4. Basic Principle 3: Conform to the users’ view of the task
    5. Basic Principle 4: Design for the common case
    6. Basic Principle 5: Don’t distract users from their goals
    7. Basic Principle 6: Facilitate learning
    8. Basic Principle 7: Deliver information, not just data
    9. Basic Principle 8: Design for responsiveness
    10. Basic Principle 9: Try it out on users, then fix it!
  8. 2: GUI Control Bloopers
    1. Introduction
    2. Using the wrong control
    3. Using controls wrongly
  9. 3: Navigation Bloopers
    1. Introduction
    2. Not showing users where they are
    3. Leading users astray and not showing the way
    4. Poor search navigation
  10. 4: Textual Bloopers
    1. Introduction
    2. Uncommunicative text
    3. Developer-centric text
    4. Misleading text
  11. 5: Graphic Design and Layout Bloopers
    1. Introduction
    2. Bad layout and window placement
    3. Troublesome typography
  12. 6: Interaction Bloopers
    1. Introduction
    2. Deviating from task focus
    3. Requiring unnecessary steps
    4. Burdening users’ memory
    5. Taking control away from users
  13. 7: Responsiveness Bloopers
    1. Introduction
    2. Common responsiveness bloopers
    3. Reasons for poor responsiveness
    4. Avoiding responsiveness bloopers: Design principles
    5. Avoiding responsiveness bloopers: Techniques
    6. Conclusion
  14. 8: Management Bloopers
    1. Introduction
    2. Counterproductive attitude
    3. Counterproductive process
  15. Appendices
    1. Appendix A: Glossary
    2. Appendix B: How this book was usability tested
    3. Appendix C: Task analysis of creating slide presentations—questions
    4. Appendix D: Illustrating simplicity—the object/action matrix
    5. Appendix E: Usability tests for every time and purpose
  16. Bibliography
  17. Index
  18. About the Author
  19. Web Appendix: Color Bloopers
    1. Blooper 71: Text hard to read on background
    2. Blooper 72: Relying on subtle color differences