The Essential Guide to User Interface Design: An Introduction to GUI Design Principles and Techniques, 3rd Edition

The Essential Guide to User Interface Design: An Introduction to GUI Design Principles and Techniques, 3rd Edition

Released April 2007
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470053423

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Book description

Bringing together the results of more than 300 new design studies, an understanding of people, knowledge of hardware and software capabilities, and the author's practical experience gained from 45 years of work with display-based systems, this book addresses interface and screen design from the user's perspective. You will learn how to create an effective design methodology, design and organize screens and Web pages that encourage efficient comprehension and execution, and create screen icons and graphics that make displays easier and more comfortable to use.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. About the Author
  6. Credits
  7. Contents
  8. Preface
    1. Is Good Design Important?
    2. The Purpose of This Book
    3. How This Book Is Organized
    4. Companion Website
    5. Who Should Read This Book
    6. From Here
  9. Acknowledgments
  10. PART One: The User Interface–An Introduction and Overview
    1. CHAPTER 1: The Importance of the User Interface
      1. Defining the User Interface
      2. The Importance of Good Design
      3. A Brief History of the Human-Computer Interface
      4. The Blossoming of the World Wide Web
      5. What's Next?
    2. CHAPTER 2: Characteristics of Graphical and Web User Interfaces
      1. Interaction Styles
      2. The Graphical User Interface
      3. The Web User Interface
      4. The Merging of Graphical Business Systems and the Web
      5. Principles of User Interface Design
      6. Part 1 Exercise
      7. What's Next?
  11. PART Two: The User Interface Design Process
    1. Obstacles and Pitfalls in the Development Path
    2. Usability
    3. STEP 1: Know Your User or Client
      1. Understanding How People Interact with Computers
      2. Human Considerations in the Design of Business Systems
      3. Human Interaction Speeds
      4. Performance versus Preference
      5. Methods for Gaining an Understanding of Users
      6. Step 1 Exercise
    4. STEP 2: Understand the Business Function
      1. Business Definition and Requirements Analysis
      2. Determining Basic Business Functions
      3. Design Standards or Style Guides
      4. System Training and Documentation Needs
      5. Step 2 Exercise
    5. STEP 3: Understand the Principles of Good Interface and Screen Design
      1. Human Considerations in Interface and Screen Design
      2. Technological Considerations in Interface Design
      3. Examples of Screens
      4. Step 3 Exercise
    6. STEP 4: Develop System Menus and Navigation Schemes
      1. Structures of Menus
      2. Functions of Menus
      3. Content of Menus
      4. Formatting of Menus
      5. Phrasing the Menu
      6. Selecting Menu Choices
      7. Web Site Navigation
      8. Kinds of Graphical Menus
      9. Graphical Menu Examples
    7. STEP 5: Select the Proper Kinds of Windows
      1. Window Characteristics
      2. Components of a Window
      3. Window Presentation Styles
      4. Types of Windows
      5. Organizing Window Functions
      6. The Web and the Browser
      7. Step 5 Exercise
    8. STEP 6: Select the Proper Interaction Devices
      1. Input Devices
      2. Output Devices
      3. Step 6 Exercise
    9. STEP 7: Choose the Proper Screen-Based Controls
      1. Operable Controls
      2. Text Entry/Read-Only Controls
      3. Selection Controls
      4. Combination Entry/Selection Controls
      5. Other Operable Controls
      6. Presentation Controls
      7. Selecting the Proper Controls
      8. Examples
      9. Step 7 Exercise
    10. STEP 8: Write Clear Text and Messages
      1. Words, Sentences, Messages, and Text
      2. Content and Text for Web Pages
      3. Step 8 Exercise
    11. STEP 9: Provide Effective Feedback and Guidance and Assistance
      1. Providing the Proper Feedback
      2. Guidance and Assistance
      3. Step 9 Exercise
    12. STEP 10: Provide Effective Internationalization and Accessibility
      1. International Considerations
      2. Accessibility
      3. Step 10 Exercise
    13. STEP 11: Create Meaningful Graphics, Icons, and Images
      1. Icons
      2. Multimedia
      3. Graphics
      4. Step 11 Exercise
    14. STEP 12: Choose the Proper Colors
      1. Color – What Is It?
      2. Color Uses
      3. Possible Problems with Color
      4. Color – What the Research Shows
      5. Color and Human Vision
      6. Choosing Colors
      7. Choosing Colors for Textual Graphic Screens
      8. Choosing Colors for Statistical Graphics Screens
      9. Choosing Colors for Web Pages
      10. Uses of Color to Avoid
      11. Step 12 Exercise
    15. STEP 13: Organize and Layout Windows and Pages
      1. Organizing and Laying Out Screens
      2. Screen Examples
    16. STEP 14: Test, Test, and Retest
      1. Usability
      2. Prototypes
      3. Kinds of Tests
      4. Developing and Conducting a Test
      5. Analyze, Modify, and Retest
      6. Additional Reading
      7. A Final Word
  12. References
  13. Index
  14. Additional Examples for Steps 4 and 13
    1. Additional Examples for Step 4
    2. Additional Examples for Step 13

Product information

  • Title: The Essential Guide to User Interface Design: An Introduction to GUI Design Principles and Techniques, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: April 2007
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470053423