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Principles of Effective Visual Communication in Designing GUIs

Based on Material ofAaron Marcus & Suzanne

Martin http://www.cs.wpi.edu/~matt/courses/cs563/talks/smartin/int_design.html

What is Graphic Design? Information-oriented graphic

design is the use of typography, symbols, color, and other static and dynamic graphics, in both two and three dimensions, to convey facts, concepts, and emotions.

Egyptian Hieroglyphics

Pictorial Phonetism

an eye, a can, a sail, a round, and a globe.

If we but look at these figures, they have neither sense nor sequence. They are intelligible only when pronounced: "I can sail round the globe."

The use of typography, symbols, color, and other static and dynamic graphics are used to convey facts, concepts and emotions.

Successful visual communication through information-oriented, systematic graphic design relies on some key principles of graphic design.

Design Considerations There are three factors that should

be considered for the design of a successful user interface Development factors Usability factors Acceptance factors.

Development Factors Development factors help by

improving visual communication. These include: platform constraints, tool kits and component libraries, support for rapid prototyping, and customizability.

Usability Factors Usability factors take into account

human factors and express a strong visual identity. These include: human abilities, product identity, clear conceptual model, and multiple representations.

Acceptance Factors Acceptance factors are:

Installed base, Corporate politics, International markets.

User Interface Design Objectives Conceptually distinct organization Visually consistent presentation Effective use of visible language

Visible Language Visible language refers to all of the

graphical techniques used to communicate the message or context.

Visible Language Layout:

formats, proportions, and grids; 2-D and 3-D organization

Typography: selection of typefaces and typesetting, including

variable width and fixed width Color and Texture:

color, texture and light that convey complex information and pictorial reality

Imagery: signs, icons and symbols, from the

photographically real to the abstract

Visible Language Animation:

a dynamic or kinetic display; very important for video-related imagery

Sequencing: the overall approach to visual storytelling

Sound: abstract, vocal, concrete, or musical cues

Visual identity: the additional, unique rules that lend overall

consistency to a user interface. The overall decisions as to how the corporation or the product line expresses itself in visible language.

Principles of User Interface Design There are three fundamental principles

involved in the use of the visible language. Organize:

provide the user with a clear and consistent conceptual structure

Economize: do the most with the least amount of cues

Communicate: match the presentation to the capabilities of

the user.

Organize Consistency, screen layout, relationships and navigability are important

concepts of organization.

Chaotic Screen

Ordered Screen

Organize > Consistency There are three views of

consistency: Internal consistency External consistency Real-world consistency

Orginize > Consistency > Internal

Internal Consistency Observe the same conventions and rules

throughout the application In general you should maximize the

similarity of the major components of a user interface.

Orginize > Consistency > External

External consistency The existing platforms and cultural

conventions should be followed across user interfaces.

Example: External Consistency for Text Tool Icons These icons come from different desktop publishingapplications but generally have the same meaning.

Orginize > Consistency > Real-World

Real-world consistency means conventions should be made consistent with real-world experiences, observations and perceptions of the user.

Organize > Screen Layout Screen Layout

Three ways to design display spatial layout: use a

grid structure, standardize the screen layout, and group related elements.

Organize > Screen Layout Relationships Linking related items and

disassociating unrelated items can help achieve visual organization.

Organize > Screen Layout > Relationships

Example: RelationshipsLeft: Shape, location, and value can all create strong visualrelationships which may be inappropriate.Right: Clear, consistent, appropriate, and strong relationships.

Organize > Navigability Navigability

There are three important navigation techniques: -

provide an initial focus for the viewer's attention –

direct attention to important, secondary, or peripheral items –

assist in navigation throughout the material.

Economize Four major points to be

considered: simplicity, clarity, distinctiveness, and emphasis.

Economize > Simplicity Simplicity includes only the

elements that are most important for communication.

It should also be as unobtrusive as possible.

Economize > Clarity Clarity

All components should be designed so their meaning is not ambiguous.

Economize Distinctiveness

The important properties of the necessary elements should be distinguishable.

Emphasis The most important elements should

be easily perceived. Non-critical elements should be de-emphasized and clutter should be minimized so as not to hide critical information.

Communicate The GUI must keep in balance

legibility, readability, typography, symbolism, multiple views, and color or texture in order to communicate successfully.