UI design steps

Know your user or client:

• Understand problem definition and functional requirements.

• Understand how people interact with computers.

• Complex designs can take people away from your application.

• Unexpected response times may also lead to frustration.

• Reduce memory load: Present information in an organized, structured and meaningful way. Not require people to perform other tasks if screen reading is important.

• Provide large object for important functions. E.g. new phone advertisement.

• Minimize the number of steps required to complete task. Automate repetitive tasks. E.g. debit card number filling.

• Check if user is technically strong. Check if user knows computer concepts and terms. Have user worked on similar application before. Check if he is educated.

• Observe how users perform their task and working. Make video of the work to understand in detail.

• Disabled person: people with special needs must be considered in design.

• Works with right hand or left hand.

• Understand users mental model.

• Mental model is an internal representation of users current conceptualization and understanding of system.

• Mental models are gradually develop in order to understand, explain and do something. It enables a person to predict actions necessary to do things properly.

• Develop conceptual model.

• Provide clear, constructive and correct error messages. E.g. error message addressing an incomplete action should specify what exactly is missing, not simply advise a user that something is incomplete.

Develop system menus and navigation schemes:

Select proper device based controls

• Trackball

• Joystick

• Light pen/Electronic pen

• Touch screen

• Mouse

• keyboard

• Stylus

• Select proper screen based controls

• Radio buttons

• Check boxes

• Drop down box

• List box

• Message box

• Buttons

• Provide effective feedback, guidance and assistance

• Create meaningful, graphics, icons and images on UI

• Choose proper colors

• Test, test and retest UI