Simplicity Principle

SIMPLICITY.

We saw few examples and points on one of the principles of user interfaces - structure. This features focuses on Simplicity.

Why do you need your site to be simple?

Site visitors will rarely visit your site to "enjoy" the design. The design should be very transparent and complementary to the content. From the visitor's point of view, the best design is pure text that echoes the content they're looking for. Nobody really has the time and patience to interpret your design. Remember, the complexity and abstractness that some design concept introduces does not command any appreciation for the hard work that's perhaps gone into creating the design. Strive for simplicity - easy to comprehend layout and text.

How can you achieve simplicity in your web site?

The idea is to achieve a perfect blend of details and their presentation on screen.

• Use graphics sparingly and meaningfully; also make sure it's light on size.


• If short text is sufficient, avoid having complex wordings. For ex: Use "Search" instead of "Quick Keyword Search" for your search functionality.


• Use suggestive and direct icons that are consistent with web terminology and use less space on screen.


• Use colors and fonts sparingly.


• Do not use jarring animations and advertisements.


• White/Blank Space is underrated; use it effectively.


• Use elements that work consistently across all browsers (HTML + CSS); avoid elements that cause issues across different environments (JavaScript, Flash).

Few examples of Simple web sites:

• blejskam


• enso


• artypapers


• distinct


• symphony cms


• opened hand


• jgm


• open communications

KISS philosophy has been around since the dawn of web site design. KISS does not mean boring and dull sites. It is possible to create great looking sites and still keep it simple using simple techniques, as exemplified in the above list of sites. Concept of simplicity is more complex than it may seem; but achievable.

Stay on for more discussions and examples on principles of user interfaces.

Principles of User Interface

This article simply lists down in brief the few principles that need to be adhered to and kept in mind, while creating or analyzing user interfaces. Following this, we'll take a look at few examples for each points in question, as series of features.

Principles

• structure
  
  
  
  • organize user interface purposefully
  
  
  • make it meaningful and useful based on clear, consistent models apparent and recognizable to users
  
  
  • put related things together; separate unrelated things
  
  
  • differentiate dissimilar things, make similar things resemble one another
  
  
  
  


• simplicity
  
  
  
  • make simple, common tasks simple to do
  
  
  • communicate clearly and simply in user's own language
  
  
  • provide good shortcuts that are meaningfully related to longer procedures
  
  
  
  


• visibility
  
  
  
  • keep all needed options and materials for a given task visible
  
  
  • do not distract user with extraneous and redundant information
  
  
  • do not confuse user with too many alternatives for performing same task
  
  
  
  


• feedback
  
  
  
  • inform actions or interpretations
  
  
  • inform changes of state or condition
  
  
  • inform errors or exceptions
  
  
  • keep model of communication - relevant, clear, concise, and in language familiar to user
  
  
  
  


• tolerance
  
  
  
  • reduce cost of mistakes and misuse by allowing 'undo' and 'redo'
  
  
  • prevent errors by tolerating varied inputs and sequences and by interpreting reasonable actions
  
  
  
  


• reuse
  
  
  
  • reuse internal and external components and behaviors; maintaining consistency with purpose
  
  
  • reduce the need for users to rethink and remember
  
  
  
  

Watch this space for some concrete examples...

Principles of User Interface Design

from the theory of Larry Constantine and Lucy Lockwood in their usage-centered design, the principles are:

Structure Principle

• organize the user interface purposefully


• make it meaningful and useful based on clear, consistent models apparent and recognizable to users


• put related things together; separate unrelated things


• differentiate dissimilar things, make similar things resemble one another

Simplicity Principle

• make simple, common tasks simple to do


• communicate clearly and simply in user’s own language


• provide good shortcuts that are meaningfully related to longer procedures

Visibility Principle

• keep all needed options and materials for a given task visible


• do not distract user with extraneous and redundant information


• do not confuse user with too many alternatives for performing same task

Feedback Principle

• inform actions or interpretations


• inform changes of state or condition


• inform errors or exceptions


• keep mode of communication – relevant, clear, concise, and in language familiar to user

Tolerance Principle

• reduce cost of mistakes and misuse by allowing ‘undo’ and ‘redo’


• prevent errors by tolerating varied inputs and sequences and by interpreting reasonable actions

Reuse Principle

• reuse internal and external components and behaviors; maintaining consistency with purpose


• reduce the need for users to rethink and remember

The user interface of an application will often make or break it.  Although the functionality that an application provides to users is important, the way in which it provides that functionality is just as important.  An application that is difficult to use won’t be used.  Period.  It won’t matter how technically superior your software is or what functionality it provides, if your users don’t like it they simply won’t use it.  Don’t underestimate the value of user interface design nor of usability.