A visual interface is based on visual patterns.
Visually distinguish elements that behave differently.
Visually communicate function and behavior.
Visually show what; textually show which.
Obey standards unless there is a truly
Consistency doesn't imply rigidity.
Users would rather be successful than knowledgeable.
All idioms must be learned; good idioms need to be learned only once.
Never bend your interface to fit a metaphor.
Rich visual interaction is the key to successful direct manipulation.
Visually hint at
Provide an escape from dragging and
A dialog box is another room; have a good reason to go there.
The utility of any interaction idiom is context-dependent.
A
Never scroll text horizontally.
Use bounded controls for bounded input.
Provide a pedagogic vector with
Use ToolTips with all toolbar and iconic controls.
Put primary interactions in the primary window.
Dialogs break flow.
All idioms have practical limits.
User interface is not only skin deep.
Make errors as
Users get humiliated when software
No crisis inside a computer is worth humiliating a human.
Do, don't ask.
Make all actions reversible.
Provide modeless feedback to help users avoid mistakes.
Users don't understand Boolean logic.
In early stage design,
Optimize
Sovereign interfaces should use conservative visual style.
Sovereign applications can exploit rich input.
Maximize document views within sovereign applications.
Transient applications must be simple, clear, and to the point.
Keep transient applications to a single window and view.
Don't use dialogs to report normalcy.
Save documents and settings automatically.
Put files where users can find them.
Disks are a hack, not a design feature.
Offer shortcuts from the Help menu.
Offer the
Support both mouse and keyboard use for motion and selection
Double-click means single-click plus action.
Mouse-down over data means select.
Mouse-down over controls means propose action; mouse-up means commit to action.
Indicating
Use cursor hinting to show the meanings of meta-keys.
Make selection visually bold and unambiguous.
Use system highlight colors to show selection.
Drop candidates must visually
The drag cursor must visually indicate the source object.
Any scrollable drag-and-drop target must auto-scroll.
Debounce all
Any program that demands precise alignment must offer a vernier.