Visual design

The “look” of your interface

Role of Graphic Design

What someone initially encounters– Sets a framework for understanding content

Role of Graphic Design

What someone initially encounters– Sets a framework for understanding content

Role of Graphic Design

What someone initially encounters– Sets a framework for understanding content

Graphic Design

A comprehensible mental image Appropriate organization of data, functions, tasks

and roles High-quality appearances

The “look”

Effective interaction sequencing The “feel”

Classes at UNCC– http://www.uncc.edu/schedule/subject/artg.html

Graphic Design

Involves knowledge of:– Sequencing– Organization– Layout– Imagery– Color– Typography

Graphic Design Principles

Metaphor Clarity Consistency Contrast Alignment Proximity

Clarity

Every element in an interface should have a reason for being there

– Make that reason clear too!

White/open space– Leads the eye– Provides symmetry and balance– Strengthens impact of message– Allows eye to rest between elements of activity– Used to promote simplicity, elegance, class, refinement

Clarity via “White” Space

White = Open

Example

Home page Content page 1 Content page 2

www.santafean.com

Example

Clear, cleanappearance

Opinion?

Example

Does this convey different impressions?

Consistency

In layout, color, images, icons, typography, text, …

Within screen, across screens Stay within metaphor everywhere

Platform may have a style guide– Follow it!

Alignment

Western world– Start from top left

Novices often center things– No definition, calm, very formal

Grids– (Hidden) horizontal and vertical lines to help locate window

components– Align related things– Group items logically

Grids – use them

http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/98/28/

index4a_page2.html?tw=design

Layout Grids

From http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/print/grids.html

Three Column Layout Grids

From http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/print/grids.html

Symmetry vs. Asymmetry

Beware of too much symmetry

Proximity

Items close together appear to have a relationship

Distance implies no relationship

Time:

Time

Example

Name

Addr1

Addr2

City

State

Phone

Fax

Name

Addr1Addr2

CityState

PhoneFax

Name

Addr1Addr2

CityState

PhoneFax

Two-level Hierarchy•indentation•contrast

Grouping by white space

Alignment connects visual elements in a sequence

Logic of organizationalflow

Slide fromSaul Greenberg

Economy of visual elements

– Minimize number of controls

– Include only those that are necessary eliminate, or relegate others to secondary windows (but don’t want too many extra windows!)

– Minimize clutter so information is not hidden

Haphazard layoutfrom mullet & sano

Repairing a Haphazard layoutfrom mullet &sano

Example

Overuse of3D effects

Example

Visual noise

Contrast

Pulls you in – set off most important item Guides your eyes around the interface Supports skimming Add focus

Color

Use for a purpose and sparingly Draw attention, communicate organization, to

indicate status, to establish relationships, aid search Use redundant cues

– Color-blindness– Enhances performance

Be consistent with color associations from jobs and cultures

How many small ovals?

Now how many small ovals?

Yellow– happy, caution, joy

Brown– warm, fall, dirt, earth

Green– go, on, safe, envy, lush,

pastoral

Purple– royal, sophisticated, Barney

Color Meanings: Contextually Specific

Red– aggression, love – hot, warning, stop, radiation

Pink– female, cute, cotton candy

Orange– warm, autumn, Halloween

Blue– cold, off

Color Meanings: Culturally Specific

http://www.ricklineback.com/culture2.htm

Legibility and readability

Characters, symbols, graphical elements should be easily noticable and distinguishable

Text set in Braggadocio

Text set in Helvetica

TEXT SET INCAPITOLS

Text set in Times Roman

Saul GreenbergU. Calgary

Legibility and readability

Proper use of typography – 1-2 typefaces (3 max)– normal, italics, bold– 1-3 sizes max

LargeMediumSmall

LargeMediumSmall

Readable

Design components to be inviting and attractive

Design components to be inviting and attractive

Unreadable

Design components to be inviting and attractive

Design components to be inviting and attractive

Saul GreenbergU. Calgary

Remember

Form follows function– Visual elements should help convey purpose and meaning

Be consistent Just like all design – iterate and get feedback!!

Let’s analyze:– http://www.cnn.com/ & http://www.nytimes.com/– http://www.microsoft.com/