Reusable solutions for commonly occurring problems in user interface and user experience design.
8
votes
4answers
444 views
What is the name of this combined button/popupbutton?
This button is in the new Firefox, but what is the name of it?
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Fixing UI Antipattern “multiple menu levels”
My brain seems to be pre-programmed to make administrative UI's look like the mockups below.
In the mockups I have 3 levels of navigation, with on the form another set of buttons for the form ...
8
votes
5answers
3k views
Desktop software design patterns
There are a lot of resources on the web about web applications design patterns, but only a few about desktop applications.
And this is quite strange as most of the business targeted software is ...
8
votes
3answers
188 views
To lower user's cognitive memory load or not?
Naturally, it sounds like it is only best for our users if our design could reduce user's cognitive workload when performing a task.
However, there are also theories that explain the need for a ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
ICS style guide - Is there a standard icon to indicate drag and drop in a list view?
I searched here but didn't see an answer. I've gone through the new ICS Android design guidelines but did not see a standard icon or recommended icon for drag and drop in list views.
Is there one? ...
8
votes
4answers
302 views
Can you describe the attributes, properties, and/or elements that make a user interface pleasing to the eye? [closed]
I've read that beauty is subjective and I've read that it is objective (I tend to believe a mix of both depending on the context). However I've also read that scientists found that a person generally ...
8
votes
3answers
325 views
Where can I find further reading or background information on Amazon's UI design decisions?
Reading this question about the best e-commerce check out flow, I wondered, "What Would Amazon Do?" For instance regarding the check-out process, most people agree that you'd prefer an inline tip ...
8
votes
5answers
429 views
Is there a name for this instant filter search pattern?
I've been trying to find a jQuery plugin which creates behavior similar to that of Stack Exchange user searches. The user search used on Stack Exchange sites is not an auto complete, but is more akin ...
8
votes
4answers
524 views
CMS Interface Logic. - Is this the best approach?
I am developing a cms system. Currently I am working on the Interface for adding new menu items to a menu. (Due to the cms Logic the menus are fixed, the user can not add or remove menus, only delete ...
8
votes
6answers
373 views
Best way to communicate an abstract app concept such as a 'workspace' to users
The issue I'm struggling with is fairly specific, but it touches on a general UX topic, which is how to help users grasp some abstract app concept, such as some information organization or structuring ...
8
votes
5answers
134 views
New search pattern for eCommerce website, will it work?
I'm trying a new kind of search navigation (sort of tag based) where a user selects already populated options (relationships and occasion) and search.
Already populated options are on the left ...
7
votes
7answers
268 views
Is there any resource for UI examples? [closed]
I run a Usability/UX blog, and my biggest hurdle right now is finding examples to illustrate the topics I write about (bad error messages, good implementation of tabs, bad interactions...etc)
So is ...
7
votes
5answers
303 views
Zebra striping for body text?
The general consensus is that zebra striping a table makes it a little easier for people to keep track of which row they're on...but is this reduction of cognitive taxes only for table rows? I at ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Form Design with fifty search criteria
I am working on a search screen which has 50 fields having the following types of controls. Also one more problem is user can choose any one of the search criteria that can still fetch the results.
...
7
votes
5answers
319 views
Design Pattern recommendations for application assignment visualisation
I'm sure there must be some terminology for what I require unfortunately I'm not sure what it is. Anyway, let me try to explain, I have a selection of applications for courses that are to be assigned ...
7
votes
4answers
251 views
Where can I read more about how the brain utilizes patterns?
I've been reading some cognitive psychology books and they all talk about the fact that our brains recognize and store things using patterns. Unfortunately, all these books talk only briefly about ...
7
votes
2answers
757 views
What is the most effective UI/UX paradigm for comment moderation in a CMS?
I've been working on a web CMS and I'm nearing the point where I'll be implementing comments and comment moderation. What are some common ways comment moderation is handled from a UI/UX perspective? ...
7
votes
1answer
567 views
Case studies on using gradients in a design
Are there any case studies on the use of gradients in a web design? I'm looking for answers similar to this answer about the usability of rounded corners.
Specifically, I'd like to know:
Is there a ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Best resources to make great reusable UI elements (icons/buttons/etc)? [closed]
I'm new to "crafting UIs", but I've been doing User Experience / Interaction design for a while. Being unable to design my own graphics has been a serious handicap for my work as I'm dependent on ...
7
votes
2answers
571 views
What is the name for the technique used on Yammer, LinkedIn etc profile pages?
The technique I mean is where the profile page will say "You have completed 60% of your profile, fill in your x, y and z to get to 100%". I think this is a very powerful technique but I can't remember ...
7
votes
4answers
788 views
Good solutions for boolean filter with sub conditions
I'm looking for a good and a clearly represented solution for a boolean filter with sub conditions (max. 5 Levels). Best, a variant with tables. Many apps use the typical mac osx filter (see ...
7
votes
1answer
82 views
Assigning tasks to user based on work load
I'm working on a pop up where you can assign percentages of applications to users based on current work load. For instance, I have 100 applications that need to be worked on and are not assigned to ...
7
votes
3answers
237 views
Have you used Patternry (or used/built another patern library management system)?
I need to create a proper pattern/component library for our organization. Ideally, it would include:
images (examples of the component)
attachments (wireframes)
description
title
notes/conversation ...
7
votes
4answers
778 views
Design / UX examples of multiple sub-sites with the same general look and feel
I'm working on an upcoming large project for a company that has many entities. They've recently decided that they want a master website to rule all of their entities. Each entity would have a section ...
7
votes
1answer
105 views
Displaying links to other profile pages, while maintaining good white space
I am designing a profiles page for a website where by the names and position of company employees should be displayed on all profile pages for easy navigation.
I do not want to put a <ul> to ...
7
votes
2answers
216 views
Are there any design patterns for interacting with 3D objects on a multi touch surface?
I'm in a project were we would like users to interact with a 3D object. Users should be able to zoom, pan and rotate in all dimensions without using extra tools. I'm looking for best-practice design ...
7
votes
1answer
62 views
strategies for applying properties to many items
I'm working on a web application where one of the workflows centers around the configuration of a large number of items. An important part of this configuration is applying one or more properties to ...
6
votes
4answers
817 views
Deliberate Barriers to Entry in Web Design
ACHICA.com has taken the "members only club" concept to a level I've never seen online; you can hardly view anything on the site without registering. This is the first time I've seen barriers to entry ...
6
votes
2answers
163 views
Is it OK to have a global navigation tab link to another site?
My organisation, which provides information and advice, is starting to sell things online as well. The 'shop' will be run on a different platform and is effectively a different website (but will be ...
6
votes
1answer
178 views
Clicking twice to edit filename - what are the reasons for this pattern?
Like we all know, one can edit a file or folder name in Windows Explorer by either right clicking and choosing "Rename" from the context menu OR by highlighting the file by left-clicking, and clicking ...
6
votes
3answers
543 views
Problem with avoiding right caret on Android
I am currently adapting an Android app to follow the design guidelines more and more.
One thing I am doing is removing the right carets as suggested. While this works fine for listview where each ...
6
votes
4answers
251 views
How many interface designs are necessary beyond the initial mockup phase?
Every time we start a new software project at my company, we will go to great lengths figuring out the best and most user friendly interface possible. We often have many reasons for the decisions we ...
6
votes
2answers
505 views
Any good design patterns for managing columns in data-intensive/spreadsheet views?
I'm trying to move away from the "build a list" pattern we currently employ to manage what columns are shown. The disconnect and lack of "directness" between the table itself and this dialog is ...
6
votes
5answers
117 views
On news apps, how does using a different colour for each category help the user?
On news websites and news apps, a specific colour is often used for the link to each category (background colour or underline colour), and I would like to understand how this is helpful for the user, ...
6
votes
2answers
169 views
Layout for adding one or more contacts to a record
The context:
The user is creating a client record. Against each record their could be one or more contacts (people) provided. Often this will be adding 1 or 2 but could sometimes be up to 5-10.
The ...
6
votes
3answers
636 views
Design patterns for Search
I know this may sound very generic question, but I am forced to post this to understand different patterns of search. I am working on a content oriented site which contains various types ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Redesigning a My Account Page, What kind of navigation is best?
I have had this low priority pet project to redesign the My Account page on our site, http://www.yousendit.com, and since this has been on the back-burner for so long, I cannot determine the right ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Best Web UI for Large Amounts of Data Input
I'm looking for a good solution when users need to enter large amounts of data into a web application.
Example
A store owner wants to enter 30-40
new products into the system every
month. The ...
6
votes
4answers
93 views
When is it appropriate to split functionality into separate apps?
I'm a designer and my company has a single app that serves two different types of user.
One group is the general public, who uses the app to navigate big events (e.g. annual user group meeting ...
6
votes
1answer
393 views
Should we use ‘narrow and deep’ or ‘broad and shallow’ navigation pattern on mobile devices?
If we have a large content environment on a mobile device, we need some way to access that content with ease. One could implement a narrow and deep navigation pattern which gives the possibility for ...
6
votes
2answers
556 views
Industry standard for documenting IxD / UI Design Patterns?
What's the industry-standard way to document a design pattern?
I have seen websites like ui-patterns.com and patternry.com that host and share design patterns, but when creating an reusing a design ...
6
votes
5answers
166 views
Is there a pattern for cycling or toggling through time periods?
I'm looking for a pattern for toggling between different periods of time. Currently I've prototyped an example which is a single button that, when tapped, will cycle through 3 time periods: by month, ...
6
votes
2answers
146 views
Should all browsers share the same experience?
I'm creating a page that uses history.pushState() which is only supported by html5 browsers. As such, should users of older browsers have a different experience? Here are two options that I can think ...
5
votes
5answers
311 views
What's the name of the design technique where you make something clearer by using contrast?
For instance, choosing a background color that makes all text stand out better, or giving all hyperlinks a background color the opposite of the color of the actual hyperlinks. An example of this is my ...
5
votes
6answers
183 views
How do you handle prohibition inside a “free form” interface?
I come to you with a dilemma that I think is most closely identified with 'user experience.' I'm wireframing a web application, yet this "free form" user area has posed a few interesting challenges.
...
5
votes
4answers
480 views
How to represent a one time action
I am doing serious games and simulations and I sometimes have the need to represent actions to the user that they can only do once. Basically the user issues a command that only needs to be done once. ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Speech Bubbles meaning
I am developing a toon story to illustrate my company's offerings. May be I'll use a landing page, or just create it on the home page.
I have 3 actors in it, a cab driver, a bpo company owner and ...
5
votes
5answers
865 views
Is it a bad idea to put the logo in the top-right corner and the navigation in the top-left?
Firstly I would like to say that I don't think there is a concrete rule about where the logo on a website should be – but intuitively I think it should be in the top left at least for continuities ...
5
votes
7answers
1k views
Favourite site with examples of well-designed web ui elements [closed]
Please list your favourite site for finding examples of well designed web elements, one per answer so they can be upvoted individually. Explain why it is good in the answer
5
votes
4answers
290 views
Preselect Text On Selection
I'm wondering if there is a rule of thumb for the scenario where a user selects a textbox that has content in it. Would it follow that all the text in it should always be selected to allow a user to ...
