Graphical User Interface design (GUI-design for short) refers to the visual aspect of designing computers, appliances, machines, mobile communication devices, software applications, and websites with the focus on the user's experience and interaction. Generally refers to digital rather than physical ...
138
votes
13answers
11k views
Are carousels effective?
Go to just about any eCommerce site and the homepage is nearly guaranteed to feature a carousel - an auto-rotating panel, usually with some sort of small navigation, usually highlighting new product ...
13
votes
6answers
1k views
Blinking, bouncing and flashing elements
I'm responsible for the UI/UX in a software development company.
During my absence, some developers decided to implement a "bounce" effect on a button of a website that they think should have more ...
10
votes
5answers
882 views
Should i use country flags in language selection fields?
My users can create content in different languages, and i need to provide an option to choose the language when they enter new content.
Right now there are only 5 languages (en, fr, de, pt, es), and ...
33
votes
6answers
2k views
Which do users like more as of now, 'Flat Design' or 'Skeuomorphic'?
I have read multiple articles on-line that say that the era of Skeuomorphic design on the web is over, and that a new era of so-called 'flat design' is now the new thing for developers, but do users ...
78
votes
8answers
6k views
Why might right aligned field labels be better?
For the longest time, I've used left-aligned labels in my forms, like this:
I did this because I thought having the labels left aligned made it easier for readers to scan the list of labels.
...
20
votes
5answers
16k views
Best Practices for UI design on Android (Usability/UX) [closed]
I'm switching for web development to Android development. I know some things about web usability and I see that UX is too often left behind on Android from my I experience with it.
As the interaction ...
20
votes
5answers
6k views
What is this side menu called that can be found in many multi-touch apps, and where does it originate from?
It can be found for example in the YouTube and Facebook app.
33
votes
9answers
3k views
What are the drawbacks of designing a Windows application to look like a Mac application?
I'm working with a company whose product is a Microsoft Windows application.
As the UI/UX designer (and as a Mac user) I want to redesign the application so it is more visually appealing.
Are there ...
25
votes
9answers
5k views
Good reasons to use bad UI
I know you just read the title, take a deep breath. I'll explain.
When should we make a conscious decision to retain poor UI, even if temporarily? Not because of budget or time constraints but ...
12
votes
6answers
420 views
Minimalism, Maximalism(?) or whatever?
Tufte & Nielsen believe that screen real estate is one of the most important asset for a (UX) designer. Utilize available screen space - Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox: May 9, 2011 & The Visual ...
25
votes
3answers
577 views
What to do when a page's content doesn't fill up enough of a fixed area?
An application has a fixed size, i.e 800x600 px. However, a problem I often run in to is that the page's content isn't enough. It's simply too little content on a big area.
Consider the mockup below, ...
11
votes
9answers
1k views
Scrollbar on the left
Is there a deep study that suggests to place a scrollbar on the right? Personally I move it to the left whenever it's possible (firefox allow this, as well as xterm and emacs).
I know that placing a ...
5
votes
2answers
373 views
What affords scrolling?
Besides the obvious:
Scrollbar
Touch interfaces (especially mobile ones)
A sign saying "You can scroll here you know!"
This for a desktop application.
29
votes
4answers
2k views
Where should the GUI light source come from?
I know that historically the light source on GUIs is in the upper left, casting a shadow on the bottom-right of buttons and the upper left of fields. Now, I see some places (like Apple) use a top ...
35
votes
6answers
2k views
How can I highlight errors when bright red is the main color of the brand?
I'm working on a mobile website for a client whose main brand color is red. The website header and headings are all red. CTA buttons are red too. How can I effectively separate errors (mostly in form ...
12
votes
3answers
340 views
A better way to display a forum thread
I want to figure out a better ways to make a forum thread easy to read.
Common solutions to this:
A flat thread where every post is sorted by time.
This is easy to understand and easy to display ...
12
votes
10answers
4k views
What is the difference between Wireframing and prototyping
What is the difference between Wireframing and prototyping? Prototype should be interactive and Wire-frame Static? Am i right?
6
votes
6answers
323 views
Suitable alternative to trackbar control
I use a track bar control in two different places in an touch-screen application I have. The first to record a specific amount of Data. (lets say 260 samples) the second to record an unlimited amount ...
3
votes
3answers
543 views
Usage of Golden Ratio [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why does the golden ratio work? Or does it?
How is that to use the Golden Ratio for the design of graphical interfaces.
when I use it or should I?
and on designing ...
2
votes
3answers
216 views
UI: name of multiple column interface?
Is there a "proper" name for the UI wherein it has multiple columns, and as you interact with the first column, the second column gets populated with with appropriate data? These columns act as a ...
2
votes
1answer
196 views
Where to put your patents/ patent pending info in software? And should you really do it?
My softare company has a few patents/ patent pendings. Does it make sense to showcase this in our products?
If so, where should we put it? In our splash screen? In the Help Menu?
2
votes
3answers
430 views
Should I use customized social buttons
I am facing a cornelian choice.
Should I use custom social sharing buttons for UI consistency or should I keep them original for better recognition ?
1
vote
3answers
557 views
Android app - Look and feel
I'm developing my first app for Android. It's a small productivity app for smartphones and tablets.
(I'm using Flash CS5 and Adobe Air to build it.)
Is it recommended to use/copy the native Android ...
192
votes
16answers
9k views
What explains the current shift from glossy UIs to matte UIs?
I've noticed an interesting phenomenon in the user interfaces of many famous applications, they're moving away from the glossy complex to a more dull and bare minimum design.
Why the sudden change? ...
30
votes
6answers
3k views
Why do websites not use entire width of browser?
What reasons might a website not use the entire width of the browser, like Gmail does?
For example, StackOverflow does not use the entire width — it has left and right margins. This means the ...
19
votes
10answers
2k views
What's the least confusing UI for offering to either enter a URL or upload a file?
I have a simple form where a user may contribute a link or upload a document adding a title and optionally some notes.
What's the best UI for allowing for either a URL or a file (but not both)?
15
votes
6answers
769 views
The use of tabs
I am working on redoing a clients application, which needs to be done for other reason, but one of the changes is to remove tabs.
The application is, in essence, fronting data records, very basic. ...
6
votes
1answer
364 views
Skeuomorph or OS-consistency?
Skeuomorphic UIs should give the user something that looks like a familiar object, presumably making it easier for them to understand what it should do and how it should be used. Even if the UI isn't ...
5
votes
3answers
464 views
What is the UI pattern used for managing people in Google+ called?
I've tried to find more info on this particular UI pattern Google+ exposes, and I'm sure I've seen it before, but still, I haven't been able to find references to it.
If you go to the Circles section ...
20
votes
6answers
2k views
Are custom scroll bars easier to use or do they just look “nice”?
I've noticed that a lot of webapps have started using custom scroll bars. A few examples include Facebook, Trello, Google Docs, and Twitter. I'm sure you can think of some more:
How do these types ...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
Difference between 'modify' and 'edit' buttons
Is there a difference between the words 'modify' and 'edit'? I am creating a form that will allow users to make changes to their order - what should the call to action button name be - 'edit your ...
6
votes
2answers
624 views
Where can I find research about UI Design Across Form-Factors/ Devices (e.g. TVs & entertainment systems)?
Has there been marketable research in new UI design ideas that could work across form-factors (from desktop down to smartphones on the one end and to widescreen HD TV for games on the other)? So that ...
6
votes
7answers
973 views
Red buttons in an e-commerce site?
I'm designing an e-commerce site with red buttons. It has a yellow/white background and it looks quite good that way.
Now, my boss finds the same, he likes it, but he is doubtful, because red could ...
11
votes
11answers
780 views
Changing Colour of Social Media buttons to match Colour Palette
I'm interested in getting opinions on changing the colour of social media buttons (facebook/twitter/linkedin sign-up and login as well as sharing) to better fit in with the colour pallet of our ...
10
votes
8answers
268 views
How to design a screen in which users must choose a value from a list of options for each row in a 500 row table?
I'm designing an application that's supposed to help ease a very tedious and difficult task.
Prior to this app - each user would be given a spreadsheet with about 5-8 columns, and 300-500 rows. (Each ...
10
votes
4answers
700 views
Language selection: top or bottom of the page?
A client has the requirement to provide translation options on their website, most likely using an automated solution like Google Translate. A colleague and I have been discussing the best way to ...
9
votes
3answers
223 views
Identify different types of clickable shapes?
We're building an application that is like an interactive flow chart. When users are viewing the flow chart, they can interact with certain shapes:
Link to another flow chart.
Link to an external ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
When creating a GUI wizard, should all pages/tabs be of the same size?
I understand that some libraries would force me to, but my question is general.
If I have a set of buttons at the bottom: Back, Next, Cancel?, (other?), then should their location ever change? If the ...
7
votes
2answers
154 views
Presenting options in tools where users can have two (or more) different roles
Applications where clients & contractors actions (such as odesk and elance) are displayed in the same dashboard can get confusing.
These sites sometimes overcome this by stating:
Click here ...
7
votes
3answers
615 views
Graphically displaying a conversation between more than two people
I'm working on a project that involves displaying a text-only conversation between anywhere from two to ten or more people. The reader will be either zero or one of the participants.
The main UI will ...
7
votes
2answers
515 views
What is the expected paging behavior of a tree?
I'm working with a tree data structure, which should be visualised (like in a file manager).
The server can calculate the whole tree and the client will display it.
The possible size of a tree can ...
6
votes
2answers
721 views
(One to many) to many form?
What is a good pattern for displaying a form with a One-to-many-to-many relationship in a web form for data entry?
One parent element (a case - 15 data fields)
One or more 2nd level elements ...
6
votes
3answers
436 views
Breadcrumb or tabbed form or best of both?
We have a web application that allows users to query a database.
The results are returned in a breadcrumb style interface.
We brought this change in at a new version, and our users have been ...
4
votes
4answers
376 views
Alt key shortcuts anymore?
Do standard users use Alt key shortcuts for controls such as buttons anymore?
eg. an OK button could have a shortcut of Alt-K which would be the same as pressing it.
Any control on a form or window ...
3
votes
3answers
357 views
“Modernizing” legacy applications and legacy users
I'm tasked with modernizing many older UNIX based applications to new, web-based applications. The UNIX applications are completely keyboard-based (ie. "04" to select the fourth application, "Enter" ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How to simplify a long form
We are designing a web app for tour operators and the initial data looks like the attachment, any ideas to simplify. some of the fields will be calculated those will be removed, and some unneeded ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
What is Difference between UI and UX? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Difference between UI and UX
There are two terms in design UI and UX can anyone explain? they confuse me a lot.
1
vote
4answers
394 views
What UI design should I use for a smartphone app?
On desktop platforms, using the system's control styling, etc. is a very common practice and changing it ("theming") is usually looked down upon unless the application specifically calls for it (like ...
10
votes
4answers
306 views
Form Design: Mutually Exclusive Tabs vs. One Form
I am working on a form design that currently has two mutually exclusive forms accessible via tabs (Option 1). During usability testing my team noticed that users missed the tabs and only noticed them ...
9
votes
8answers
797 views
Why put the controls in the bottom (or the top) of a music player UI?
Among alot of the music players around the player controls have usually been arrange to the top of the application window, or to the bottom.
What is the rationale behind the positioning, the choice ...
