Assignment ll: CSS Boogaloo

Basically interface design involves creating a "thing" that lets users know what is going on and how to proceed in order to achieve a goal using that system. In the context of websites this means creating an effective Graphical User Interface or GUI (pronounced gooey). Rather than relying on physical knobs and buttons (save for keyboard and mouse), most of the interface is in the on-screen application. Be aware that GUIs are not exclusive to the web; almost anything that has an interactive display has some sort of GUI. Designers need to design interfaces that let a user locate themselves in a process and what they can do. An interface should explain things like when to stop, what options are available, where they should go, how to get from one piece of information to another, etc. Horton and Lynch would refer to this as navigation and wayfinding. In an attempt to ensure users can establish their "position" and successfully "move" through digital spaces, designers should consider the following when creating interfaces.

• Clear navigation aids - Use prominent text or images to display a user's current position and points of entry to other main pages.


• No dead-end pages - Don't leave a user stranded on one page with no way to get back to an index or other pages. Each page should at least link back to the index or possibly site map.


• Direct access - Use simple menus. Try to avoid menus with long lists of options or a series of nested menus. Horton and Lynch suggest users are comfortable with five to seven pieces of information in a menu. Some people also suggest that seven +/- two items is acceptable


• Simplicity and consistency - Be creative, not confusing. Stick with well understood metaphors or direct labels that most people can understand without having to decipher them. Then stick with that system throughout your interface.


• Design integrity and stability - Establish ethos. Keep the design appropriate to the content and make sure everything is accurate. Don't use comic sans for a corporate website, unless your business is selling variants of comic sans. In addition to choosing a contextually appropriate design, make sure all your links work and that your copy is appropriate and free of errors.


• Feedback and dialog - Make sure users know what is going on and where they are. If they mistype a password, don't just reload the page - let them know what went wrong.


• Bandwidth and interaction - People hate waiting, so focus on small images, technologies that load resources in the background without impacting site speed, or techniques that the user's browser will render instantly (CSS styles).


• Interface design conventions - Don't smash conventions. Stick with expectations. Put typical information in the header, sidebars, footer, etc. Rock the boat, don't tip the boat over.

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It basically comes down to giving people a familiar way to move through a site. When someone first visits a site they might have a general idea about its content, but they don't know how it works until they get there. The best way to make people comfortable and get them moving is to use simple, common, and understood conventions in your site's interface. As noted above people hate wasting time. They especially hate wasting time because something that should "just work" doesn't work as expected. Some people are willing to put up with poor interfaces, but they usually need a good reason. Unless you're giving something awesome away or your site has exclusive information that can't be found anywhere else, people are just going to go to other sites they can use immediately. (There are lots of designers, businesses, and general sites out there.) Good interface design keeps people engaged, happy, and on a site. Poor interface design makes them angry, quick to smash things, and unlikely to ever come back to your site. Other forms of media aren't a struggle, don't make people learn a radically new interface just for your site; it might look cool, but it's also a pain.

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