- clear understanding of the users' expectations
- innovative solutions for easy use of interface items
- excellent graphical elements to improve visual experience.
Typically, a simple start to building sensitivity in a user interface is to put yourself in the shoes of the user. It is not so difficult to assume yourself as a typical user of the interface in question. When you do such a role play for yourself you can immediately start seeing things which might be painful to the user.
In addition to this, some of the following tips can help achieve a better interface:
- Remove irrelevant information: It is important to consider the importance of any information placed on the interface to the user. Sometimes, showing too much information is not required when minimum details might be sufficient. We can always allow the user to 'See More' if he needs to.
- Minimize the number of steps: It is not a good idea to make the user do a lot of work. For example, if the user has to go through a lot of pages and a lot of steps to complete what she is trying to do, she might get frustrated and leave. At times, it is important to have numerous steps. Let the user know in advance in such a situation, so that the expectation is set correctly in the beginning of the interaction itself.
- Differentiate information from actions: It is always good to visually separate information from the actions. You would not like people to try and find out where to click. The actions should be differentiated in a particular style so that the user always knows where to click and where to read.
- Do not clutter the page with advertisements: People today know what looks like an advertisement. If you fill up your pages with advertisements, people tend to loose credibility on your website. Advertisements wherever need, should be accounted for separately and neatly, so that the user does not feel that he is clicking on it by mistake or is being forced to click on it.
- Keep a dignified and uniform look and feel: It is advisable to have a visually connected look and feel for all the pages of the interface, for the purpose of building a unique identity. If every page of the website looks like an altogether new page, the user will never have an identity in mind for your brand.
To add to these tips for an internet-based user interface, it is also important to follow the right process while designing an interface. Typically an interface design activity would have the following steps:
- Analysis of primary activities the user is intended to perform
- Consideration of scenarios in which the user might need to use the interface
- Outline or wire-frame design of pages showing the information design
- Design of preliminary designs and integration with the product back-end
- Feedback gathering through sharing the interface with stakeholders and formal user testing
- Finalizing by incorporating changes based on the feedback
Again, the details of UI design teach us how to make decisions on the UI pattern, Navigation controls, buttons and the use of basic design principles of color, alignment and gradient. But the tips mentioned above is where you need to begin to build sensitivity into your interface for the benefit of your users.
