Anything but Rectangles, Part II

Design Principle #1: Amplification through simplification

This means amplify (i.e. draw attention to) the important by separating from, concealing, or eliminating everything else.  The simpler a user interface the more effective the user experience.  Don’t try to exploit every pixel of screen real-estate, encourage large areas of unused real-estate because the empty spaces draw cognitive attention to the non-empty spaces and help make the pixels you use count.

Consider an expensive foldout ad in a fancy magazine, do they fill those ads with 10pt type extolling the features and benefits of whatever they are selling…or do they use simple imagery and message?  You want to apply the same thinking to user experiences in software.

By analytically or algorithmically reducing data you can change its geometry, i.e. its shape.  Think about what the user really needs. If data is n-dimensional (e.g. a rectangle) then can you make it n-1 dimensional (e.g. a list or a point)? Next, can you visually reduce it; say to a single element, shape, or color?

In doing this you should be thinking about the most effective way to display and/or interact with data. Consider a list instead of a grid; consider a single element instead of a list; and consider an element attribute instead of a full element.

In the hierarchy of human perception color ranks first, then shape, then numbers, and lastly words.  Use this to your advantage!

Don’t be lazy, invest in custom controls. Use color, shape, and white space to convey information.

Don’t forget the value of empty space and remember that clutter is the enemy of most modes of cognitive understanding.

Random visual access (i.e. a cell for everything and everything has a cell) is seldom the right design solution.

With technologies like Microsoft’s WPF, custom controls have never been easier or cheaper to implement. Become efficient at making custom controls!