interface design Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are Norman’s six principles of interaction design?
Visibility, Feedback, Constraints, Consistency, Affordance, Mapping.
What is visibility in interface design?
Making system functions and status clearly visible so users know what actions are possible and what’s going on.
What is an example of poor visibility?
An interface with no indication of which elements are clickable.
Define feedback in UI design.
Reactive information given after a user action, confirming success or showing errors (e.g., “Form Submitted Successfully”).
How is visibility different from feedback?
Visibility is proactive and constant; feedback is reactive and occurs after an action.
What are constraints in interface design?
Design elements that limit user actions to prevent errors and guide behavior (e.g., disabling a button until required fields are filled).
What is consistency in UX?
Keeping elements like layout, color, and terminology uniform across the interface to reduce user confusion.
What are examples of elements to keep consistent?
Navigation, iconography, fonts, feedback messages, shortcuts, error handling, and data formats.
Define affordance in interface design.
Visual cues that suggest how an object should be used (e.g., raised buttons imply clickability).
What is a false affordance?
A design that appears interactive but isn’t, causing confusion (e.g., underlined text that isn’t a link).
What is mapping in design?
The relationship between controls and their effects (e.g., stove knobs arranged to match burners).
What are Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics?
Visibility of system status, Match between system and real world, User control and freedom, Consistency and standards, Error prevention, Recognition over recall, Flexibility and efficiency of use, Aesthetic and minimalist design, Help users recover from errors, Help and documentation.
Why are usability heuristics important?
They improve ease of use, reduce errors, and make interfaces intuitive and efficient.
What is the difference between usability heuristics and interaction principles?
Heuristics are general UX rules focusing on reducing user errors; interaction principles guide specific design decisions based on user behavior.
Why can strict consistency be a drawback?
It may limit creativity or fail to adapt across different platforms (e.g., mobile vs desktop).
What is the risk of excessive feedback?
It can overwhelm users, making the interface feel cluttered or annoying.
