Terrence Wood is a user experience designer specializing in information architecture and accessible standards based design.

 

Design is the application of intent - the opposite of happenstance, and an antidote to accident.

Googles design principles:

  1. Focus on people—their lives, their work, their dreams.
  2. Every millisecond counts.
  3. Simplicity is powerful.
  4. Engage beginners and attract experts.
  5. Dare to innovate.
  6. Design for the world.
  7. Plan for today’s and tomorrow’s business.
  8. Delight the eye without distracting the mind.
  9. Be worthy of people’s trust.
  10. Add a human touch.

The user experience is important on the micro level of the process, products and procedures. On the macro level it has to come down to the organisation goal. After we have provided the goal we can then look at supplementary services for providing the user requirements.

Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it’s this veneer — that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make it look good!’ That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

Steve Jobs

When designing human computer interfaces (including web UIs):

  • Minimize the number of text fields in your interfaces down to the absolute minimum necessary.
  • Minimize the number of click/keystrokes/gestures necessary to accomplish actions in your interface.
  • Make your interface as responsive as possible - minimize the latency of each and every action a user might take in your interface.

1996 really did call and it really does want its web template back