User Interface Design and Ergonomics - National Open University of ...

Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Objectives
3.0 Main Content
3.1 ESSENTIALS OF INTERFACE DESIGN
3.2 DESIGNING A GOOD INTERFACE
3.3 TIPS FOR DESIGNING GOOD USER INTERFACE
3.4 UNDERSTANDING USERS
4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor Marked Assignment
7.0 Further Reading and Other Resources
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Having read through the course guide, you will have a general understanding of what this
unit is about and how it fits into the course as a whole. This unit describes the essentials
of designing good interface designs.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
By the end this unit, you should be able to:
Explain the essentials of good interface design
Identify the necessary tips needed for designing a good interface
Have good understanding of various users
3.0 MAIN CONTENT
3.1 ESSENTIALS OF INTERFACE DESIGN
There are three pillars to an application’s success:
Features
Function
Face
Features refers to what the application will do for the user. Features are the requirements
for the software.
Function refers to how well the software operates. Bug-free software will function
perfectly.
Face refers to how the application presents itself to the user - the application’s “user
interface.”
Features, function and face can be restated as questions:
Does the software meet the user’s requirements? (Features)
Does the software operate as intended? (Function)
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