Principles of Interaction Design
From OZCHI
Contents |
ABSTRACT
This tutorial introduces and explores many of the fundamental principles that underlie the practice of interaction design and user interface design. Knowingly or unknowingly, designers use these principles constantly in their work to produce timely, effective designs. Nevertheless, apart from some 'heuristics', many practitioners have never been formally introduced to these principles.
Keywords
User interface design, Interaction design, Design principles.
LEVEL
Beginner to Intermediate
TARGET AUDIENCE
Designers and evaluators of all forms of user interfaces, including graphical user interfaces, internet applications and physical devices.
PURPOSE
Many, if not most, interaction designers come to the field without formal training in user interface design. They apply personal experience, intuition, imitation and extensive evaluation to produce and refine the user interfaces they are responsible for. Along the way, designers build up a body of design experience, which ranges from rules of thumb or "heuristics", through to specific solutions to common problems or "patterns". This tutorial aims to introduce practicing or upcoming interaction designers to key principles of interaction design, to build their familiarity with and ability to recognise them, and most importantly to equip them to apply these principles in their day-to-day work. In doing so, participants will build their skills in producing designs which are based on sound principles, are defensible and are of higher quality – all in less time. In addition, familiarity with these design principles gives participants a practical vocabulary to aid communication with colleagues and other interaction designers in the workplace.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Familiarity with the principles of interaction design, their applicability and the relationships between them.
• Practical techniques to apply principles of interaction design in generating design solutions.
• Skill in applying the principles of interaction design to the evaluation of their own or others' design work.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
The bulk of the tutorial introduces a number of principles of interaction design, examining each in turn and using exercises and discussion to relate them to each other.
Topics covered include principles like functional layering and visual hierarchy, fundamental guidelines like Fitt's Law and cognitive concepts like gestalt grouping principles. Beginners and more experienced interaction designers will develop their working vocabulary of design principles that can be applied in the design and evaluation of all forms of user interfaces in everyday use - including physical devices, graphical user interfaces and internet applications.
Before the principles are presented in detail we first introduce the idea of interaction design principles and their relationship to other concepts, such as heuristics and patterns. The principles are placed into context by discussing their role in the design and evaluation of user interfaces, locating them in the user-centred design lifecycle and discussing their application across different interactive media. A taxonomy for the principles is then introduced, which acts as a framework for the bulk of the tutorial.
The body of the tutorial is dedicated to introducing each principle in turn:
• Introducing the principle and where appropriate its theoretical basis.
• Discussing pre-prepared examples as well as examples offered by participants.
• Relating each principle to other principles covered in the tutorial, highlighting possible conflicts.
• Discussing the principle's practical application in design and evaluation activities
In order to reinforce learning as the material is covered, students will participate in group and individual exercises evaluating sample user interfaces for potential design problems and identifying the design principles which apply.
In the second half of the day the major exercise involves participants in small groups collaborating to design a user interface for a modest application. Participants will produce a low-fidelity (hand-drawn) design, and then present their design to the class for discussion of how interaction design principles have been applied.
The outcomes of the exercise are then used to drive a discussion of how to identify and prioritise interaction design principles during the design process.
Given that this tutorial is for practitioners, emphasis is placed on imparting the practical implications of each principle, rather than its research basis. Participants will be encouraged to do their own further reading if they want to further understand the theoretical underpinnings of the principles discussed.
What this Tutorial is not About
This tutorial is not about design process, but rather the underlying knowledge that designers apply when generating design solutions, regardless of the process.
Neither is this tutorial about visual design, although some principles of visual communication are covered.
TUTORIAL FORMAT
This highly interactive tutorial introduces each principle in turn, along with positive and negative usage examples. Short individual and group revision exercises are used throughout the day, and the tutorial ends in a rapid design exercise which aims to explore the pro's and con's of applying the interaction design principles.
Participants are actively called upon to contribute their own examples and experiences to illustrate the principles of interaction design being covered. Acknowledging that all participants have encountered and applied these principles in everyday life (even if they didn't realise it) makes the tutorial much more participatory and engaging.
The tutorial is classroom based with a combination of lecture material, group discussion and exercises, culminating in a rapid design exercise in small groups. This tutorial works best with a 'cabaret' style room layout.
Students receive a purpose-written handbook which includes additional detail about the principles covered, references and exercise material. Note that the handbook is not simply a printout of the presentation slides.
METHOD OF DELIVERY
The tutorial is presented in a combination of:
• Lecture material
• Group discussion
• Individual revision exercises
• Workbook exercises
• Individual and group design exercises.
Group discussion is an important component of this tutorial. In effect, the discussion determines the order and emphasis given to the principles to be covered. Participants’ own examples provide opportunities to discuss relevant principles in context. This keeps the day dynamic and maximises student engagement.
AGENDA
• Introducing Principles of Interaction Design
• Welcome and Warm-up exercise. Group discussion and introductions.
• Principles of Interaction Design. Heuristics, Principles and Patterns
• Principles throughout the User Centred Design Lifecycle
• 3 General Design Principles (including revision exercise)
• 3 Information Design Principles (including revision exercise)
• 9 Interface Design Principles (including revision exercise)
• Class Exercise: Evaluating a sample user interface against Interaction Design Principles
• 8 Presentation Design Principles
• Individual Exercise: Evaluating a sample user interface against Interaction Design Principles
• Main Exercise. In groups, use interaction design principles to produce a low-fidelity user interface design.
• Class discussion of designs and application of design principles
• Wrap-up.
Applying Interaction Design Principles in Design Activities.
Prioritising Interaction Design Principles
DURATION AND PARTICIPANTS
This is a full-day tutorial.
The ideal number of participants for this tutorial is 8 to 20. Suggested maximum is 25.
PREVIOUS TUTORIALS
This tutorial has been successfully delivered in the corporate environment and at OzCHI 2005, 2006 and 2007, at British HCI 2006 and CHI 2007 in the USA. This version of the tutorial contains new material.
SPEAKER BIO – SHANE MORRIS
Shane Morris is one of Australia’s most experienced interaction designers, having worked in the field since 1991. In that time he has worked on traditional graphical user interfaces, web sites, kiosks, multimedia products, mobile applications and physical devices. Shane has taught user-centred design techniques in the USA, UK, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. His clients have included Sensis, Hewlett Packard U.S., DHL, Telstra, The Australian Football League, NSW Department of Education and Training, The Australian Taxation Office, Telecom New Zealand and the Royal Australian Air Force.
Shane has degrees in Computer Science and Cognitive Science. He is a member of the HFESA's Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group and the Usability Professionals Association.
Previously General Manager - Victoria for the Hiser Group, Shane has been Principal of Echo Interaction Design since 2002. Shane joined Microsoft in 2006 as a User Experience Evangelist.