Design Principle Design Principle HierarchyHierarchy

GUEPsGUEPs

Generative User Engineering Generative User Engineering PrinciplePrinciple

Defined by Thimbleby, Defined by Thimbleby, Interact Interact ’’84, 84, 661-666661-666

Helps users deduce rules for a Helps users deduce rules for a systemsystem

Bridges conceptual gulf between Bridges conceptual gulf between designer and userdesigner and user

Clarifies design requirementsClarifies design requirements

ExplainingExplaining

An essential part of designing a An essential part of designing a user interface is explaining its user interface is explaining its operation.operation.

Examples:Examples: A well-designed iconA well-designed icon A pop-up label box for a buttonA pop-up label box for a button Meaningful titles on web pagesMeaningful titles on web pages Dimmed options when not Dimmed options when not appropriateappropriate

KISSKISS

Make explanations simple and Make explanations simple and brief. By implication, fix brief. By implication, fix designs that cause complicated designs that cause complicated explanations.explanations.

Examples:Examples: Remove dialog boxes with only Remove dialog boxes with only one choiceone choice

Mental ModelMental Model

Ensure that the user constructs Ensure that the user constructs and can use an appropriate and can use an appropriate mental model of the system.mental model of the system.

Examples:Examples: The desktopThe desktop Zoom as a hot air balloonZoom as a hot air balloon

ImprovementImprovement

One can improve the One can improve the computercomputer program and change the program and change the documentation to match documentation to match OROR one one can improve (or support) the can improve (or support) the useruser program and change the program and change the code to match.code to match.

Examples:Examples: Size the text entry box to fit Size the text entry box to fit the datathe data

ConsistencyConsistency

Employ a consistent and Employ a consistent and predictable design so that the predictable design so that the system can be used successfully system can be used successfully with the monitor turned off.with the monitor turned off.

Examples:Examples: The default button can be activated The default button can be activated with the Enter key.with the Enter key.

Standard features appear in the same Standard features appear in the same place with the same syntax and place with the same syntax and semantics across applicationssemantics across applications

ModelessnessModelessness

The user can do anything The user can do anything anywhere.anywhere.

Examples:Examples:

OutputOutput

WYSIWYG: What you see is what WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get.you get.

Examples:Examples: Any direct manipulation widgetAny direct manipulation widget The print preview optionThe print preview option

Display InertiaDisplay Inertia

When the user goes back, When the user goes back, everything is as it was before.everything is as it was before.

Examples:Examples: Windows Explorer or iOS Finder Windows Explorer or iOS Finder maintains the previous style of maintains the previous style of list view when reopened.list view when reopened.

Scroll location is maintained Scroll location is maintained on long web pages.on long web pages.

Bread CrumbsBread Crumbs

Leave a trace of where the user Leave a trace of where the user has beenhas been

Examples:Examples: Maintain the recently used Maintain the recently used documents listdocuments list

Maintain the history file for Maintain the history file for the web browserthe web browser

SummarySummary

ExplainingExplaining KISSKISS Mental ModelMental Model ImprovementImprovement ConsistencyConsistency ModelessnessModelessness OutputOutput Display inertiaDisplay inertia BreadcrumbsBreadcrumbs