All..

so far various aspects of a gui have been presented.
but i hope you all agree with me there is a need also to
come up with a set of criteria how a final design should be evaluated ?
us on this thread are just a very small microcosm of the user base.

this is what...from my experience in industry...is the gui
'elephant in the room' as things can sometimes get emotional.

so what should those criteria be ??
i hope everyone ccontributes what the criteria should be...
ie an open collegial discussion.

heres my input..a new gui should be judged on the following...
(feel free to disagree/add your own criteria)...

does the new gui do the following..

1..bring even the most sceptical people to open the app and investigate
further ?...its sorta akin to one going past a restaurant and
being impressed with the 'storefront' then peeking in the windows
and smelling some aromas/looking at the menu etc.
2..cut down the learning cycle for new users ?
3..does the gui cut down the amount of time users might have to pore
through the manual ?. << reason for this being many people just dislike
going through manuals. just human nature.
4..does the gui cut down the size/complexity of the user manual.
eg my wife and i just got a nice new clock radio.
we love it...but the manual is difficult to read due to print size
plus it gets pretty complex in places.
ie press this button then that button to do xyz etc.
5..will useing the gui and the app lead a new user, when leaving
go 'super wow i'm gonna tell my friends setting up project studios
about this app." ie the user has a happy experience.
6..does the gui incorporate fly by tips that can be turned off
once a new user gets experience useing the app.
7..does the gui allow for 'tips of the day'? which i find usefull
when i'm useing rb for example.
and does the gui allow access to a deeper menu of tips ?
8..can the gui be configured to the users likeing ?
ie flexibile ? but how far should this be taken by the designers ?
in order not to bloat the app so its difficult to maintain by the app
programmers ?
9..how much does a user like the icons in the app ?
are there too many ? and have too many icons be used that might confuse the user ?
10..finally how much does the user like the overall look
of the app ? does it allow the user to work fast without haveing
to be diverted from the creative process ?
has too much 'flash' been used.
11..does the app cater to people with vision problems ?

(i'm sure ive missed some important judgeing criteria above.)

i think the reader will get the gist of what ive detailed and hope the
reader agrees that the above are important appropo questions to be asked.
as ive said its darn difficult and even impossible to keep everyone
happy. lets also consider that pg apps support various languages..
and thus various cultures around the world will be useing the app.

so i ask should a set of gui judgeing criteria be discussed also ?
how is any final gui design going to be evaluated 'objectively'.
just my thoughts.

Simon...do you think judgeing criteria are needed ?

om

Last edited by justanoldmuso; 01/19/25 09:21 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..)
https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs
(90 songs created useing bb/rb)
(lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)