Learning from Well
Designed Small Screen Interfaces
Small screen devices, with their constrained design environment
and demanding target market, compel designers to strive for highly
concise, effective user interfaces.
The "Small
Screens, Big Lessons” seminar series examines the many
beneficial design methods that can be found in well-designed small
screen interfaces. Many of the approaches and ideas found in these
user interfaces can also serve as the basis for designing more effective
desktop applications and websites.
Below is a list of lessons
that have been learned from the analysis and design of effective
small screen interfaces. Each lesson is comprised of five to ten
methods that not only improve small screen interfaces, but can also
be applied in other environments such as desktop applications and
websites.
Applying the
three keys to success  Top
The key issues of relevance, clarity, and empathy are particularity
vital to the success of small screen user interfaces. The ways in
which the “three keys” are applied, or fail to be applied,
have effects that are dramatically magnified by the small screen
environment. The methods in this lesson include discussions of “Placing
Goals before Tasks” and “Providing Dynamic Feedback.”
Increasing
task completion rates Top
Limited user attention, combined with the higher likelihood of multi-tasking,
increases the need for small screen user interfaces to assist users
with completing tasks. Even a little bit of help for users at critical
points can produce big returns in user interfaces of any size. The
methods in this lesson, such as “Creating Task Focus”
and “Supporting Task Repetition” show you how to give
users the helping hand they need.
Managing visual complexity Top
The extremely limited display space provided by small screen devices makes managing visual complexity critical to presenting information that can be interpreted quickly and easily by users. These concepts are elaborated on in specific methods, such as “Applying Subtractive Design” and “Creating Visual Hierarchy and Groups.”
Organizing
the user interface Top
Efficiency and saving time are among the highest priorities to be
satisfied by small screen devices. Meeting these demands brings
a new urgency to the issue of user effort when determining how a
user interface will be organized. Through methods such as “Reducing
Physical Effort” and “Hiding, but not Burying, Features”
you can see the big change that a little organization can make.
Supporting
a state of flow Top
As defined by behavioral psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, “flow”
is a state of optimal experience that people reach when they are
totally absorbed in an activity. By utilizing techniques and design
principles that support flow, small screen interfaces can further
increase user satisfaction and minimize the sense of time on task.
Lesson methods include “Providing Flexibility” and “Anticipating
Possible User Errors.”
if you are interested in arranging a “Small Screens, Big Lessons” presentation for your company or organization, contact Paul. |
