User Interface Design

I’m so jealous of people who excel at graphic design and user interface design. I like to think of myself as a fairly competent programmer. I think I have the skills to be able to pick up a new language quickly and get reasonable results. As far as graphic design and user interface design goes, I suck.

It is a genuine struggle for me to design a user interface. Sure, I can whack together something that does the job, but if you look at it with any kind of ‘user interface design’ in mind you see that it is severely lacking. I stare in wonder and amazement at good user interfaces, wondering why I can’t come up with something similar or as efficient.

I don’t believe my lack of skill comes from not trying. I spend a lot of time drawing user interface designs on paper or reading user interface guidelines, but I just don’t seem to get any better.

I guess it’s just one of those things that I will always struggle with, which is a bit of a shame because I actually enjoy it.

July 6, 2007 • Posted in: Geek / Apple Stuff

3 Responses to “User Interface Design”

  1. augustina - July 7th, 2007

    let me know if you ever need any help! UI is something i’m really good at. i’m not so good at graphic design tho. well, i’m good at it for people who are like me hahaha

  2. shashi - July 8th, 2007

    Hi,
    Let me know you need any help! Since, I am really good at graphic, UI, interactive designs. I always measure design with usability and user experience focused. My design gets more user response and attention ….

     Shashi
    Uxfirst

  3. Bill t - July 8th, 2007

    i spend alot of time on this (UI, not GD… got a designer who works with us for that) - a couple of things:

    1. it’s a bit like code sometimes - don’t re-invent the wheel. if an app or site does it well, use it! (eg apps: outlook. web: yahoo mail, youtube, facebook). familiar often works better.
    2. simplicity is the key. (the steve jobs mantra). the less clicks the better. remember the tagline “it just works”.
    3. speed is important.
    4. people like jacob neilson bring it back to basics
    5. i just had cheese in a can for the first time yesterday and i’m amped.

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