Produce your Graphic Interface Designs
You now need to create the graphic interface designs for your multimedia product. You should use the Adobe Photoshop software application to create your interface designs - these can be easily imported into Adobe Flash and manipulated with actionscript code to create the navigation of your product. Buttons should be included on different layers in photoshop.
You need to take into consideration a number of principles to make sure you achieve an aesthetically pleasing and effective functioning graphic interface design. A well-designed GUI is easy and intuitive to use and navigate, and is efficient for the user.
Take the following principles into consideration when designing a Graphic User Interface.
Consistency of elements -
It is important that a project has both consistency in its navigational framework and that different sections are identifiable in some way. This may involve making some elements consistent between screens (such as typography, navigational devices and headlines) whilst making dramatic content changes in media (images etc) between screens.
Here are some things to consider
A user must always know they are in the same project, create a familiar and consistent environment.
- Your navigation devices should be placed in the same location on every screen.
- Elements should be laid out consistently, perhaps by using a grid.
- Margins and columns should be consistent.
- Make typography consistent. Text styling should be consistent (by use of a style sheet).
- Colour should be consistent.
Click here to read about the other principles of screen design listed below.
Balance & Layout
Focal Point
Density
Metaphor
Evaluation Criteria for your Graphic User Interface
To evaluate the quality of a GUI and the effectiveness of its features and functions, you need to develop criteria which could include:
- Does it meet the end user's needs?
- Is it easy to learn and use?
- Is it aesthetically pleasing?
- Is it efficient?
- Are its features used consistently?
Use the above criteria to evaluate the success of your designs.
