Interface Design and UX Thread - How our App Looks

[Gare]

I'm halfway done, I think, with a prototype that might please all, or displease the least number of members!

It's slick and relaxing in colours.

Be back with it 2pm EDST,

Gary

[Gare]

Okay, I'm sure that 100% of this isn't going to please 100% of all members, but you gotta give me credit for 1.) listening to everyone's ideas, and 2.) for making something I myself am pleased with and would use. Trust me: I have standards. They're low, but they're standards!



If anyone wants to goof with it, it's attached as a Xara file, no bitmaps within, and Arial's the font (and everyone has that installed).

My Best,

Gary

[gracehjs]

Well, I like it Gary. Not too dark. I really like the on/off buttons and the menu.

[angelize]

I decided to take up your offer experiment a little with your design and I was inspired by some hexagon UI toggles that I saw on a clip art site, so I decided to create something similar.

[Barbara B]

The hexagon shapes are nice, kinda reminds me of a large industrial bolt that you'd use to put something together. But I don't think that we should use an i as the icon for the default settings, i's in circleish shapes almost universally mean information or help.

[Gare]

@Frances—

We (and you) really need to ask ourselves how the UI might scale for foreign languages (if any) and just for the number of features we'll finally have. For these reasons, I'm not sure the "X within the cog" that I copped from mindseye is suitable for a simple on/off toggle.

Barbara had mentioned to me that she likes on/off states over checkboxes because they aren't ambiguous—they clearly tell you what the state of an option or feature is.

I'd also prefer accent colours for visual separation in the UI (not having "young" eyes anymore!). Green and blue are complements, too close in chroma for separation, I feel.

My 2¢,

-g

[Rik]

Here is a simple look with flat colours.

If it can be done, then give the user the choice of being able to choose from a selection of colours.

[pauland]

Why is there such a strong preference for colourful interfaces? The interfaces with a colour accent set over dark grey or black are classy, don't look dated and have a resonance with the main Xara software.

I don't think your average user cares about choosing their own colours for a utility program users only want to run once in a blue moon.

There was a mention of multiple languages. Is Xara available in multiple languages?

[Barbara B]

Yes. http://support.xara.com/index.php?_m...articleid=2465

"Our parent company MAGIX sell localized versions of Xara Photo & Graphic Designer, Xara 3D Maker, Xara Web Designer and Xara Web Designer Premium under the MAGIX brand. There are German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Turkish versions of some or all of these. There is also a German (only) version of Xara Designer Pro. You can find full details about all localized versions on our website."

[pauland]

Thanks Barbara.