Interaction Design
Key Concepts
- User-Centered Design
- Feedback Mechanisms
- Consistency and Predictability
- Affordances and Signifiers
- Error Handling
User-Centered Design
User-Centered Design (UCD) is an approach that focuses on the needs, wants, and limitations of the end user of the designed artifact. It involves understanding the user's context, tasks, and goals to create interfaces that are intuitive and user-friendly. For example, a mobile banking app designed with UCD principles would prioritize easy navigation and clear transaction history over complex features that users rarely use.
Feedback Mechanisms
Feedback Mechanisms are essential in interaction design to inform users about the results of their actions. This can be visual, auditory, or tactile feedback. For instance, clicking a button might change its color and display a loading spinner, indicating that the action is being processed. Another example is a form that highlights required fields in red if they are left empty, prompting users to fill them out.
Consistency and Predictability
Consistency and Predictability in interaction design ensure that users can apply their knowledge from one part of the interface to another. Consistent use of colors, fonts, icons, and layouts helps users build familiarity and predictability. For example, a website that consistently uses blue for links and green for buttons helps users quickly recognize and interact with these elements, reducing the learning curve.
Affordances and Signifiers
Affordances are the properties of an object that suggest how it can be used, while signifiers are cues that communicate these properties to the user. For example, a button that changes color when hovered over provides both an affordance (the ability to click) and a signifier (the visual cue that it can be clicked). Another example is a scroll bar on a webpage, which suggests that the content can be scrolled up and down.
Error Handling
Error Handling in interaction design involves strategies to prevent, detect, and recover from user errors. This includes providing clear error messages, undo options, and easy ways to correct mistakes. For instance, a shopping cart that allows users to undo an accidental item removal helps them recover from the error quickly. Another example is a form that automatically formats phone numbers as users type, preventing input errors.