7.Interface Design

Interface Design

Mr Mordey

Big Picture

Discuss the use and features and compare a range of interface types.

Past

Explain design elements that should be considered in each interface type.

Evaluate the effectiveness of design elements included in an interface.

Present

Future

Careers: Software development, Interface Designer, Software Solutions

This refers to the design rules set out by the company. An organisation will often use the same colours inspired by their logo, this builds the brand. For example McDonalds will regularly use red and yellow throughout their designs

​House Style

It is important to consider the amount of colours being used. Any more than 4 colour can look unprofessional and be an eye sore. It might also make it hard to read the information from the screen.

Number of Colours

Colour Choice

This refers to the look and feel of a colour. This can change the mood, for example a glossy or gradient colour can make a design more modern a pastel colour or faded colour can make an app feel more retro.

​Textures

Colours should contrast well from each other and not clash. This will help make features stand out and make text easy to read. This is used by combining a dark and a bright colour.

Contrast

Colour Choice

Multiple Choice

What is the maximum amount of colours that should be used in your interface design?

• 10 or more colours

• 6 colours

• 8 colours

• 4 colours

Match

Match the following terms.

• Textures

• House Style

• Contrast

The feel or look of a colour.

The designs used within a business

How well colours stand out against each.

• The feel or look of a colour.

• The designs used within a business

• How well colours stand out against each.

The font is the design of the text. Once you have chose a style you should use this consistently throughout the interface.​

Some font styles are easier to read than others and some lend themselves to a specific demographic.

​Fonts

​These font styles are better suited to printed text. Letters will have a bigger variation in thickness, meaning it can lack consistency.

Serif

Better for on screen text, less variation in letter design. Letters have a similar thickness and layout making it easier to read from screen.

Sans-Serif

​Can be hard to read on print or screen. Often used to engage or attract a younger audience or add fun to the design of a product.

Decorative

Multiple Choice

What is meant by font style?

• Font style refers to the color of the text.
• Font style is the size of the text characters.
• Font style is the design and appearance of characters.

• Font style is the spacing between lines of text.

Match

Match the following

• Serif

• Sans-Serif

• Decorative

Best for print, characters vary slightly

Best for screen very little variation.

Used to attract young audience.

• Best for print, characters vary slightly

• Best for screen very little variation.

• Used to attract young audience.

This refers to the complexity of the language used in the interface.

It is important that the language level matches the target demographic.

If the language is too complex younger audience may not understand.

The word parameter is often used for searching, children would not understand this.

​

Language Level

White space is clear, or empty space that can be of any colour. There will be no text, image or design.

This is done to separate parts of an interface, almost like using paragraphs.

It is also used to make sure that the interface does not look cluttered making it hard to read or find information.

White Space

Multiple Choice

What is meant by white space?

• White space is blank area on a page to separate information.

• White space is a term used to describe the font style used in a document.
• White space is the area filled with text and images in a document.
• White space refers to the color of the background in a document.

Multiple Choice

Why is the language level important to consider in an interface?

• Higher language levels always improve interface design.
• The language level is irrelevant to user experience.
• The language level ensures that all are able to understand use the device.

• Language level only affects technical documentation.

Categorize

Options (6)

White space can only be white

No more than 4 colours in design

Consider the reading age of audience

Don't use business colours

Colours should not contrast

Serif font is best for an interface

Organize these options into the right categories

True

False

Main Task

Computer Task:
Pick an example of a business to create a mock up design of a new app for them. Complete this activity in MS PowerPoint.

In your design you should be able to explain the relevance of the colours and font styles you have chose to use in the mock up.

If you finish this go to KnowItAllNinja

Complete all the questions on the work sheet.