I recently stumbled across two inspiring examples of clear, simple user interfaces. (Hat tip: RJS.) Both are mobile apps, but perfect representations of what a UI should be.
They were also great reminders of the tools we as designers have and often forget about, including myself. First, the products:
- Scorekeeper by Zach Klein
- Clear by Realmac Software
Designers have a toolbox. Inside are tools, which include:
- Contrast
- Color
- Grid
- Proportion
- Line
- Shape (and iconography)
- Sound
- Consistency
- Motion
- Texture
- Photography
- And others I’m sure I’m forgetting
(Some may argue that all of these are subsets of Contrast. I personally don’t use proportion enough.)
The clearest, simplest, most effective user interfaces relentlessly focus on the minimal execution of these basic tools. It’s when we as designers make complex combinations of these tools that the UI begins to muddy. The higher level concepts like affordance, heuristics, taxonomy, and so forth—although valuable—often help us forget the effectiveness and elegance of the simple use of these core tools.
The apps shared above are wonderful examples of using these core tools in the best fashion possible.