Gui Design for Dummies (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Long gone are the days when computer users were content with typing cryptic instructions into a command-line interface. At the same time, just because a program's interface is graphical -- with windows, buttons, scrollbars, and the rest -- doesn't mean that it's a good interface. Fortunately, GUI Design For Dummies takes the mystery out of creating software user interfaces that don't get in the users' way but actually make their tasks easier. In this comprehensive, practical reference, renowned GUI design expert Laura Arlov reveals how industrial design, software design, psychology, and graphic design all contribute to effective GUIs. She shows you how to Identify goals and constraints by considering factors such as users' level of expertise, the environment in which the software will be used, and the hardware on which the software will run Generate a conceptual model that helps you develop the program's windows and dialog boxes Refine graphical elements by observing users in formal focus groups or by using friends and colleagues as guinea pigs Apply proven principles of graphic design to choose the right colors, layout, typeface, and more Get a whole team of programmers and designers reading from the same page, so that the final product is as coherent as can be Plus, in addition to an eight-page, full-color insert, GUI Design For Dummies includes a bonus CD-ROM containing Windows 95 and Windows NT software, such as Inspiration, a demonstration version of the visual tool from Inspiration Software, Inc. Icon Extractor, shareware that enables you to extract and save icons in a variety of formats A 30-day trial version of Activity Map, shareware from Time/System International that helps you develop and organize your ideas

Product Details

• Paperback: 359 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc (Computers); Pap/Dsk edition (September 19, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764502131
• ISBN-13: 978-0764502132
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,277,088 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Starting Point, July 12, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

I reviewed this book hoping to find a good reference document for the GUI Design courses we teach. While my quest for the ideal reference continues, I am happy to recommend this book as supplementary reading. 'GUI Design for Dummies' certainly tackles the GUI topic as a process. Of the things I found lacking these items stood out:

* lack of discipline with terminology. Like many IT-related authors these days, Laura Arlov takes quite a bit of license when it comes to inventing terms. Perhaps they are not her invention, but little attempt is made to validate the origins of numerous words and phrases

* outdated conventions with repect to tasks and workflow (Use Case scenarios would be more appropriate than just 'task' and [navigational] scenario.

* very little material on transaction-based systems.

In Ms. Orlov's defense, most of these issues are not addressed in any of the other books I have reviewed.

Bottom line: an easy read. Examples are well matched to an overall process. Good start for developers that need an orientation to GUI concepts.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Contains useful nuggets, but unsatisfying overall, June 7, 2000

By	J. Grey (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're looking for one book to introduce you to GUI design and give you a solid grounding in design for usability, this isn't it. It gives many useful tips and truisms, however, and if you buy it as one element of your larger usability/UI design library, you will be well served. In my work, I'm sometimes called upon to provide usability inspections and design critiques. This book has provided good support for some of the improvements I've asked programmers and designers to make.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Survey of Interface Design, December 29, 1998

By	Robert Crawford (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent starting place for anyone who wants to create usable GUI programs. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to get off to a good start.