Basics Interactive Design: Interface Design

Dave Wood is Programme Director of BDes(Hons) Graphic Design at DJCAD at University of Dundee in Scotland, and hosts Semiosis 101 - a semiotics YouTube channel for creatives.

Interface Design: An introduction to visual communication in UI design delivers real examples of the process of designing for UI and interactive projects. Seeing and learning from real examples of maps and diagramming while outlining critical components of the UI design process at various stages, makes this book an incredibly important resource for anyone wanting to learn about and implement a UI strategy – especially for graphic designers who were educated in the print world but want to make the transition to working on UI and interactive projects.Applying the information in this book can absolutely make any designer a more valuable and strategic contributor to current and prospective clients and employers. This book is easy to follow, provides a clear understanding of what to expect in each chapter, offers insight into key questions to be asked throughout the UI process and is loaded with relevant and applicable content and insight. This is not only a book, but also an incredibly useful learning tool that can be utilized on a daily basis.

• IntroductionChapter 1: Visual communication: a standard in designing interaction; Communication; Designing for interactive flow; Users are king (you are not); Interview: Steve Krug; Case study: We Print Paper websiteChapter 2: Finding the flow: designing interaction; Graphical user interfaces; Information architecture; Hierarchical structures; Testing, testing: early design iterations; Interview: Greg Gibson; Case study: Testing of VedderPrice.com’s visual hierarchy; Exercise: Finding the flowChapter 3: Graphic design for digital media; Gridding interactivity; Type as interface; Colouring the screen; Imagery and the pixel; Iconography and metaphor; Going with the motion; Interview: Mike Kus; Case study: Designing a Blu-ray DVD UI; Exercise: Visually communicating interactivityChapter 4 Designing the aesthetic user experience; Design and the user; Content copy and the user; UI semiotics; Internationalization; Interview: Kristin Kramer; Case study: WorldSkills interactive kiosk; Exercise: Deconstructing UI semioticsChapter 5: Collaborating with the developer; The principles of designing modularity; Modularizing the aesthetic; Interview: Alan Bridge; Case study: Preparing a website design for a developer; Exercise: Outlining modularityChapter 6: Augmenting human capabilities through interfaces; QR codes – print meets interaction; Augmented interaction; The touch-screen world; Interview: Kate HoCase study: Designing the BBC iPlayer iPhone app; Exercise: Concept design for an AR smartphone appConclusion; Glossary; Index