On the importance of good user interface design

It seems obvious, but it is often ignored. A good user interface design can make the difference between the acceptance of a software product and its failure in the market. If end users find the software too cumbersome or difficult to understand, then an excellent product could be doomed. The developer’s goal should be to make the software as professional looking and easy to use as possible.

Unfortunately, I have found that many companies, especially small or highly specialized software companies, pay little attention to the mechanics of a good user interface style. “As long as it works, that’s what matters!” seems to be his mantra, regardless of the inconvenience this imposes on the user.

Fortunately, this is not how we operate in our company. Our development team puts considerable effort into making the user interfaces as intuitive and foolproof as possible, as we know this is something our customers will appreciate. I have often praised my teammates for recognizing that excellence is worth pursuing.

Back on topic… I can’t remember how many times I’ve come across software that was designed to work, but with little regard for ease of use. If the software forces the operator to constantly refer to a manual or cheat sheet, then this is a good indication that the user interface needs improvement. Similarly, software must allow the user to perform tasks quickly and efficiently, without sacrificing power and flexibility. This seems intuitive, and yet these considerations are often missing.

The sad part is that these shortcomings can often be fixed with a few simple guidelines. For example, it helps if the user can enter data using buttons and list boxes, instead of typing it out by hand. It helps if the software provides popup dialogs to guide the user along the way. Even the judicious choice of icons and other graphics can turn a steep learning curve into a short, gentle one.

In fact, even matters as trivial as spelling and grammar deserve attention. Poorly written instructions can seriously hamper an operator, and even if they don’t, it reflects poorly on the developers of that application.

Much more can be said about the mechanics of good UI design, but that’s a subject the entire book can (and has) been written about. Suffice it to say that a company striving for excellence must pay close attention to the flexibility and usability elements of the software. These are critical elements of software excellence and are worth pursuing.