Gooey: Soft & Sticky

TableOfContents

Ongoing

• ["/200603"]

Completed

• ["/200601"]

Assignment Introduction

gooey
adj : soft and sticky
Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University

When a lot of us hear the word "gooey," we think about sticky buns or creamy sugary fillings. Others, especially the software designers and even industrial designers, think "GUI", as in "Graphical User Interface." A GUI is what computer types call the system of icons, taskbars, and other objects that our computers use to display and access information. But nowadays, even smallest portable devices, for example, your mobile phone or my mp3 player, carry a GUI.

Many our designers have a MAC or some unlucky ones are still dreaming of having a MAC, because, as they say, besides many other reasons, a MAC has a “better” GUI than PC’s. Why the “Start” button, even with a “click here to start” slogan, failed to start the designers to open their eyes and wallets? There must be a reason, and we are going to find out why.

Target Competency Area(s), Competencies and Level(s)

• Integrating technology
• User focus
• Form and senses (visual design)

Entrance Level :Level of Prior Competency Development (Optional)

• Anybody who has access to a computer.
• Better if the attendees have some programming experience.

Learning Objectives

Understanding the concepts and structures of GUI. Learning the user centred process of GUI design, from analysis, prototyping to evaluation. And having some fun with Windows.

Learning Activities

Lectures

5 hours, on GUI history, GUI structures and components, GUI design and evaluation.

Activity

Presentations and discusstions, 5 hours

Reading

5 hours, back ground material.

Group activity

25 hours

Task 1

OS comparison

• Compare the modern desktop interfaces (MAC OS X, KDE, GNOME, and of course Windows Explorer).

Task 2

Website comparison

• Find too extreme examples of web designs of the same kind, that you like most and hate most. Prepare a presentation that tell the story and the reasons

Task 3

Desktop redesign for a user group

• Windows face lifting. Skin, customise and remaster the Windows desktop for a special target user group. 10 hours.

Deliverables

• Report and presentation on the results of the group activity.
• Presentations on the findings of desktop comparison.
• Presentation and competition on the skinned Windows desktop.

List of Available Reference and or Background Materials

From Amazon

• Dont make me think, by Steve Krug

From TU library

• Interface Desgin: The art of developing easy-to-use software, by Peter Bickford

• GUI design essentials by Susan Weinschenk, Pamela Jamar and Sarah C. Yeo

• The elements of user interface desgin, by Theo Mandel
• The essential guide to user interface design : an introduction to GUI design : principles and techniques, by Wilbert O. Galitz
• GUI bloopers : don'ts and do's for software developers and web designers, by Jeff Johnson

From the Web

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interface

• http://www.guidebookgallery.org/ GUI screenshots of all kinds of OS.