The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

This series introduces users to the primary concepts and tasks involved in graphical user interface (GUI) design. It identifies the characteristics of an effective GUI, describes usability factors, and examines the design principles of consistency, user feedback, information filtering, and the conceptual model. It also discusses in detail the effective use of color and typography, icons and pointers, window layouts, and screen controls. The series concludes with a discussion of effective interface design, including the principles of organization, efficiency, and communication.

Planning an Interface
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course introduces users to the primary principles and tasks involved in graphical user interface (GUI) design.
Objectives:
* Describe how graphical user interfaces (GUI) differ from other types of user interfaces.
* Identify characteristics of an effective GUI.
* Describe usability factors, including rules of perception, that affect GUI design.
* Identify the hardware and software development factors that affect GUI design.
* Describe and give examples for the following GUI design principles: design consistency, user feedback, filtering information, forgiveness, and having a clear conceptual model.
* Describe the role of task analysis in GUI design.
Topics:
* Introduction to User Interfaces
* Developing within Constraints
* Designing for Your Users
* Designing an Effective GUI

Developing an Interface
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course shows users how to design screen layouts, use color effectively, and incorporate typography into a graphical user interface.
Objectives:
* Design application layouts that incorporate accepted design principles.
* Explain color concepts and describe the components of color.
* Choose and use color effectively.
* Choose appropriate typography.
Topics:
* Designing the Layout
* Introduction to Color
* Choosing Color
* Using Typography Effectively

Designing Screen Elements
Time: 4.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course shows users how to put together the elements of an interface to create an effective design.
Objectives:
* Design effective, recognizable icons.
* Design applicable pointers.
* Build clear window layouts.
* Incorporate basic screen controls into a GUI.
* Develop an effective, easy-to-use GUI design.
Topics:
* Designing Icons
* Designing Pointers
* Designing Windows
* Designing Screen Controls
* Effective Interface Design