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But the definition of good UI is arbitrary. The folks who designed those old amber IBM terminals (that I still use at work) would have argued that: - Black ba

by phugoid 16y ago

But the definition of good UI is arbitrary. The folks who designed those old amber IBM terminals (that I still use at work) would have argued that: - Black background is easy on the eyes. - The flashing cursor draws your focus. - The amazing bold font technology breaks up the page very nicely. So it would appear that "good design" is just a function of the technology available.

panacea 16y ago
Good design is about form following function, and is very dependent on the technology available, you're right. It's not arbitrary however. Here are some essentially inviolate principles of good design: http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gestaltprinciples/gestaltprinc.htm http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gest...
- sliverstorm 16y ago
  You have to admit that while some principles are not arbitrary, there are definite design styles or trends that go in and out of vogue, and at the time everyone was convinced they were good design.
  - alextgordon 16y ago
    That doesn't mean they weren't. User familiarity is a big part of good design, so playing to the current trend may well make your thing easier to use. For example, there's no reason why search boxes should have rounded corners - it's just an arbitrary style. But since users are familiar with rounded search boxes, using them could make your site easier to use.
- jorangreef 16y ago
  There is no such thing as form. There is only function. Function follows function. Function informs function. So that what we see is a fractal of function, a function of function.
panacea 16y ago
I'd also argue that an uncontroversial definition for 'good design' would be design that functions best for the majority of users. That somewhat explains the trends you see in design, because when we employ a convergent design standard, it's more readily accessible in a single visit than a design that breaks away from current conventions. It's also empirically the case that the convergent design standards represent the 'fittest'. And I would argue that evolutionary speaking they represent 'good design' (that's my definition anyway).

by phugoid 16y ago

panacea 16y ago

Good design is about form following function, and is very dependent on the technology available, you're right. It's not arbitrary however. Here are some essentially inviolate principles of good design: http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gestaltprinciples/gestaltprinc.htm http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gest...

sliverstorm 16y ago
You have to admit that while some principles are not arbitrary, there are definite design styles or trends that go in and out of vogue, and at the time everyone was convinced they were good design.
- alextgordon 16y ago
  That doesn't mean they weren't. User familiarity is a big part of good design, so playing to the current trend may well make your thing easier to use. For example, there's no reason why search boxes should have rounded corners - it's just an arbitrary style. But since users are familiar with rounded search boxes, using them could make your site easier to use.
jorangreef 16y ago
There is no such thing as form. There is only function. Function follows function. Function informs function. So that what we see is a fractal of function, a function of function.

panacea 16y ago

I'd also argue that an uncontroversial definition for 'good design' would be design that functions best for the majority of users. That somewhat explains the trends you see in design, because when we employ a convergent design standard, it's more readily accessible in a single visit than a design that breaks away from current conventions. It's also empirically the case that the convergent design standards represent the 'fittest'. And I would argue that evolutionary speaking they represent 'good design' (that's my definition anyway).