1. Chapter 2 Hix & Hartson
Guidelines

2. User-Centered Design Practice user-centered design. Know the user.
Involve the user via participatory design.
Prevent user errors.
Optimize user operations.
Keep the locus of control with the user.
Help the user get started with the system.

3. System Model
Give the user a mental model of the system, based on user tasks.

4. Consistency and Simplicity
Be consistent.
Keep it simple.

5. Human Memory Issues
Account for human memory limitations by giving the user frequent closure on tasks.
Let the user recognize, rather than having to recall, whenever feasible.

6. Cognitive Issues Use cognitive directness.
Draw on real-world analogies.

7. Feedback Use informative feedback.
Give the user appropriate status indicators.

8. System Messages Use user-centered wording in messages.
Use positive, nonthreatening wording in error messages.
Use specific, constructive terms in error messages.
Make the system take the blame for errors.

9. Anthropomorphization
Do not athropomorphize.

10. Modality and Reversible Actions
Use modes cautiously.
Make user actions easily reversible.

11. Getting the User’s Attention
Get the user’s attention judiciously.

12. Display Issues Maintain display inertia.
Organize the screen to manage complexity.

13. Individual User Differences
Accommodate individual user experiences and differences.
Accommodate user experience levels.

14. Chapter 3 Hix & Hartson
Guidelines for interactive styles

15. Windows Design Guidelines
Don’t Overuse windows.
Appearance and behavior of the primary window should be consistent.
Use different windows for different independent tasks.
Use different windows for different coordinated views of the same task.

16. Menu Design Guidelines
Use the user tasks and system functions to organize hierarchical menus.
Use meaningful groupings of menu choices.
Use meaningful ordering of menu choices.
Use brief descriptions for menu choices.
Use a consistent layout across all menus, and keep the screen uncluttered.
Allow shortcuts.

17. Forms Design Guidelines
Use a consistent, visually appealing layout and content.
Do not assume that existing paper forms convert directly to screen designs and a good user interface.
Use appropriate visual cues for fields on forms.
Use familiar and consistent field labels and abbreviations.
Use logical navigation among fields.

18. Forms Design Guidelines
Use logical navigation within fields.
Support editing and error correction of fields.
Use consistent, informative error messages for unacceptable characters and values.
Provide explanatory messages for expected field inputs.
Provide default values in fields whenever possible.
Provide a completion indicator on each form-filling screen.

19. Box Design Guidelines Use brief but comprehensible instructions.
Use carefully worded messages.
Use logical groupings and orderings of objects in a box.
Use visual cues to delineate groupings within boxes.

20. Box Design Guidelines Keep layout consistent and visually appealing.
Make defaults, such as a button choice, visually distinctive.
Menu selections that lead to dialogue boxes should contain a visual cue.
Boxes should disappear under user control.

21. Typed-Command Languages Design Guidelines
Use a consistent rule of formation for entering commands.
Choose meaningful, specific, distinctive command names.
Apply consistent rules for abbreviating commands.
Allow easy correction of typing errors.
Allow frequent users to develop macros.

22. Graphical Interface Design Guidelines
Use real-world analogies as much as possible.
Keep the visual representation as simple as possible.
Show different views of the same visual object.
Use color sparingly and meaningfully.
Use video sparingly.