Microsoft Vista User Interface Guidelines Published

SEMW writes "Microsoft has published the preliminary Official User Interface Guidelines for Windows Vista. Highlights include Top 12 Rules for the Windows Vista User Experience — and the use of screenshots from Windows XP as examples of what not to do. The full guidelines are as yet incomplete, but what is there makes for interesting reading."

Comments

Re:The Rules:

[iluvcapra]

My thoughts:

Use the Aero Theme and System Font (Segoe UI)

Good, but obvious.

Use common controls and common dialogs

ibid

Use the standard window frame, use glass (transparency) judiciously

Good good. If MS keeps making such a big deal about transparent UI tho, silly developers are gonna use it everywhere.

Use icons and graphics consistent with the Windows Vista style and quality

Good. If you follow this suggestion closely enough, maybe we can convince the users at home that your application comes from Microsoft, too.

Use task dialogs for new or frequently used dialog boxes and error messages

Good.

Use Aero Wizards

If you're replacing a 97 Wizard, you should use an Aero wizard. If you're writing a new app, please do not use a wizard. They're obnoxious, and send the message: "We didn't know how to organize your options in any sort of logical way, so here's a powerpoint that lets you fill in the blanks, masquearding as a UI."

Use Explorer-hosted, navigation-based user interfaces, provide a Back button

In short: Consider making programs that aren't web browsers behave like web browsers, since people use those alot. This is interesting, but at some point you have to explain the difference between the "Back" button and the "Undo" button, and you might just end up making your program into a wizard

Use the standard Windows Search (have a little iTunes style search box in your window's corner when appropriate)

A total dig on my part, and I apologize, but that's basically what they're saying. Apple makes the same recommendation, and give a very slick API for making it work. So good suggestion.

Use the Windows Vista tone in all UI text (use a professional writing style in you informative text)

From Microsofts mouth to ghod's ears.

Clean up the user interface

On their page they list all kinds of things you can do to make your program more ergonomic, but they put it at the end of the list, and phrase it in such a way as to suggest that it should be something you do at the end of development, as opposed to at the beginning, when you're designing your windows on a whiteboard. "Organize your command (sic) into a simple, predictable, and easy to find presentation" is something you do before you start writing code- it is not something you do while "cleaning up".

Use notifications judiciously

Or not at all. The list makes no suggestion about keeping your damn icons out of the systray.

Reserve development time for "fit and finish"!

Fit and Finish has quickly become my least favorite phrase. Sorry, just snarky, I agree with this point. But I would say "Hire a designer" as opposed to "reserve development time", mainly because it will allow collaboration with someone who always has their eyes on the UI and can give the developers continual feedback on how their code is totally rocking for the user ... experience, or totally deviating from reality.