How do I start to make my UI look better?

RossG · Post by **RossG** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 6:09 pm

My current project has commercial possibilities, unlike all the
others.

I've never bothered trying to make them look commercial
so don't know where to start.

Suggestions gratefully received.

dunbarx · Post by **dunbarx** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 6:23 pm

Hi.

Just become an artist/graphic-designer and go! Oh, yes, do not fall into the "Hypercard trap". Ask Jacque what that is.

Craig Newman

sritcp · Post by **sritcp** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 8:17 pm

RossG wrote:....I've never bothered trying to make them look commercial
so don't know where to start.

+1

Sri.

dunbarx · Post by **dunbarx** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 8:52 pm

It occurs to me that your question was asked in all seriousness, and my answer was anything but.

However, this is a very big question indeed. "Professional" software ranges from simple and elegant to horsey and opaque. This is all a matter of style, of course, and therefore no "right" or "best" answer can be given. A team of interface designers, artists and graphic designers are employed by large firms to make the user interface attractive, and hopefully intuitive and desirable. This may be harder to pull off than the coding itself. Mac programs, and the Mac environment itself, (fonts, layout, graphic objects, etc.) are to me so far more beautiful, pleasing and embraceable than Windows offerings that I still do not know why Microsoft cannot get their act together. But that is a matter of opinion.

Excel is not pretty, but after a little training, it is clear what it is, how it is built, and how it works. This is minimalist in design but effective software. What I mean is that I have no answer. Is that helpful?

Craig

ghettocottage · Post by **ghettocottage** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 9:47 pm

Maybe post some screen-shots of what you have, and ask for advice on that.

Use Gimp or Photoshop to make mock-ups of your interface...post those and ask for more advice.

Get some people to use your application and ask for feedback.

.edit based on feedback and advice...repeat.....edit...repeat..

quailcreek · Post by **quailcreek** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 12:53 am

That's one of the things about being an app developer. You need to be a jack of all trades. Programer, graphic artist, as well as having an eye for laying out the controls on each card to make the interface inviting yet practical and functional. One of the best ways to spruce up a stack is to use a smart background that reflects the intent of the app. HTH

FourthWorld · Post by **FourthWorld** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:05 am

Many things in this book will help improve both software and print layouts:
http://www.amazon.com/Non-Designers-Des ... 0321193857

ClipArtGuy · Post by **ClipArtGuy** » Tue Nov 10, 2015 3:18 pm

You may also be interested in the books "Don't make me think, revisited" and "Rocket Surgery made easy" by Steve Krug

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