We published two webcasts on MSDN that focus on the way user experience design can help users cope with complexity. Check it out!

• English Version
• German Version

Summary:

Technology is advancing and complexity is increasing – that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But we have innate cognitive constraints that limit our capabilities to effectively cope with complexity. Also, if a system is inherently complex, it may not be possible to hide its complexity entirely on the UI. Nonetheless, there are powerful methods and techniques that allow to present UIs in a manageable way for users. Some of them are:

• Provide a clear layout (balance + symmetry)
• Do not display too much
• Base your design on a grid
• Show what’s signal and what’s noise
• Group elements that belong together and separate elements that do not belong together
• Externalize memory
• Show things to select from rather than expecting users to recall them
• Select the chart type based on aesthetics ***and*** human cognitive abilities