Latest revision as of 14:02, 28 September 2014

KDE User Interface Guidelines

The KDE Human interface guidelines (HIG) offer application designers and developers a set of recommendations. Their aim is to improve the experience for users by making application interfaces more consistent and hence more intuitive and learnable.

Getting Started

Design Vision and Principles - The overall vision and principles that guide the design and development of user interfaces for KDE software.
Concept - Creating a project vision, determining the users, and the scenarios of use.
Organization - Guidelines on how an application’s content and functionality are ordered and categorized.

Behaviour

This section contains guidelines for application behaviour.

Viewing and Navigation - Guidelines on controls and patterns to use for viewing, navigating and performing actions on application content.
Editing and Manipulation - Guidelines on controls and patterns to use for selection and input.
User Assistance - Guidelines on tooltips, notifications, messages and help.
Patterns - Guidelines on how to use controls in certain combinations to to accomplish specific behaviors.

Presentation

Presentation deals with the visual design of the user interface.

Layout - Guidelines regarding the placement and ordering of onscreen elements. Includes guidance on layout patterns, alignment, size and spacing.
Style - Guidelines on the use of colour, icon design and the typography to communicate with a consistent visual vocabulary.
Text - Guidelines for the written, language-based elements of the interface. Includes guidelines on wording, capitalization and localization.

Tools and Resources

The following tools and resources are offered to help with following these guidelines.

Controls List - A complete listing of all user interface controls and their guidelines in alphabetical order.
Mockup Toolkit - Includes UI controls stencils, color swatches and fonts to help create the visual design your application.
Visual Design Group forum - Ask for help and share your design ideas.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 == Getting Started ==
 * [https://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Presentation/DesignVisionPrinciples Design Vision and Principles] - The overall vision and principles that guide the design and development of user interfaces for KDE software.
-* [[User:Andrew/HIG/ConceptualModel|Concept]] -  Covers creating a project vision, determining the users, and the scenarios of use.
+* [[User:Andrew/HIG/ConceptualModel|Concept]] -  Creating a project vision, determining the users, and the scenarios of use.
-*  [[User:Andrew/HIG/OrganizationalModel|Organization]] - Provides guidance on how the application’s content and functionality are ordered and categorized.
+*  [[User:Andrew/HIG/OrganizationalModel|Organization]] - Guidelines on how an application’s content and functionality are ordered and categorized.
 == Behaviour ==
 This section contains guidelines for application behaviour.
-* [[User:Andrew/HIG/ViewAndNavigation|Viewing and Navigation]] - Encompasses the wide variety of behaviors and operations that allow users to navigate the interface and affect its presentation. Includes guidance on controls and patterns to use for viewing, navigating and acting on application content.
+* [[User:Andrew/HIG/ViewAndNavigation|Viewing and Navigation]] - Guidelines on controls and patterns to use for viewing, navigating and performing actions on application content.
-* [[User:Andrew/HIG/EditingAndManipulation|Editing and Manipulation]] - Covers the behaviors that result in permanent changes to user’s stored information. Includes guidance on controls and patterns to use for selection, unconstrained input and constrained input.
+* [[User:Andrew/HIG/EditingAndManipulation|Editing and Manipulation]] - Guidelines on controls and patterns to use for selection and input.
-* [[User:Andrew/HIG/UserAssistance|User Assistance]] - Considers behaviours that inform users of the application’s activity and status. This includes help, error alerts, and status alerts.
+* [[User:Andrew/HIG/UserAssistance|User Assistance]] - Guidelines on tooltips, notifications, messages and help.
+* [[User:Andrew/HIG/Patterns|Patterns]] - Guidelines on how to use controls in certain combinations to to accomplish specific behaviors.
 == Presentation ==
-Presentation deals with visual design of the user interface. It’s all about the appearance of the application including layout, spacing, colours, fonts, icon designs, etc.
+Presentation deals with the visual design of the user interface.
-* [https://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Layout Layout] - Guidance regarding the placement and ordering of onscreen elements. Includes guidance on layout patterns, alignment, size and spacing.
+* [https://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Layout Layout] - Guidelines regarding the placement and ordering of onscreen elements. Includes guidance on layout patterns, alignment, size and spacing.
-* [[User:Andrew/HIG/Style|Style]] - Style is concerned with emotion, tone, and visual vocabulary. Includes guidance on the use of colour, the design of icons and the typography.
+* [[User:Andrew/HIG/Style|Style]] - Guidelines on the use of colour, icon design and the typography to communicate with a consistent visual vocabulary.
-* [[User:Andrew/HIG/Text|Text]] - Guidance for the written, language-based elements of the interface. Includes guidance on wording, capitalization and localization.
+* [[User:Andrew/HIG/Text|Text]] - Guidelines for the written, language-based elements of the interface. Includes guidelines on wording, capitalization and localization.
 == Tools and Resources ==
-The following tools and resources are offered to help with implementing these guidelines.
+The following tools and resources are offered to help with following these guidelines.
+* [[User:Andrew/HIG/ControlsList|Controls List]] - A complete listing of all user interface controls and their guidelines in alphabetical order.
 * [https://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/MockupToolkit Mockup Toolkit] - Includes UI controls stencils, color swatches and fonts to help create the visual design your application.
 * [http://forum.kde.org/viewforum.php?f=285 Visual Design Group forum] - Ask for help and share your design ideas.