User:Andrew/LayoutPatterns: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:25, 21 July 2014

Layout Patterns

The complete layout for your application may be constructed by selecting an appropriate Command Pattern and Navigation Pattern.

Command Patterns are determined by the command structure chosen for the application (simple, complex or very complex). Commands are defined as any function performed by the application based on user input.
Navigation Patterns are determined by the information structure of the application content (flat, 2-deep, 3-deep, n-deep).

Plasmoids

Plasmoids like panel popups and desktop widgets should meet the following criteria:

Plasmoids use only a simple command structure.
The content of plasmoids must have a flat or 2-deep information structure.
If the above two criteria cannot be satisfied, consider designing a traditional desktop application instead of a plasmoid.

Notes

When starting design on a new application, it may not be clear what the command structure should be. Start with a simple command structure. As the design develops, consider a more complex command pattern only if it’s necessary.
The n-deep navigation patterns may also be used for the 2-deep and 3-deep patterns.

Methodology

Applications Survey A survey of a broad range of actual desktop applications was conducted. The survey activity included identifying the layout characteristics and category of each application. The categories of the applications surveyed are captured below.

Video player
Audio/Music player
Image browser
Image editor
Web browser
File browser
Settings
Text editor
IDE
Document editor
Document viewer
Games
Email
Address book
Chat client
Calendar
Video conference
Audio/Video editing
Terminal
Calculator
Clock
System Monitor
Archiver
Mapping/Directions
Software installer/remover
Dictionary

Industry Guidelines Review Several published guidelines were reviewed to identify common industry layout guidance and to help validate some of the guidance provided in these guidelines. The industry layout guidelines surveyed include:

GNOME HIG
Windows Design Guidelines
Google Design Guidelines
Android Design Guidelines
OS X HIG
iOS HIG

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 * When starting design on a new application, it may not be clear what the command structure should be. Start with a simple command structure. As the design develops, consider a more complex command pattern only if it’s necessary.
 * The n-deep navigation patterns may  also be used for the 2-deep and 3-deep patterns.
+===Methodology===
+'''Applications Survey'''
+A survey of a broad range of actual desktop applications was conducted. The survey activity included identifying the layout characteristics and category of each application. The categories of the applications surveyed are captured below.
+* Video player
+* Audio/Music player
+* Image browser
+* Image editor
+* Web browser
+* File browser
+* Settings
+* Text editor
+* IDE
+* Document editor
+* Document viewer
+* Games
+* Email
+* Address book
+* Chat client
+* Calendar
+* Video conference
+* Audio/Video editing
+* Terminal
+* Calculator
+* Clock
+* System Monitor
+* Archiver
+* Mapping/Directions
+* Software installer/remover
+* Dictionary
+'''Industry Guidelines Review'''
+Several published guidelines were reviewed to identify common industry layout guidance and to help validate some of the guidance provided in these guidelines. The industry layout guidelines surveyed include:
+* GNOME HIG
+* Windows Design Guidelines
+* Google Design Guidelines
+* Android Design Guidelines
+* OS X HIG
+* iOS HIG