The "what is a good GUI" thread

[sfd]

A GUI or a Graphical User Interface is, as the name suggest, a working tool. It is, or should be, designed as such. Needless to say perhaps. But sometimes forgotten when the GUI design becomes a matter of art rather then about usability.

Although we want our tools to look good we certainly don't want the artistic design to overshadow the tools purpose and functionality.

A pilot landing an aircraft needs to know if the wheels are out and locked. That information is provided on a display in the cockpit. Everybody understands the importance of the readability of that display. It would be fatal if the designers where way more focused on look and fashion rather then on readability.

While usability and readability in cockpit design is of a very high priority. It's far from the case when it comes to audio software design.

It's a common misunderstanding that most of those having issues with Graphical User Interfaces are visually impaired. It's of course true that those are the ones most vulnerable for bad GUI design. However far more people have issues with various aspects of a GUI. Such as certain color combinations. A white label on a yellow background, for instance, might be a problem for far more users then those who are visually impaired.

Fonts and font size is an issue for the many having myopia.

The purpose of this text is not to argue for a certain taste. A userfriendly, readable and highly viewable GUI doesn't have to compromise with taste. As a matter of fact - the more options provided to the user to customize the GUI to suit his or her own needs and taste the better it is for everyone.