The Language
of Interaction
Bill DeRouchey
Ziba Design

What can we learn from the objects…

that surround us every day?

What insight can they provide?

People are surrounded by technology,

products that we design and make…

that they have to learn how to use.

How do people figure it all out?

People learn from past experiences.

Interfaces inherit
meaning from
other interfaces.

They unconsciously look for language.

We need to see what people see.

We need to seek inspiration.

Inspiration from what we carry around.

Inspiration from common interactions.

Inspiration from what surrounds us.

Inspiration from what guides us.

Inspiration from what amuses us.

Inspiration from what intimidates us.

Inspiration from hacking it up.

Inspiration from mixing it up.

Inspiration from seeing the language.

We create and curate this language…

but language evolves and spreads.

Languages
always evolve.

Power icon
01
Symbols start with one meaning…

then evolve and extend that meaning.

Photo: Livia Labate
And migrate across domains.

Meaning translates across products…

to become a true icon.

Or meaning can evolve…

into which team possesses the arrow.

Meaning can survive a long time.

For example: Why green and red?

Bad, negative. Good, positive.

Start, on. Stop, off.

???
Why do we use red and green?

They are inherited from traffic signals…

Photo of railroad traffic signal
which inherited from railroad signals…

We need to decode
communication.

© Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics

The language
of interaction.

Elements Relationships Principles
Words Zoning Clarity
Icons Layout Perspective
Colors Isolation Purpose
Shapes Priority Delight
Sounds Proximity Surprise
Motion Repetition
Gesture Alignment
Size Sequence
Contour
The language of interaction.

Elements.

Words. Labels are everywhere.

Words. Instructing new users.

Photo: Darwin Bell
Words. Beneficial redundancy.

Words. Command or label?

Words. Simple or confusing?
…

Words. Redefining leads to confusion.

Words. Clean and simple.

Words. Inviting. Add a trip?

Colors.

Shapes. Which is a “button”?

Shapes. Physical shape has meaning.

Shapes. Physical shape has meaning.

Shapes. “Look at me, I’m a button!”

Shapes. Rounded rectangles evolve.

Shapes. Underline = “I am a button.”

Shapes. We don’t need shapes.

Shapes. The whole side is a button.

Shapes. Or the button disappears.

Shapes. What’s interactable anymore?

Gesture. First public exposure?

Gesture. Cooties lead to gestures.

Gesture. Tapping into natural motions.

Relationships.

Zoning. Families of controls/content.

Zoning. An example: Amazon.

Tempt
Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Tempt
Tempt
Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Browse
Tempt
Tempt
Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Browse
Tempt
Tempt Re-Tempt
Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Browse
Promote
Tempt
Tempt Follow up
Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Tempt
Manage
Browse
Promote
Tempt
Tempt Follow up
Zoning. Dividing up the page.

Priority. There is a focus.

Priority. Where is the importance?

Priority. Where is the focus?

Priority. Color used to create focus…

…but multiple focuses is not focus.

Priority. Distinguish the likely option.

Priority. Promote the likely option.

Priority. Create a hero.

Principles.

Clarity. Make sense or confusion?

Clarity. Sacrifice meaning for… rad?

Clarity. Anticipate the question.

Clarity. Meaning from a distance.

Clarity. Big fat letters.

Clarity. Action = results.

Perspective. Product or system?

Perspective. Customized for who?

Perspective. Is that really necessary?

Perspective. Is that really necessary?

Perspective. Is that really necessary?

!
Surprise. Design for delight.

Surprise. Anticipate frustration.

Surprise. Anticipate frustration.

More at
www. push click touch .com
“bill_derouchey@ziba.com
“billder” on most social networks