This document provides an overview of week 6 of the ICS3211 course on intelligent interfaces. It discusses visual design for user interfaces, including a recap of case studies, the differences between UX and UI design, best practices in UI design, evolutionary design principles, and designing for inclusive practices. The learning outcomes are also outlined.

1. ICS3211 - Intelligent
Interfaces II
Combining design with technology for effective human-
computer interaction
Week 6
Department of Intelligent Computer Systems,
University of Malta,
2016

2. Visual Design for User
Interfaces
Week 6 overview:
• Recap class Activity - review literature & critique
• UX vs. UI design
• Best Practices in UI design
• Evolutionary characteristics of design
• Designing for inclusive practices

3. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session you should be able to:
• Describe a number of case studies in the design of intelligent
user interfaces;
• Draw inferences about the design of interfaces that take into
account metaphors, mental models, navigation and interaction;
• Describe the differences between UX & UI design;
• List UI design basics and make inferences about evolutionary
design principles;
• Review and make use of different user models for inclusive UIs;

4. Recap - Case studies:
illustrated
• Work in groups
• Choose and review two case studies from the
various literature presented
• Present their methodologies and the use of
intelligence in the design of user interfaces
• Take into account the metaphors, mental models,
navigation and interactions involved in the design of
these case studies

5. UX vs. UI design
• UX design - improving usability, ease of use in the
interaction;
• UI design - complements UX through look & feel,
presentation and interactivity;
• UX designers - concerned with the overall feel of the
product,
• UI designers - concerned about how the product is
laid out;

6. UI Design Basics
Interface Elements:
• Input Controls
• Navigational Components
• Informational Components
• Containers

7. Best Practices
• Keep the interface simple
• Create consistency and use common UI elements
• Be purposeful in page layout
• Strategically use colour and texture
• Use typography to create hierarchy and clarity
• Make sure the system communicates what is happening
• Think about the defaults

8. Evolutionary Characteristics
for Design
• Complexity
• Diversity
• Ubiquity

9. Designing for Inclusive
Practices
• According to WHO by 2025, population aged over 60 > 1.2
billion
• Modelling for user (dis-)ability
• Existing models include:
• GOMS
• KLM
• Cognitive Architectures
• Grammar based Models
• Application-specific Models

10. User Models
• Perception Model
• Cognitive Model
• Motor behaviour

11. User ontology for user profiling

12. –Rick Rashid
“These devices will eventually replace paper
print media. We are reaching a point in the
future where any surface can be an interactive
surface.”