Author: Zen and the Art of Computer Programming
1 Introduction
UI (User Interface) design refers to the interface design process used to convey product information and functions, and interact with users. Since the UI has a huge impact on the user experience, a well-designed UI can help a product stand out from the competition in the market and be recognized by users. This article will start from the basic principles of UI design, explain the principles, ideas and patterns, and give actual cases as materials for in-depth study.
UI design is not an isolated discipline, it integrates knowledge and skills from many fields. This article will cover a wide range of content, including information structure, visual language, interactivity, motion effects, tactile feedback, simulated human-computer interaction, etc. It will also provide a UI design process based on tools such as Figma and Sketch.
2. Related concepts and terminology
First of all, in order to better understand UI design, we need to understand some related basic concepts and terms.
2.1 Interaction
2.1.1 Definition
Interaction refers to the ways, means and means by which a user communicates with a system, controls or inputs information. Interaction is viewed from three levels: hardware layer, software layer, and application layer. When we interact with a system, there are generally two approaches - language-based and action-based.
2.1.2 Difference between hardware layer and software layer
The hardware layer refers to the bottom layer of the computer, such as keyboard and mouse, screen, printer, etc.; the software layer refers to the application programs running on the computer, such as web browsers, word processors, financial software, etc. Through the computer's hardware and software layers, users interact with the computer.
2.1.3 Relationship between user and UI
The user is the interface between the UI designer and the final consumer. Users have different occupation types, ages, living habits, personal preferences and abilities, and these factors may affect the effect of UI design.