Dr. Dobb's Journal January 1999

User Interface Dos and Don'ts

• Do consider color choices that are compatible for various screen types.
• Do restrict your user interface to a few elements.
• Do provide continuous visual feedback for all user operations where a wait is involved.
• Do use on-screen guides such as labels and graphics to lead users.
• Don't use subtle colors, since you risk indistinguishable color blends on certain devices.
• Don't use drag-and-drop, since it can confuse users, affect performance, and be infeasible for some displays.
• Don't use overlapping windows - if required, use only one modal error window.
• Don't use harsh words in error messages. This will make users panic.

--J.D. and K.Y.

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