6.893 User Interface Design & Implementation
Fall 2003
PS1: User Interface Hall of Fame and Shame
Due Wednesday, September 10, 2003, in class
Help populate the UI Hall of Fame and Shame! Find 2 examples of
good user interface design, and 2 examples of bad user interface design.
Your examples should be specific.
If you want to praise or criticize a large application, focus on a
particular feature or aspect of it that makes your case. Avoid
fuzzy words like intuitive and user-friendly. Find concrete
reasons for your judgement.
You aren't limited to desktop software. Web sites offer many
great candidates for fame and shame. You can also consider
non-computer interfaces: consumer appliances, car dashboards, building
entrances, shower controls, etc.
Your handin should include 2 good examples and 2 bad examples.
For each example:
- describe the purpose of the overall interface
- describe the particular aspect you find good or bad
- explain why it's good or bad
- if bad, speculate why it might have been designed that way
- illustrate with screenshots or photographs wherever possible
Hand in your problem set as hardcopy on Wednesday.