Visual Interface Design for Windows: Effective User Interfaces for Windows 95, Windows Nt, and Windows 3.1 - Softcover

Howlett, Virginia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471134198 ISBN 13: 9780471134190

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1996

Synopsis

Formerly the Director of Visual Interface Design at Microsoft, Howlett headed the team that designed Windows 3.1, 95 and NT. In this definitive resource she presents the graphic design principles and hands-on software development techniques essential to create visually functional and attractive Windows applications. Features a stunning four-color design with hundreds of illustrations.

About this title

Review

Windows 95 seems destined to dominate the marketplace of personal computer operating systems for awhile, so Win95 interface designers have, to my mind, a moral obligation to provide the most pleasing possible aesthetic experience for their huge audiences.

This is a jewel of a book for interface design tailored to Win95. It points out how to take advantage of the great features of the interface tools -- and how to avoid the siren's call of gratuitous graphics. Its topics range broadly from clear coverage of design aesthetics, human factors, and the psychology of visual perception to issues specific to Win95. The world of desktop computing would be a better place if just one chapter -- "Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them" -- was required reading for all Win95 developers. Highly Recommended.

From the Back Cover

Learn from the leader of the Windows interface design teams

"This book is a resource that everyone working with Windows should have." -- Tony Fernandes, Manager of Human Interface, Netscape Corporation

When it comes to the art and science of great Windows interface design, few people are as knowledgeable as Virginia Howlett. As Director of Visual Interface Design at Microsoft, Virginia Howlett headed the team that designed the visual interfaces for Windows 3.1, Windows NT, and Windows 95. Now, in this illuminating book, she shares everything she knows about designing the most visually functional, usable, and attractive Windows applications possible.

Virginia Howlett draws upon several topics, including design aesthetics, human factors, and the psychology of visual perception. She uses these to develop a set of concrete Windows interface design principles that developers and designers can apply in their everyday work.

Along the way, Howlett supplies you with all the hands-on information and software development techniques you need to put these concepts into practice in your own interface design--and redesign--efforts.

This visually stunning guide practices what it preaches. Its numerous full-color examples of both good and bad interfaces and graphics for the Windows environment are a source of enlightenment and inspiration.

You gain a basic command of critical interface topics, including:
* The Windows interface design process
* Components of a Windows interface, including color, fonts, and icons
* The vital aesthetic parameters built into the Windows interface
* Windows interface design decision making and strategies
* Basic graphic design and visual perception principles and how to apply them

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0471134198
• ISBN 13: 9780471134190
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 230