2. Visual Organization: Gestalt Principles
The right column of the blog has the Gestalt Principles defined under
Key Sources and Concepts
– C.Chen Information Visualization
– Definition example from Spokane Falls Community
Proximity Common Region Connectedness
Similarity
Size Shape Shade Color
3. Elements on a Grid System
Placing elements on a grid system will help the user
– Group Information
– Align Elements and relax eye flow
Elements on a Grid Elements not on a Grid
4. Quick Tips: Eye flow
Which shapes do you see first? Usually the user will see
• Large to Small
• Irregular to regular
• Dark to light shade
5. Quick Tips: Eye flow
Users usually look first at the center column
6. Quick Tips: Usability-Button
• Does a button express and function as a button?
• Does the user know if they select the button another action will
perform a function?
• If those questions are true, the button has affordance.
Common buttons for Videos:
* Notice the grouping and the application of the Gestalt Principles.
7. Quick Tips: Usability-Text Alignment
• Accessible text alignment: know your audience – how do they read?
– left alignment creates a visual line instead of a jagged edge as in
right justified text and does not interrupted eye flow.
– avoid centering main the information.
– Try to keep the text length under 100 to 150 words per line
– Consistency of fonts and sizes per grouping; example, headers
the same size.
Left Alignment Center & Right Justified Alignments
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8. Quick Tips: Usability-Color
• Chromostereopsis is a visual vibration effect when the eye tries to
adjust or accommodate extreme color spectrums; red and blues are
side by side. This is very difficult for a user to maintain focus.
Example Example
• Keep the color simple, non-competing and consider designing within
color blindness parameters.
Example Blue
10. No White Space for the User
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Without white space it can confuse a user: Where is the focus?
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11. Please comment about your experiences on instructional technology or design
at http://inst-designonline.blogspot.com/