Specifications

12 | USER INTERFACE
DESIGN GUIDE
other visual elements. The outcome of this ordering affects all of the other composition and organization principles. It also
determines which information a user sees first and what a user is encouraged to do first. To further consider this principle,
answer these questions regarding your application:
• Whichinformationismostimportanttotheuser?
• Whataretheuser’sprioritieswhenthetouchpanelisstarted?
• Whatdoestheuserwantorneedtodorst,second,third,andsoon?
• Willtheorderofinformationsupportorhampertheuser’sprogressionthroughtheinterface?
• Whatshouldtheuserseeonthescreenrst,second,third,andsoon?
Whenever possible, the visual display should match the user’s priorities, but it can also be shaped by other elements you
want to emphasize.
Focus and Emphasis
The related principles of focus and emphasis guide you in the placement of priority items. Once you identify the central idea,
you can determine the focus, or focal point, for activity. You determine the emphasis by choosing the prominent element
and isolating it from others, or by making it stand out in other ways. Culture and interface design decisions largely determine
where the user looks first for information. People in western cultures, for example, look at the upper left corner of the screen
or window for the most important information. It makes sense to put a top-priority item there, giving it emphasis.
Structure and Balance
Structure and balance are two of the most important visual design principles. Without an underlying structure and a
balance of visual elements, there is a lack of order and meaning that encompasses all other parts of the visual design. More
importantly, a lack of structure and balance makes it more difficult for the user to clearly understand the interface.
Relationship of Elements
The relationship of elements is important in reinforcing the previous principles. The placement of a visual element can
communicate a specific relationship to other elements. For example, if a button affects the content of a list, there should be