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= Introduction =
__NOTOC__
= KDE Human Interface Guidelines =


Human interface guidelines (HIG) are software development documents that offer  
The KDE Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) offer application designers and developers a set of recommendations for designing and developing user interfaces. Their aim is to improve the experience for users by making application interfaces more consistent and hence more intuitive and learnable.  
application developers a set of recommendations. Their aim is to improve the  
experience for users by making application interfaces more consistent and  
hence more intuitive and learnable.  


[[/About|Learn more about the philosophy behind the KDE HIG]]
== Getting Started ==
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Presentation/DesignVisionPrinciples|Design Vision and Principles]] - The overall vision and principles that guide the design and development of user interfaces for KDE software.
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Concept|Concept]] -  Creating a project vision, determining the users, and the scenarios of use.
*  [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Organization|Organization]] - Guidelines on how an application’s content and functionality are ordered and categorized.


= Structure =
== Behaviour ==
== Conceptual Model ==
This section contains guidelines for application behaviour.
* Have a clear [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Vision|vision]] what your application will achieve and what not.
* Meet the needs of KDE's [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Persona|personas]] in your application.
* Define a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Scenario|scenario]] where persona(s) interact with your application.
* Specify requirements considering [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Destinata|destinata]] and [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Animata|animata]] of users.


== Task Flow ==
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ViewingAndNavigation|Viewing and Navigation]] - Guidelines on controls and patterns to use for viewing, navigating and performing actions on application content.
* Users should be able to complete tasks in natural [[Projects/Usability/HIG/WorkFlow|work flow]].
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/EditingAndManipulation|Editing and Manipulation]] - Guidelines on controls and patterns to use for selection and input.
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/UserAssistance|User Assistance]] - Guidelines on tooltips, notifications, messages and help.
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Patterns|Patterns]] - Guidelines on how to use controls in different combinations to accomplish specific behaviors.


== Organizational Model ==
== Presentation ==
* Information architecture, Interface management, Window style, Basic arrangement, Screen design, Design Pattern
Presentation deals with the visual design of the user interface.


* Central configuration
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Layout|Layout]] - Guidelines regarding the placement and ordering of onscreen elements. Includes guidance on layout patterns, alignment, size and spacing.
* Notification mechanism
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Style|Style]] - Guidelines on the use of colour, icon design and the typography to communicate with a consistent visual vocabulary.
* Minimize to tray
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Text|Text]] - Guidelines for the written, language-based elements of the interface. Includes guidelines on wording, capitalization and localization.
* Processing of passwords


= Behaviour =
== Tools and Resources ==
== Viewing and Navigation ==
The following tools and resources are offered to help with following these guidelines.
=== Access functions ===
* Apply a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Menu_Bar|menu bar]] to every standard application.
* Try to omit the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/StatusBar| status bar]] from your application.
* Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ContextMenu|context menu]] for controls with implicit functions.
* Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toolbar|toolbar]] for frequently used functions.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Buttons|push button]] to initiate an action when the user clicks it.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Toggle_Buttons|toogle button]] to indicate a state, preferably in toolbars only.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Command_Link|command link]] to navigate between pages.
* Support keyboard access by [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Accelerators|accelerators]] and [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Keyboard_Shortcuts|shortcuts]].
* Follow the guidelines for [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Dialogs|dialogs]] for secondary windows.


=== Grouping ===
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ControlsList|Controls List]] - A complete listing of all user interface controls and their guidelines in alphabetical order.
* Arrange associated controls by using a labeled [[Projects/Usability/HIG/GroupBox| group box]] or an unlabeled [[Projects/Usability/HIG/GroupBox| frame]].
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/MockupToolkit|Mockup Toolkit]] - Includes UI controls stencils, color swatches and fonts to help create the visual design your application.
* Allow users to resize aligned groups by placing a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Splitter| splitter]] between the groups.
* [[/About|About the HIG]] - Learn more about the philosophy behind the KDE HIG.
* Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TabControl|tabs]] to show related information on separate pages.
* [http://forum.kde.org/viewforum.php?f=285 Visual Design Group forum] - Ask for help and share your design ideas.
* Provide an [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Accordion|accordion]] (aka tool box) for different views to content.


=== Complex views ===
== Quick index for the new mobile-oriented HIG (work in progress) ==
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ListView| list view]] to show some items out of one category.
=== Drawers & FAB ===
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TreeView| tree view]] to show items with a single, natural, hierarchical categorization.
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/GlobalDrawer | Global Drawer]]
* If you really need to create your own widget follow the guidelines for [[Projects/Usability/HIG/CustomControls| custom controls]].
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ContextDrawer | Context Drawer]]
* Double check the guidelines about plotting [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Diagram|diagram/charts]].
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/FloatingActionButton | Floating Action Button]]
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/QuickContentActions | Quick actions on contents]]


== Editing and Manipulation ==
=== Navigation ===
=== Selection ===
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ViewsByColumns | Views-by-columns approach]]
* Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Radio Buttons|radio buttons]] for selection of 1 out of a few items.
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ContentsFilter | Contents filter]]
* Use one or more [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Check_Box|check boxes]] for clear options or to select items out of a small number of options.
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Views-by-tabs | Simpler views by tabs]]
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/DropDown| drop-down]] list for selection of 1 out of a small number of items.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Combo_Box| combo box]] to select 1 out of a small number of items where users should be able to add items.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ListView|list view]] to select 1 singular item out of a potentially big list.
* Apply the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/DualList| dual list pattern]] for several selections out of a large number of (multiple) items.


=== Unconstrained input ===
=== Editing ===
* Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/LineEdit| line edit]] to enter one line of text.
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/RearrangeListItems | Rearrange list's items]]
* Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TextEdit| text edit]] to enter multiple lines of texts.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/TableView| table view]] to arrange data in rows and columns with inline editing feature.


=== Constrained input ===
=== App settings ===
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Spin_Box|spin box]] for numerical input within a range and with fix steps.
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/VBCtoSettings | Views-by-columns approach applied to settings]]
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Slider|slider]] for arbitrary changes within a defined range.
* Apply the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Slider_and_Spin_Box|slider and spin box pattern]] for numeric input with both large changes and precise control.
* Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Date_Time_Pickers|date and time pickers]] for formatted input of datum, time of day, or periods etc.


== User Assistance ==
=== Cross-apps interactions ===
=== User-driven information ===
* [[Projects/Usability/HIG/SharingContents | Sharing contents to an other app]]
* Provide [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Tooltip|tool-tips]] for user driven information.
 
=== System triggered notification ===
* Provide a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/MessageWidget| message panel]] to inform users about non-critical problems.
* Use a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Notifications|notification]] as system-triggered message to inform about events out of the current context.
* Show a [[Projects/Usability/HIG/ProgressIndicator| progress indicator]] for lengthy actions.
 
=== Disruptive messages ===
* Show a modal [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Messages|message dialog]] if the processing has reached an unexpected condition that needs interaction.
 
=== Help system ===
* Support the user by an elaborated interface or per [[Projects/Usability/HIG/HelpSystem|help system]].
 
= Presentation =
== Layout ==
* Place controls carefully with proper [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Placement|size and space]] between.
* Carefully place control according the KDE [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Alignment| alignment]] style.
* Do not use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Color| color]]  as primary method of communication.
* Choose icons from the Oxygen icon set and follow guidelines on [[Projects/Usability/HIG/IconDesign| icon design]].
 
== Style ==
* KDE provides [[Development/Tutorials/Plasma/Theme|full theming]] to users.
 
== Text ==
* Keep [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Wording|wording]] consistent and easy to understand.
* Take care about [[Projects/Usability/HIG/localization| localization]] of your project.
* Do not apply [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Capitalization|capitalization]] except for titles and in case of sentence style.
* Apply standard [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Labels|control labels]] in your app.
* Use [[Projects/Usability/HIG/StaticText|static text]] for main instruction and supplemental information.
 
=Contributing=
 
Didn't find what you were looking for?
 
A guide to the guide can be found at the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/About|about page]].
 
Our Human Interface Guidelines are a work in progress and we need your help. Visit the [[Projects/Usability/HIG/Contributing|Contributing page]] to report problems or get involved.
 
= See also =
* [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Tablet/Index| KDE HIG for Plasma Active]
* [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usability/HIG/Netbook/Index| KDE HIG for Plasma Netbook]
* [http://hcibib.org/sam| Guidelines for Designing User Interface Software (Smith & Mosier, 1986)]
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa511258.aspx| Microsoft Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines]
* [https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/AppleHIGuidelines/Intro/Intro.html| Mac OS X Human Interface Guidelines]
* [https://developer.gnome.org/hig-book/stable/| GNOME Human Interface Guidelines (v2.2.3)]
* [http://elementaryos.org/docs/human-interface-guidelines| elementary OS HIG]
* [http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/index.html| Android User Interface Guidelines]


=== Complete app examples ===
* App store (to be applied to Muon Mobile)
* E-mail client
* Media player


[[Category:Usability]]
[[Category:Usability]]

Revision as of 10:27, 24 November 2015

KDE Human Interface Guidelines

The KDE Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) offer application designers and developers a set of recommendations for designing and developing user interfaces. Their aim is to improve the experience for users by making application interfaces more consistent and hence more intuitive and learnable.

Getting Started

  • Design Vision and Principles - The overall vision and principles that guide the design and development of user interfaces for KDE software.
  • Concept - Creating a project vision, determining the users, and the scenarios of use.
  • Organization - Guidelines on how an application’s content and functionality are ordered and categorized.

Behaviour

This section contains guidelines for application behaviour.

  • Viewing and Navigation - Guidelines on controls and patterns to use for viewing, navigating and performing actions on application content.
  • Editing and Manipulation - Guidelines on controls and patterns to use for selection and input.
  • User Assistance - Guidelines on tooltips, notifications, messages and help.
  • Patterns - Guidelines on how to use controls in different combinations to accomplish specific behaviors.

Presentation

Presentation deals with the visual design of the user interface.

  • Layout - Guidelines regarding the placement and ordering of onscreen elements. Includes guidance on layout patterns, alignment, size and spacing.
  • Style - Guidelines on the use of colour, icon design and the typography to communicate with a consistent visual vocabulary.
  • Text - Guidelines for the written, language-based elements of the interface. Includes guidelines on wording, capitalization and localization.

Tools and Resources

The following tools and resources are offered to help with following these guidelines.

  • Controls List - A complete listing of all user interface controls and their guidelines in alphabetical order.
  • Mockup Toolkit - Includes UI controls stencils, color swatches and fonts to help create the visual design your application.
  • About the HIG - Learn more about the philosophy behind the KDE HIG.
  • Visual Design Group forum - Ask for help and share your design ideas.

Quick index for the new mobile-oriented HIG (work in progress)

Drawers & FAB

Navigation

Editing

App settings

Cross-apps interactions

Complete app examples

  • App store (to be applied to Muon Mobile)
  • E-mail client
  • Media player
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