Comparative Study of Aesthetic Theories in Gui Design

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Figure 4 Law of Closure

[pic 11]

Here we observed that more people were attracted to the incomplete

poster. After asking them why did they choose the incomplete poster, they replied that they mentally completed the picture and they preferred color selection over closure. So, we in our research prefer more focus on your color selection and distribution over closure.[pic 12]

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Law of Similarity

Figure 5 Law of similarity

[pic 13][pic 14]

We discovered that putting attributes which either have similar functionality like taskbars or are closely connected by their appearance should be grouped together because it not only makes your webpage look good but also helps the users to identify their desired actions (functionalities) easily.[pic 15]

It was also noticed that only 62% people paid attention to this property. It can be said that this law can be ignored if other properties such as closure and proximity are being followed.

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Law of Continuity

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Continuity in the content of the page is important, as no user will want to search for the bits of information scattered around the page, but also no user wants to be overwhelmed by information.

It was observed that this property was picked up by 61% of people. That is why it is necessary to scrutinize the information on your page and only show the relevant information in user’s perspective in a continuous manner. But a large number of users will still be satisfied if the relevant information is available on the website, even if not in a continuous manner.[pic 17]

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Theory of Proportions

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From our research, we concluded that applying Golden Ratio to your web page is significant, but it depends on the type of information it is applied on. Equally important information should be given equal space, and things like suggestions and supporting pictures can then follow the golden ratio.

We saw that 55% of people picked up on the beauty that dynamic symmetry provides, so a good number of users do not even bother for it. We suggest that this is recommended to apply it to your web page but you can ignore it if you want.

Alignment of information on your web page has proven to be most significant. According to an interview after the surveys one participant said “If the desired information is not visible to the user in the first 3 to 7 seconds then I tend to switch to another site.”

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Theory of Hierarchy

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A term known as “visual hierarchy” refers to the placement of information on an interface, and the attention that bits of it

attract. 81% of people selected option A. When asked why,

they said that it provided them with some guidance as to what to do. Even though option A was not symmetrical, it was better than option B because it attracted the user’s interest. We can say that your information could be scattered on a page, but if font sizes and colors are chosen in a way that they demand attention and guide the user as to where to look, then alignment and symmetry can be put on the sidelines.[pic 20]

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Research Conclusion

The research findings conclude as follows:

Hierarchy and color have been found to be the two most important elements of a good GUI design. Color is what attracts the user and hierarchy provides guidance which is useful when making “calls to action”.

The law of Prägnanz (also known as the law of figure and ground) tells you how to use white spaces in your website wisely, as it directs the attention of the user. If not used correctly it may confuse the user. Also, Law of similarity helps you to find the desired information. These two law should be harmonious as they both help direct the user to its task. Therefore, they have equal significance when it comes to website design.

Your third priority for UI design should be proportionality, as it shows the relevance or the hierarchy of the data displayed and basically the studies show that it is pleasing to the eye. Proximity and continuity also somewhat serve the same purpose, as they both contribute towards the beauty of the visual and the understanding of where to look on the page.

It can clearly be observed that some laws and theories require more attention than the others. Designers should prioritize their focus as it can help to minimize cost and time spent on website designs.

References

[1] Referenced from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology#cite_note-Liddell_1980-2

[2] Shneiderman, Ben. Designing the user interface: strategies for effective human-computer interaction. Pearson Education India, 2010. Fu, Siqi. "User interface design by applying theories of aesthetics." (2012

[3] Fu, Siqi. "User interface design by applying theories of aesthetics." (2012

[4] https://goo.gl/forms/1EjGDj6SbsjEITdZ2

[5] Fernald LD (2008). Psychology: Six perspectives (pp. 12 -15). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.