ABSTRACT
There is a large gap between a set of requirements and a finished user interface, a gap too large to be crossed in a single leap. This gap is most easily traversed by using various sets of guidelines, based on patterns of human perception, cognition, and activity, to transform background information first into an essential model, then into a user’s model, and finally into a user interface design. Scenarios form the primary thread in this process, keeping the designer focused on the user’s activities. Rough sketches are used throughout this process, but sketches cannot represent the dynamic nature of the interface in a comprehensive manner. The designer must build interactive visual prototypes to better understand the actual interactions, test the design before it is coded, and communicate the finished design to developers and customers.
