Design/Archive/Wikimedia User Interface/Principles
Extensible & Flexible
[edit]- Understandable design details;
- Minimal design details as in both quantity and style;
- As little details as possible with usability as a priority;
- Able to extend the library without a design team;
- Able to take apart components to make new ones without a design team;
- Able to accommodate future changes.
Timeless & Functional
[edit]- Components and their design details are rooted in users’ use cases;
- Avoid unnecessary details - every detail serves as a function, should be able to articulate to our users;
- Simple, usable, and functional shapes, animations, colors, etc..
Neutral
[edit]- Wikimedia projects, especially Wikipedia, is a neutral source of information.
- Our community is diverse. A neutral interface invite participation as opposed to intimidate.
- Avoid sharp corners and use rounded corners carefully. We want to appear trustworthy and neutral as opposed to childish or robotic.
Keeping in mind of...
[edit]- Some languages tend to have longer average sentences, avoid limited space allotment for important information. Allow an interface to accommodate to longer average sentences;
- Different perceptions of iconography and colors across cultures;
- Interface on mobile.
Keeping in mind of contributors’...
[edit]- Contribution time;
- Design knowledge limitations;
- Design software knowledge limitations;
- Need to understand why design decisions are made.