Case Study
User Interface Design for Theta Technologies:

BEFORE (below): In the 1990's I designed brochures, manuals, and did technical writing for Theta Technologies' biofeedback devices. With a new product in development, which would require a software interface, they called me in to help them out of a jam. They had initially contracted with another group and the layout below was the design they received. Theta was rightly horrified by this mishmash of incomprehensible and user-unfriendly design. The original group may have understood sound technology, but they failed to organize steps into a hierarchy or anticipate how a user might react.

AFTER (below): Remarkably, my revised design incorporates the same features and functions as the one shown above. My experience with user interface design, graphic design, and typography led me to approach the problem differently. Before starting any layouts, I did a thorough analysis of the operation and all functions. Which functions needed to be grouped? What steps would the user naturally follow? Which functions needed to be on screen at all times? Once this made sense to me, then it was a natural progression to prepare a hierarchical layout that would also make sense to the user. A considerable effort was also made to maximize legibility. I selected fonts and sizes that were optimal for on-screen viewing and gave ample breathing room between the various modules. On-screen design, whether for software or for the web, is about the organization of information and anticipating user expectations. The design should not intimidate, but invite the user to learn.