Rules to Better Interfaces (General Usability Practices)

• Do you know the importance of testing your interface?
• Do you test high-risk features with real users before launch?
• Do you realize that a good interface should not require instructions?
• Do you make users intuitively know how to use something?
• Do you always try to reduce complexity?
• Do you avoid unnecessary labels?
• Dates – Do you provide the date and time of change as a tooltip?
• Do you use icons/emojis to enforce the text meaning?
• Do you add a spot of color for emphasis?
• Do you understand the importance of language in your UI?
• Numbers - Do you use separators to improve numbers' readability?
• Do you know how to use storyboards?
• Do you consider optical alignment?
• Column Data - Do you make matrix columns as simple as possible?
• Column Data - Do you do alphanumeric down instead of across?
• Column Data - Do you know when to use columns or text?
• Do you make the homepage as a portal?
• Authentication - Do you make the logged in state clear?
• Do you strike-through completed items?
• Do you provide options for sharing?
• Do you have a "search box" to make your data easy to find?
• Do you know how to use "gamification"?
• Do you encourage experimentation?
• Do you avoid “OK” buttons and use the specific action as labels instead?
• Do you have a "last taken" option?
• Do you have a "request access" button in pages that require permission?
• Do you have a clean “no match found” screen?
• Do you highlight the search term?
• Do you know the right way to embed a YouTube video?
• Do you know to provide a "Save and Close" option?
• Do you make your cancel button less obvious?
• Do you clearly show what is inactive/disabled?