Non designer would like application design help
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Hi All -
First, I am not a designer. It's really hard for me to come up with a design for my applications. I am not sure if I should use tiles (like windows 8 / 10) or Ribbon Bars or Metro Forms or anything for that matters.
How do people come up with really good designs for the programs?
I do not want my program to look cheesy or generic but professional.
I have looked at different software designs on google but don't see what I can use.
Thanks everyone
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Hi All -
First, I am not a designer. It's really hard for me to come up with a design for my applications. I am not sure if I should use tiles (like windows 8 / 10) or Ribbon Bars or Metro Forms or anything for that matters.
How do people come up with really good designs for the programs?
I do not want my program to look cheesy or generic but professional.
I have looked at different software designs on google but don't see what I can use.
Thanks everyone
The main thing is: 1. Focus on the main point(s) of your application. Now for graphic design there are some things that help user's minds take in your information easily and quickly and have a better experience. Those things boil down to CRAP* 1. Contrast 2. Repitition 3. Alignment 4. Proximity So, think about what you want the user to focus on in your app and then use CRAP as you sketch a drawing out on paper. Finally, turn that into your app. *CRAP comes from the super fantastic and easy to read book: The Non-Designer's Design Book (4th Edition): Robin Williams: 9780133966152: Amazon.com: Books[^]
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The main thing is: 1. Focus on the main point(s) of your application. Now for graphic design there are some things that help user's minds take in your information easily and quickly and have a better experience. Those things boil down to CRAP* 1. Contrast 2. Repitition 3. Alignment 4. Proximity So, think about what you want the user to focus on in your app and then use CRAP as you sketch a drawing out on paper. Finally, turn that into your app. *CRAP comes from the super fantastic and easy to read book: The Non-Designer's Design Book (4th Edition): Robin Williams: 9780133966152: Amazon.com: Books[^]
Thank you greatly for the reply. To be honest, I think I already have CRAP for design. :) I will look into the book you mentioned. Basically, my application is content management. It's specific to a certain type of industry and they will be putting in people (in a database)and things that are associated with that person. I have looked at other programs for this and they look generic and come as stock control color winforms. For anyone that thinks they can code is up for a surprise when you want it to look professional and you don't know how to have your software look and feel.
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Thank you greatly for the reply. To be honest, I think I already have CRAP for design. :) I will look into the book you mentioned. Basically, my application is content management. It's specific to a certain type of industry and they will be putting in people (in a database)and things that are associated with that person. I have looked at other programs for this and they look generic and come as stock control color winforms. For anyone that thinks they can code is up for a surprise when you want it to look professional and you don't know how to have your software look and feel.
daveofgv wrote:
anyone that thinks they can code is up for a surprise when you want it to look professional
Agree 100%. The difference between a app which is ok and really great is that the great app 1. does what you want and 2. you can find the stuff that it does.