UI
I've spent the last few working sessions getting my UI in order. I was previously working off of a prototype (non-functioning screen mock-ups), but once I started moving around the (somewhat) working application I knew I needed to change something.
(Just a quick recap, I'm creating a web application that graphic designers would use to display their work to their clients.)
Originally, I was displaying all of the individual "pieces" of a project on one page. I made the viewing area for all the pieces very large. I did this with the intention that a client could view all of the pieces, in a large format, just by scrolling up and down the page.
The problem(s)?
1) I was afraid that a client would not realize that the large images they are looking at are not at the "full" size. Then complain to the designer that they look distorted or fuzzy.
2) The 1 page of "pieces" also made the comment management more complicated than it needed to be. Both in terms of code I needed to write, and the UI.
I've since made the "project" page display all the pieces as a series of small thumbnails. There is no way anyone could confuse (hopefully!) the thumbnail for the full version. (Taking care of concern #1.)
When you click on the thumbnail, you're then taken to a dedicated "piece" page. This way the client will be able to concentrate on dealing with the individual piece, and their comments.
Other changes I've made are:
1) Gave the app a "fluid" layout (grows horizontally), and adjusted the color scheme.
2) Finalized the structure of the menu. (Still needs tweaks, icons, and more logic for varying user types. But where and how it's setup is finally .... final.)
3) Changed/re-organized a bunch of code. (This is my first Rails app. So I'm still trying to figure out how everything should be organized.)
4) Adjusted various other UI things. I spent most of tonight making the commenting feature "tighter" and less cluttered.
I feel good being back in the swing of working on this project. I'm still cranking away, making progress during every work session.
(Just a quick recap, I'm creating a web application that graphic designers would use to display their work to their clients.)
Originally, I was displaying all of the individual "pieces" of a project on one page. I made the viewing area for all the pieces very large. I did this with the intention that a client could view all of the pieces, in a large format, just by scrolling up and down the page.
The problem(s)?
1) I was afraid that a client would not realize that the large images they are looking at are not at the "full" size. Then complain to the designer that they look distorted or fuzzy.
2) The 1 page of "pieces" also made the comment management more complicated than it needed to be. Both in terms of code I needed to write, and the UI.
I've since made the "project" page display all the pieces as a series of small thumbnails. There is no way anyone could confuse (hopefully!) the thumbnail for the full version. (Taking care of concern #1.)
When you click on the thumbnail, you're then taken to a dedicated "piece" page. This way the client will be able to concentrate on dealing with the individual piece, and their comments.
Other changes I've made are:
1) Gave the app a "fluid" layout (grows horizontally), and adjusted the color scheme.
2) Finalized the structure of the menu. (Still needs tweaks, icons, and more logic for varying user types. But where and how it's setup is finally .... final.)
3) Changed/re-organized a bunch of code. (This is my first Rails app. So I'm still trying to figure out how everything should be organized.)
4) Adjusted various other UI things. I spent most of tonight making the commenting feature "tighter" and less cluttered.
I feel good being back in the swing of working on this project. I'm still cranking away, making progress during every work session.
posted by Michael Sica at
11:59 PM
2 Comments:
Hey good to have you back. I thought the aliens may have gotten you :-)
Ha ha, thanks Ian. :)
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