User Interface: The Key Ingredient To Successful Ergonomic Design

By Author: Bryan Dressler
Total Articles: 2
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A key element to any ergonomically designed product is a functional and easy to use user interface. User interfaces encompass any and all controls between the user and the technology itself. Obviously, the design and functionality of the product is useful because that is why the customer is purchasing the product; but, many designers leave out the ability for the customer to actually use the product with ease. Outlined below are six steps that can help your business create well designed user interfaces for any product.

Step One: Standards - Any given set of product controls must try to follow the established standards for the particular piece of equipment. Adding a unique flair to a product is able to work on rare occasions but as a general rule, when it comes to basic functionality it’s best to stick with what people already know.

Step Two: Visual/Tactile Design – One of the first questions you need to ask when designing an ergonomic user interface is, do I want to use physical controls or digital controls? Once that has been established, the designer must consider how the mind would organize the control content; ...
... including color, size and shapes of the controls.

Step Three: Button Ergonomics - Whatever is implemented to enact a response from the device or system must be discernable from each other by spacing, function zones, etc. Buttons as well as levers or knobs must be comfortable to the touch and the reach distances between controls should be considered as well. If the product uses digital controls the interface must employ intuitive steps.

Step Four: Logic – Organization and logic is the key element to ‘easy to use’ interfaces. A great tip is to put sequential operations closer together and less used functions further apart. This is an easy design strategy that goes a long way with consumers.

Step Five: Psychology - The interface must be easy to use when the intended user is under stress or is doing a rapid series of tasks. Try to put yourself into the shoes of someone in a variety of circumstances from stressed, to lazy, etc. Understanding how the use of the product changes depending on mood or mindset goes a long way in developing a truly ergonomic product.

Step Six: User Focus Groups - The interface design must undergo rigorous scrutiny from a team of potential users before the prototype and field test stages. Receiving feedback from future customers is always the best way to work out any problems in design before spending tons of money that could have been profit.

User interfaces are arguably what makes or breaks a product in terms of success. For example, a poorly designed user interface can pose huge problems for someone in the airline industry when they are not able to easily operate an aircraft due to problems with the user interface. On the other hand, well designed user interface is what’s given Apple huge success with the iPhone. Thinking about how an ergonomically designed product is going to be controlled by the user is a key strategy in creating product that is sure to have success.

Author Bio:

Dressler’s past work as an Ergonomic Designer has included projects with Boeing, DuPont, Noel Mayo Assoc., and Britax Health Tecna. His specialties include; conceptualization, drafting, rendering, technical consulting, safety coordination, and more. For more information about Bryan Dressler and how he is using SolidWorks software to help clients meet their Ergonomic Design needs visit http://ergonomicdesigner.com/ or call 206-855-9638.