Hiring your next user interface designer

by Karel Thönissen

Who should design the user interface for your next application or website? A programmer? A graphic designer? A master of arts proficient in writing English? The psychologist or specialist in human factors?

Programmers should provide their input from the technical angle. However, user interface design is not their field of expertise. Let programmers design your user interface and you might end up with something that is graphically ugly, uses a language that only bares a resemblance to English, requires the user to twist his mind, but that is a showcase of technological wit. You also need the latest version of your OS, various toolkits and database installed. Unfortunately, nobody is interested in that. The application is used because a job needs to be done. [complete article]