Southwest Missouri State University

Computer Science 397 : User Interface Design

8 October 1998
revised 12 November 1998

The number of guidelines was capped at 10 upon order of the instructor, therefore many are general. For web site evaluation, this is fine. For web site design, sets of detailed guidelines and procedures consistent with these general guidelines will have to be developed.

1. Content should be up-to-date and accurate.
2. Site should be browser- and system-independent.
3. No dead links.
4. Uses visible and descriptive-yet-concise links.
5. Pages should be short (1-2 screens) if appropriate. Main page always short.
6. Consistent look and feel (fonts, color, layout, widgets, icons).
7. Contact information for author (hopefully email)
8. Use Graphics, Animation and Sound to enhance content, not detract from it.
9. Accommodate disabilities (textual alternatives, sound as required)
10. Minimize page load time.

These guidelines were developed/selected by the students of CSC 397 Advanced Topics: User Interface Design. They are: John Baldwin, Jeremy Gordon, Scott Gossard, Jeff Hjelm, Jim Hodge, Rick John, Nichole Laney, Ryan Listerman, David Nemeth, Rich O'Dell, Jeff Peck, D'Lynn Robinson, Andrew Smith, and Josh Stuppy. Mediation by Dr. Peter Sanderson!

The Computer Science Department web site was subsequently redesigned and reimplemented in accordance with these guidelines, by the same students. Their instructor documented the development process.

[ CSC 397 | Pete Sanderson | Computer Science | SMSU ]

Peter Sanderson ( pete@csc.smsu.edu )