Adequate Usability for Simplifying Complex User Interfaces while Maintaining Functionality

Abstract: Complex interfaces can be subject to inferior usability, encompassing difficulties- to learn and handle them as well as deficient recovery from erroneous usage. This thesis seeks to establish potential measures employable to reduce the complexity of an interface, without negatively impacting functionality. Adequate usability is furthermore the highlighted stance from which to pursue potential solutions. Related research presented applicable knowledge in terms of clarifying usability aspects to consider when analyzing as well as designing a complex interface. Previously employed evaluation methodologies for interfaces with successful outcomes were additionally reviewed. Evaluation strategies for relevant surveys, prototypes and tests were consequently established. Succeeding literature studies, the design process of proposing an interface assembly was separated into three core phases. Initially, an interface subject to appropriate complexity was procured and investigated. The investigation resulted in an interactable prototype suitable for evaluation. Evaluation results from the prototype furthermore emitted the basis from which an actual interface implementation was developed. The accumulated results from each design phase in conjunction with acquired design knowledge, ultimately formed a set of proposed design guidelines about element distinguishment, designing for intuition and flattening of nested layers. The conducted design phases were concluded to incrementally have simplified a complex interface and substantially heightened usability. The constraint of maintaining functionality while reducing complexity, was exceeded by instead heightening functionality. Established and employed design guidelines, were concluded to correlate with the proven increase in usability heuristics and performance. However, which guidelines having a more drastic impact than others were inconclusive and subsequently proposed for future work to analyze further in order to potentially prioritize design considerations.