design

Microsoft On Its Way To Deliver Future UI Using Metro Design

March 25, 2011 | By Pradeep

Recently Windows Phone 7 Design team has been sharing its design thoughts on Metro Design to help developers build beautiful yet effective UI for their applications. Metro Design is not a simple UI design for Windows Phone 7 applications, its going to be the future UI Design across Microsoft’s products and services. If you haven’t seen Microsoft’s Future Vision video still, look at it below. Did you notice the UI across all of those devices and screens? This is what exactly Microsoft is trying to deliver on its Metro Design. You can find many of them similar to what we are enjoying with our Windows Phone 7 devices. The simple, chrome less, typographical looks make the UI clear and presents the information straightforward to the user. I’m excited about the future UI we are going to play with. What about you?

I found an excellent blog focussing on UI, especially with some great Metro UI related stuff. Head over here when you have some spare time.

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Windows Phone Design Tips with Corrina

January 21, 2011 | By rush24

The Metro UI design principles differentiate WP7 from the other icon based smartphone OSes out there. Unfortunately, a good portion of developers in the Windows Phone marketplace seem to ignore, or loosely follow the guidelines leading to some very ugly looking applications. In order to help developers design better look apps, Channel 9’s Silverlight TV show is launching a miniseries to correct this problem. They say it will be a monthly series, but I hope it becomes more frequent than that. A weekly show would be ideal in my opinion because of the vast amount of areas that need to be addressed. From the website

New Windows Phone 7 applications are being uploaded to the marketplace all the time. But is your application standing out? This week, John and Corrina Black kick off a new Silverlight TV mini series called "Windows Phone 7 Design Tips with Corrina" to highlight ways you can improve the design of your application. Each week, Corrina will focus on some issues and show both how to work through them and how to improve the application’s design. In this first episode, Corrina discusses the idea of the mini series and gives some insight into five of the design tips she unveils, including:

Designing a compelling application tile

Startup image design

How to avoid banding with gradients

Startup / Splash / Loading screen and avoiding navigation backstack issues

Tips when using progress bars

I hope that app developers out there will tune in and incorporate some of these useful suggestions into their products.

via channel9

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Cocktail Flow: A shining example of good app design in WP7

December 8, 2010 | By rush24

Cocktail flow has to be one of, if not, the best designed Windows Phone 7 app so far. We have talked about how too many apps in the market place lack any semblance of thought when it comes to aesthetics so it is nice to find one that doesn’t. Not only is this app visually pleasing, the functions are well laid out to provide an overall delightful experience. I think a lot of developers, especially the ones who may be lacking in the graphics design experience should look at this app as a model for their own products.

We had covered this app before when the developer provided a teaser video but now 1800pocketpc has a full review of the app that you can check out here. I just wanted to highlight the design aspect of the app as an example for others to emulate but I would also encourage you to buy the app if it fits your needs. One more picture after the break

Continue reading →

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Microsoft hiring psychologists, graphics designers to create new Windows Phone features

November 9, 2010 | By Surur

artist We know one of the strong features of Windows Phone 7 is its design-led interface. It seems Microsoft is not sitting on its laurels however when it comes to adding new features to the operating system.

In a series of job posts they asked for prospective Design Program Managers, Visual Designers, User Experience Designers and User Experience Researchers to apply for a job in their Mobile Experience Team.

The designers will be tasked with “extending and evolving the functionality of Windows Phone” and provide “new ways to connect with our consumers”, and help the team “evolve the look and feel of the Windows Phones interface.”

Its certainly reassuring to know they will not just leave it up to the coders to paste new functionality (like a task switcher for example) into the OS, but actually engage in thoughtful design and research to maintain a cohesive and attractive platform. Hopefully however all this research and development will not delay the introduction of much-requested new features which the OS needs to becoming increasingly competitive.

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Stuck in the sea of sameness

October 5, 2010 | By rush24

The ease of developing apps for WP7 using Visual Studio 2010 and Expression Blend 4 together with an abundance of training materials is set to propel the new OS to bonanza of apps in the marketplace. The downside to this results in developers rushing to make apps but neglecting the important work of actually making the overall UI look good like Roger Peters and Jose Fajardo have noticed. I think many of them(developers) are stuck in the mentality of faux 3D effect and rounded corners rather than fully embracing the “authentically digital” flat 2D elements that the Metro UI guidelines encourage. I hope in time to see more apps like the “my commute” concept from ergonomidesign below as more developers realize that function is not the only part of an app that matters.

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Developing for Windows Phone 7 just got a whole lot easier!

September 25, 2010 | By rush24

As a developer for Windows Phone 7, Microsoft provides great design guidelines for building your applications. Even with that, it is often difficult to translate the guidelines into actual consistent code. The team at expression blend saw the need and came up with an excellent solution. From the Inside Windows Phone show (Their video has better audio/video sync)

The design templates are XAML-based templates for building Windows Phone Applications. These templates make it possible for you to copy paste XAML to easily create common Windows Phone UI layouts, and since the templates follow the Windows, you get a “metro” experience with zero effort.

You can download the XAML here but it is not available at the moment. I hope in time they add more controls like mapping and such in the future. I think the resource will be great for building great looking apps that match the overall interface because the developers will have more time with working on the content and and design instead of worrying about often used controls.

Thanks to @jaimerodriguez Via @keyboardP

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Android Gets A Bit Of WP7 Envy

September 19, 2010 | By WenWP

While there is no question that Google and Apple are on their toes about WP7 and what its outcome will be, and now it even seems some users want a piece of the new world. Over at XDA, a member has developed a new guide to get you the design above while still keeping good old Android. The design is taken a bit from both WP7 and even the Kin’s and I quite frankly love it. If I was not so lazy I would follow those steps and get this going on this Droid X I have next to me but gush darn it being a Minnesotan, I don’t feel like it.

This goes to show that while some might say the design and concept is stupid, a lot of others are trying to simulate the experience on the currently available hardware and software.

If you are an Android users (which I know some of you are) and want to try your luck, go to the thread in follow the steps.

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New Windows Phone 7 Metro Theme For WM

September 7, 2010 | By WenWP

While Windows Phone 7 is just a month away (or more depending on your location) development for WM replica designs have yet to stop. This new theme is designed on the Wad2 structure and was made available by pecco, who lives happily in the Windows Mobile theme development forum over at XDA. This theme is made for those that want to have the look of WP7 just before the get the real deal. It is free but sadly no body except WQVGA device owners can have it, and last I check… That was the least popular screen resolution.

I cannot say I would use this on my device. To be honest I really do not like the whole Metro concept being on WM phones… It is frankly stupid to me. I mean Metro is not that attractive to begin with and the only reason why it works with WP7 is it has those great hubs behind it and that gives it all the grounds to look like what it does (that and some artistic centering concept).

If you feel another way and love have Metro on your Wad2 based homescreen, then head over to XDA and give it a go on either the Samsung Omnia or LG Incite.

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Some Old SPB Theme But Looks GREAT

May 21, 2010 | By WenWP

How many of you run SPB Mobile Shell? Now how would like the Touch Flow look for it? Well I do. Today while looking for a new UI due to Sense being very slow on my HD2, I came across this old good looking theme at XDA. The theme while old, is one of the best looking theme you can have for SPB (other than the Windows Phone 7 theme by MSKip).

The theme is pretty simple. It changes the look of the bottom controls, the design and background, while adding some Sense like icons/widgets. This is all added with a simple CAB installation, and boom, your device has a sleek, fresh as life look.

If you want to join me in the “Good looking Home Screen” group then download this, install and maybe comment your screen shot or something.

Current Group limits: Infinity

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ElCondor’s HTC Mondrian Concept

May 19, 2010 | By WenWP

While people go gaga over the newly leaked Mondrian image, ElCondor has worked to produce an image from scratch for what this device should look like. The image above was created earlier today by my friend EC, who took all the current designs of the leaked Windows Phone 7 designs (LG, HTC) and put them together to form this image of what the device should look like.

The image looks pretty cool, from what I see that screen looks bigger than the HD2. It actually has 3 instead of 5 buttons, which WP7 needs, but the HTC HD2 does not have. It has a slim body, which is always a plus, and all in what seems to be a metal wrap device.

If I was to design the back of this device, I would love certain things to be included. The most important thing I would like to see in the back is maybe an all blue coloring (both back, and speaker grill like HTC Incredible), a 8MP 720p camera, a kick stand would be stupid, and lastly a nice looking logo that glows when on or when the device has a notification. Those are the features I would like for EC to add to his concept, and maybe HTC will pick some ideas out of that (glowing back would be the Sh**).

What do you think of the concept? What do you think of my ideas? Would you like a Glowing back (maybe send that into HTC)? comment below.

Concept image via:XDA

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Windows Phone 7 design – the use of teases and transitions

February 28, 2010 | By Surur

Many have asked what’s up with the poorly fitting text on the many screens of the Windows phone 7 OS, with words and even screens often spilling over from one screen to the next, and space seemingly being wasted.

LukeW, Chief Design Architect at Yahoo! Inc, explains what is really going on from a product design point of view.

He notes the Windows Phone 7 Series uses a Natural User Interface (NUI) paradigm that turns actual content into interface controls, and that the user interface needs to signal what elements are interactive and encourage exploration.

This is often achieved through “teasing”, and in WP7 on the home screen this is achieved with a slight animation that hints at the content below the home screen image.

The Windows Phone also makes use of truncation throughout the user interface, with each of the main application screens include a tease of the content on the next screen over. This hint of additional content gives people a reason to move to the next screen and explore.

Transitions also help communicate interactions, with animation reinforcing that UI elements are active and provide feedback when an action has been successfully completed.

Read Luke’s full and detailed blog post here.

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Xda brings new front page design?

February 16, 2010 | By WenWP

XDA, is one of the most popular forums in the world and they have recently been experiencing some changes which have led them to this new front page. The site that is one of the best for all Windows Mobile and more recently Android content has undergone some very impressive design changes which as you can see in the image brings the news to you in a more attractive method.

The design change is made for the front page only, so no forum changes so far. The front page is most likely one of the least visited page in the whole site and with this new design that might all change.

“Welcome to the XDA-Developers new portal beta! This is an early glimpse at what we have been working on to help bring forward the best content that XDA has to offer. Please excuse any bugs as we work to officially launch by 26 February. Contact us if you notice any problems, or read about some of our future plans for this portal.”

Many people do not know what the use of the front page is, but since I work for them I shall explain it. The front page is a place where all new/updated interesting content on XDA is posted. This content ranges from application, themes, projects, leaks and more. The news writers(including me(Wen(WM)) goes hunting through the huge forum for something new and posts them like we also do here at WMPoweruser. With this new page there is most likely going to be a huge flood of readers going to get the latest on XDA content, and they do not have to worry about an unattractive destination.

Get a view of this here

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Windows Phone 7 Design philosophy explained

February 15, 2010 | By Surur

In this video, Albert Shum, director of Mobile Experience Design at Microsoft, has taken some time to explain the design inspiration for Windows® Phone 7 Series.

Andy Lees, Senior Vice President of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business, expanded on the work:

“We made a very big decision to re-examine everything, because the industries surrounding mobile are at an inflection point,” Lees says. “The technological advances over the past few years enable us to do bold new things we’ve never done before. But the most important thing is that we are bringing it all together with an almost maniacal focus on the consumer.”

“With all of that, we couldn’t be announcing more change than what we’re doing,” Lees says. “The reason we took such care with this release is we’re setting up for the long term. We’re excited about Windows Phone 7 Series, but we’re even more excited about the long-term vision and what that’s going to mean to consumers.”

Read more about the Windows Phone 7 design philosophy here.

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