Design Principles

Associated project: Folio Forge

A deeper dive into the design principles derived from the latest aggregation of user research.

June 29, 2021

Afford High-Leverage Customization

Allow the maximum amount of control and customization for the minimum amount of work.

The optional Template Selection Dialog helps the notebook maker quickly articulate the desired output of the project.

Notebook Dialog allows the notebook maker to select the notebook form factor that most suits their needs, thereby setting several parameters simultaneously.

Visualize the Result

Always give visibility to the notebook maker’s effect on their creation.

The design should help visualize the consequence of the user's selections to help them maintain the vision of the result. In addition, the design should give the user immediate feedback after she makes a choice, such as when selecting a page orientation or the color of the print pattern.

The main screen provides a replica of the notebook, allowing them to preview the effects of their settings at all times.

Print preview helps reduce nasty surprises upon printing.

Tailor the Experience to the Maker’s Circumstances

Maximize the salience of the information shown on the screen to the notebook maker’s situation.

Instructions should always support the maker’s specific customization.

The degree of usable customizability is one of the fundamental value propositions of this app for people who are not satisfied with off-the-shelf products.

One implication of this level of customization is that we’ll need to deliver customized instructions depending on their browser and printer capabilities.

Folio Forge tailors print instructions to the notebook maker's customizations. Makers can even print out these instructions separately to serve as a more convenient reference.

Guide the Maker Through Decisions

Illustrate and visualize the options available to makers.

Don’t merely expose options for them to select, without empowering them to make an informed decision. This helps a notebook maker make informed decisions rather than being left confused.

Flyleaf is among many of the settings behind an unfamiliar term. The dialog helps visualize what the choices mean.

New binding options help dialog arrange the binding options from simple to complex and point to tutorials to find more information.