Good interface design focuses on maximising usability and the user experience. When designing an interface, the focus should be on anticipating what users might need to do or want to do to ensure that the interface has design elements that are easy to access, understand and to use. 

Best practice

The most important thing before designing an interface is to who your intended users are and to understand what they want to do, how much they already know and the skills they are likely to have. Take this into account and consider the following aspects of the interface you’re designing:

• Keep the interface as simple as possible; in fact, it should be almost invisible to the user. Avoid anything that doesn’t need to be there – extra text, for example.
• Follow convention where there is one, and be consistent. It should be obvious how to use the interface to achieve the desired goals.
• Be clear in the terminology on labels and any instructions.
• If there are many controls, group them by function if possible.
• Ensure the most important controls are the most obvious in terms of appearance and placement.
• Make sure that the size and layout of controls aid the use of the interface. Controls that are too small or are placed too close together will be difficult to use.
• Use colour and texture to help direct attention to the right place. Remember that not everyone sees colour in the same way so ensure good contrast between colours, especially for text and its background.
• Use typefaces carefully. Use different sizes and fonts sparingly and ensure text is arranged to make it easy to scan and read.
• Ensure that there is feedback after user actions through changes in appearance or through sound or vibration, for example.