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Did you know … #575757 is lightest gray on white contrast for any size text to pass WCAG triple A, #767676 for any size text to pass double A? The meta data below? No way near the 7.1 contrast needed.

http://www.w3.org/TR/2007/WD-WCAG20-TECHS-20070517/#G17

We call it material honesty in industrial design (no simulated wood grain on microwaves). What material honesty rules do your UI graphics use?

Web Material Trends

• Stucco
• Rubberized plastic
• Flat-brushed aluminum

Mobile Material Trends

• Metal grates
• Fine linen paper
• Glass

Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines on the Subject

• Add Physicality and Heightened Realism (not sure I agree…)

Soon we’re sure most people will be familiar with the iPhone in app purchase experience. Until then, here’s a screen shot sequence from Tap Tap Revenge 3 showing the (1) in app purchase of some avatar bling, (2) in app purchase of a song and (3) the purchase history for everything.

Tap Tap Revenge 3: In App Purchase: Avatar Bling

Tap Tap Revenge 3: In App Purchase: Song

In App Purchase: Purchase Breakdowns

Large projects or small, user-centered design can save a lot of time and money. See Watching the Border: The Virtual Fence (or video) Reported by 60 Minutes.

• They didn’t test early and often. Thus, the systems fail in the high heat of AZ and NM.
• They didn’t test in context with users. Thus, failed to know border patrols can’t use desktop UI’s while bouncing through rugged terrain.
• They didn’t ask the border patrol what they’d like from the system. Thus the system ended up tracking things besides people.
• They didn’t small scale test before implementing the full system. Thus the system costs more than anticipated to maintain.
• Boeing – the design vendor on the project – over promised, failed to understand the design context and failed to talk with the user.