Theocacao: CocoaHeads April 17: UI Design Essentials

CocoaHeads April 17: UI Design Essentials

We've covered a lot of topics at CocoaHeads Silicon Valley, but we've never had an entire night on user interface design. On Thursday night, we're setting that right. I'm going to present UI Design Essentials on April 17 at 7:30pm at the Apple De Anza 3 auditorium.

The goal of Thursday night is to answer the question: "how do I go about designing and implementing my user interface?" Some of this will be basic design theory, some will be specific cases, and some will probably go down to the API level.

In addition to this, I have a challenge for you.

If you would like to volunteer your app for a UI makeover in public, contact me at <theocacao with mac dot com on the end>. If selected, your current UI will be critiqued and corrected on stage, so only the bravest souls should apply. In return, you will get some publicity for your app and some free design work. If you'd like to volunteer your app, contact me as soon as possible. Like, tonight.

For the rest of you, bring a list of your UI-related questions. I'd also encourage designers to come this time around, particularly those who are interested in getting involved with Mac software.

In addition to the design session, Joar Wingfors has agreed to kick off the meeting with a 15 minute or so "Xcode Tips" session. It's a great way to learn some techniques you may not know about directly from an expert.

Thursday, April 17 at 7:30pm
Apple De Anza 3 Auditorium
10500 N De Anza, Cupertino

The lobby entrance is on the south edge of the building, on the Stevens Creek side. Walk up and knock so that someone can let you in. There's no fee or pre-registration required. You can just show up.

Also, remember NSCoder Night is tonight from 7pm to 9pm at Orchard Valley Coffee in Campbell.

See you there.

CocoaHeads April 17: UI Design Essentials
Posted Apr 15, 2008 — 15 comments below

Elliott Harris — Apr 15, 08 5727

Gah, I'm going to miss this by a few hours -- flying in to town Thursday night. What a shame, it's right up my alley too. Any chance anything is going on afterwards?

Jason Medeiros — Apr 15, 08 5728

Your Town Hall bubble is pointing at IL5, but Town Hall is in IL4, the building just north.

Eimantas — Apr 15, 08 5729

Is it going to be videotaped somehow? i'd like to watch it later since i'm not even from USA

Natsuo — Apr 15, 08 5730

A record of audio, video or even just the a PDF version of the Keynote slides would be very nice from the CocoaHeads events. I live abroad, so I have no chance of joining you all, but I'm still interested in at least learning a wee bit from the different topics covered on CocoaHeads.

Paul — Apr 15, 08 5731

I'd love to see the video as well. It's an excellent way for a new dad to get to the meeting. Thanks!

Eric Brunstad — Apr 15, 08 5732

Please release it on video. I would love to come, but I live on the other side of the US. This seems like one of the most interesting topics you are doing thus far. By the way, do you have any meetings scheduled for July? I'll be in the area then.

Thanks,
Eric

Kelan Champagne — Apr 15, 08 5733

Hi Scott. At the risk of sounding redundant, I'd like to put in my request for a video of the talks as well. I don't mean to sound annoying, but rather to make sure that anybody working on it knows that it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-Kelan

Jeff LaMarche — Apr 15, 08 5734

There's something to be said for living near other Cocoa coders. I moved from northern California to rural upstate New York about five years ago, and man nobody here even knows that Cocoa is something other than what you drink after going Snowmobiling. I envy you guys.

On that note, I don't suppose you guys are going to have a meeting the week of WWDC, or a Birds of a Feather gathering or anything?

Philip Orr — Apr 16, 08 5737

Hi there Scott, this sounds like one of the more promising of talks, an entire night devoted to the UI. This is of course the first thing a user sees and has to interact with. First impressions last, etc...

Like the rest, especially if like me coming from Northern Ireland, if a video source was available that would be great, managed to get the others to date, and I have to say I've enjoyed watching them, helps put faces to name as well.

Talking of UIs and video, will there be anything on converting user interfaces from desktop apps to mobile devices, you know what I'm talking about, the iPhone, or if you start does that mean no video for the rest of us, per NDA.

Thats one thing I was wondering about as well, the week of WWDC, you guys looking to get something planned, I know Scotty (MacDevNet) is trying to get something organised. I'm flying in on the 7th and staying till the 18th, Woot!

Keep up the great work.

Scott Stevenson — Apr 16, 08 5738

@Elliott Harris: Any chance anything is going on afterwards?
Some of us usually end up at the BJ's restaurant, which is attached to the Apple campus.

@Eric Brunstad: By the way, do you have any meetings scheduled for July?
The typical schedule is the second Thursday of each month, but sometimes we have to move the day around.

@Jeff LaMarche: I don't suppose you guys are going to have a meeting the week of WWDC
I think we will probably do something in San Francisco during WWDC, yes.

Everyone that helps out with CocoaHeads is very aware that there is interest in video, and we will always do our best to make that happen. We've posted video for three of the last four meetings. There are a number of factors that go into the decision each time.

Steve Weller — Apr 16, 08 5741

Fabulous!

I have been suggesting this topic to Scott for a while now. For anyone starting Mac programing the problem is daunting because they know they have to pass an art exam before they can do any coding. How do I start? How do I know if I am on the right track? It's very uncomfortable territory.

I hope Scott can show how things can be hooked up behind the scenes as well. In theory, if your interface design is supported by a correctly designed set of objects, then changes to the interface can be made to the supporting code quickly and safely.

I'm currently coding a document-based app with a fairly complicated interface and it took sitting down and getting things badly wrong a couple of times before I understood all the Cocoa objects and could apply them to my situation correctly. You know when you get to this point: you find yourself deleting kludgy code that you had scattered all over the place and the elegance shines through.

Chelsea Hardaway — Apr 17, 08 5744

Crap. I've spent the past 6 months being disappointed by conference after conference because they didn't offer this very discussion. An even bigger bummer is that I'm just finding out about this now, and it's 7:30 Thursday night. Please post a vid!! If not, there's probably enough interest in holding a repeat of this session at one of the major Mac meetups. I, for one, would show up in a heartbeat, even offer my help in publicizing or videoing it.

Chelsea Hardaway — Apr 17, 08 5745

JJ — Apr 18, 08 5746

For the question about color blindness, there is a mac app that you can run in the background that simulates (at least some) color blindness.

The app is called Color Oracle (http://colororacle.cartography.ch/)

Hope that helps.

Eric Brunstad — May 04, 08 5770

Was a movie recorded by any chance? If so, I would love to see it.

Eric

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