I was working on a large number of enterprise web applications and I realize there are some illusions about how UI for such applications should be developed/designed. By "enterprise" apps I mean that huge, megalomaniacal software products with complex business logic, usually intranet apps.
Over the years, I heard a lot of crazy things, and here are four of them that make me laugh every time. Luckily those were in minority, but still - happened too often!
1. It's not a public website.
"You know, it's not a public website which only purpose is to be pretty and do nothing".
Oh, really? So, just because it's not a public website it should look like it was in a car accident, right? What about usability? What about user experience?
"Errr.... what? Is that a namespace in .NET Framework?"
2. It will be used by professionals
"This sales software will be used by people from the sales and they are professionals. They want to get their job done, not to enjoy nice grpahics".
Ah ok, I understand. This software is like a car. It will be used by drivers and they want to drive from point A to point B. They will buy a car that can do this for them. They won't bother about it's visual appearance. Right!
3. It has a complex logic
"Well, it has a complex logic, what do you expect, UI has to be complex. Use your head."
Well, how this sounds to you: It has a complex logic and nice and usable UI? Why zillion+ elements on a page? Why thousand+ postbacks? You can use steps left or wizard pattern design pattern. You can use Ajax. A huge process can consist of several small and simple steps, isn't it?
4. Application has to be developed by developers
"Only developers can create UI because they know the business logic and they know what would be the best UI for that logic"
LOL, what else could you do?
Did you have similar experience or have you heard for some other crazy statements like those four?
Janko is a UI designer, software engineer, blogger, speaker and artist. You can read more about him and warp speed blog here.