Go: Introduction to Windows Phone 7 design

English Original: Smashingmagazine

Guide: Windows Phone 7 introduces a new content management and user interface named Metro 's design language and theory. Microsoft's view of the market and user base is also different from the previous generation of Windows (finally transformed): from the business and technical users to ordinary users, online, offline life closely linked to the emerging users.

　　Conversation Designer

We don't emphasize how important design is in mobile applications. WP7 is a very different operating system than other mobile platforms, although it is still in its infancy, the industry is still very optimistic about it. Designers should take a look at the platform and user interface of the developer before developing it. Second, Microsoft will eventually introduce Metro to Windows 8, creating a consistent phone and computer interface. Windows 7.5,aka Mango, released in September, followed by Nokia's release of their first WP7 operating system phone. We have reason to believe that WP7 will play an increasingly important role in this smartphone market.

　　An alternative design

The Windows team was inspired by the design of the road signs. In these signpost designs, it is important that they remove all unnecessary elements and use the content as the core of the design, which they introduce into the WP7 design to allow the content to speak. The interface disappears and the content is the new interface. Now the interface is not a way to get content, but the content itself. Reduced visual design emphasizes the direct interaction between the user and the content (direct interaction with the contents ).

Checkered system Design (grid systems in Graphic design, by Josef Müller-brockman)

WP7 's image design adheres to the style of typography, drawing on the design philosophy of the graphic designer Josef Müller-brockman: Purely printed fonts on the canvas, concise colors and square squares. The icons are fully integrated into the background and even include the content itself as part of the navigation.

　　Simple design and print fonts, application Cocktail Flow and Fuse.

All of these designs make people think of professional cartography. The map style provides directivity, the text is simple and easy to navigate, and there is no extra visual element.

　　New Content Squares

Metro design emphasizes rigid content organization. Lenovo's map of an underground railway, its information structure is very logical. There is no superfluous image element, the content of this plate only uses the information itself (digression: circuit design is based on this logic) when the user is browsing the page, only the information and content and the logical connection between them. For designers, the content of the use of the light, and how to contact content, navigation throughout the design of the application using Nongmo heavy pen.

　　Milan Metro (Image:wikipedia)

Depending on the importance of the content, or based on how the application wants to present the information to the user, they should be categorized in a hierarchical system, interlocking. As with many other mobile applications, it is critical to find a user base for the conversation.

　　Flipboard: Content as a undertake interface.

Like Flipboard's design philosophy, Metro's UI design puts important content directly in the palette. On the Windows Phone home page, they use a 8-page navigation of a large section, covering mobile phone communications, contacts, text messages, Email,xbox, and so on, and users can update the 8 large sections (this is the same as other mobile phones) through demand. The difference is that it shows the latest content for each plate. For example, the email icon will display the most recently received message. The purpose of this UI is to give the user a choice: based on the information, choose whether to continue browsing. Designers should take advantage of this feature.

　　Organization content

Microsoft has introduced a hub concept (hub) as a content management center. It is implemented by three important design concepts: "Panorama" (Panorama), "pivot" (pivot) and live tile (real-time update plate).

　　Panorama (Panorama mode)

When the user launches the app, they log in to a Panorama mode, and all the information in the app is placed on one screen (by swiping horizontally, the user can preview all the content). This in WP design to pay special attention to, settings, directories, etc. should be placed as far as possible on the entire screen, rather than a separate window.

　　Application Feedtso, Panorama mode

As shown, Panorama mode gives the user an intuitive connection between the content.

　　Pivot (pivot rotation)

Pivot the logic to organize the content, classify the information, and show the different aspects of the same content

　　4th & Mayor

As shown, this navigation control is like a tab.

　　Live Tiles (real-time update plate)

As mentioned earlier, this real-time update plate is another major feature of WP7. As shown, the weather plate shows the current weather conditions. Users can view the latest information without opening the app.

　　AccuWeather and Appflow

　　Design

　　Clickable text

WP7 text is clickable, there is no security zone called Click. Therefore, the design should pay attention to the use of appropriate visual guidance.

　　Animation

WP7 emphasizes the animated effect of page switching or content conversion, which can capture the user's attention.

　　Icon

WP7 has strict rules for icon design, and we recommend that designers carefully read the design guidance they provide. Icons can only appear at application bar (bottom of application).

　　Pictures Lab

　　Color

WP7 has a dark, tint (dark/light) color selection on the Settings page. In the design to take into account the user will switch between the two colors, for this, you need two sets of solutions. Unless your product color is brand logo, we strongly recommend the use of two sets of colors. Given that the WP7 application is to be audited, the color palette is the main reason why many applications are rejected.

　　Design Tools

In addition to the general tools: Balsamiq, Adobe Illustrator, Fireworks, Photoshop, and more, you can also use Expression Blend.

Go: Introduction to Windows Phone 7 design