Excellence in Preference Windows

Excellence in Preference Windows

Posted Jun 7, 2008 — 27 comments below Posted Jun 7, 2008 — 27 comments below

I think it's incredible when someone puts a lot of thought into a minor part of an app. It's easy to punt on something like Preferences, but if you do it right, it rounds out the entire experience. CoverSutra probably has one of most meticulously-designed examples of this I've seen.This one screen really says it all:There are several subtle elements at play here. For example, many would have prepended "Show" onto the title of each of the checkbox items, but instead the Show prefix is shifted to the left. This simplifies the layout and makes it clear that both checkboxes relate to display.The presentation is fantastic. Instead of just using a dropdown with labels like "Style 1" and "Style 2", we're treated to a beautifully-rendered showcase that allows you to see all styles at once. And they're not just composited on a blank background, but rather a custom wallpaper.In my opinion, that wallpaper raises the experience of this entire window. There's absolutely no reason somebody wouldto do such a thing, so when a developer does something like this, it's clear that theycare.This leaves the user with the impression that the software is not just functional, but actually. This is how you convert users into fans.Not only does CoverSutra allow you to set shortcuts for a number of common functions, but the presentation of these shortcuts in preferences is artfully done. Many applications display the shortcut in a generic text field, but these are actually rendered as buttons, which makes it much more clear that you can click them.Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the text is worded and positioned exceptionally well. The prompt text aligns to the right, the wording is simple but clear, and the labels for the toolbar items aren't conceptual, they're direct and functional. Rather than "Appearance" the section is called "Album Cover".Of course, the overall function and look of the application is fantastic in general, but I've almost never seen so much attention given to this part of an app. When you create a preferences window, this is the level you should be aiming for. Flawless.