[GUI Development] Where should I start?

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bergstrom..

[GUI Development] Where should I start?

in General Discussion • Other • 1 year ago

So my main interest in using Processing is that the visual abilities to display data seems to be quite endless. This seems to be a perfect way for me to develop FUI (Fantasy User Interface), into actual useable UI. I've spent a fair amount of time sitting around in photoshop/illustrator just laying down GUI for media players... Winamp, Xion, etc. And all sorts of screwed up FUI that I had no idea how to even make into a useable program/applet of any sort.

I want to switch it up and make my FUI a reality, I hope to actually one day take on a career in this field. I've gotten a *small* grasp of the basic's and I understand that I still have a long ways to go but I can't really seem to make much sense of the examples supplied with processing.

Anyone have a suggestion on where to start? Tutorials? Articles? So in order to help you help me I should give you an idea of what sort of GUI I want to start with...

Most of the applets that I'll be making will be displayed on a webpage and from my understanding that limits me a bit, but I'm fine with that. I'm very interested in making a UI for some sort of commonly found data, probably government statistics (number of deaths per year from cancer dating back twenty or so years) I want to make this applet have multiple options to select from on ways to display the data.

This sounds rather complicated with such a low understanding of Processing, but this is my goal for right now. Anything that will help me get to this (and I am pretty positive that this will take me many projects to achieve) will be nice.

Thanks,
M

Replies(4)

eightohni..

Re: [GUI Development] Where should I start?

1 year ago

You are dealing with two things here. A data visualization and an interface.

The data visualization is where your creativity can shine. Finding an interesting data set worth analyzing and developing an easy to understand interactive visualization and presenting it to the world.

For the actual interface there actually already exist several GUI libraries you can use. My favorite library is probably controlP5 by Andreas Schlegel. But there are others, as listed in the libraries section. If you want to develop your own interface elements (buttons, sliders, checkboxes, input fields, etc.) then you will have to dig into Processing a bit more. It will definitely require a sound understanding of object oriented programming (OOP).

I'm not sure, if your approach of "interface first, visualization next" is the right way. I have studied interaction design and what I've learned, is that the interface will always be a result of what you are trying to control. You probably have heard of the saying "form follows function"? This holds true in this case also. Only after you know WHAT you are trying to control, you can decide HOW you are going to control it.

One of my favorite places for meaningful data visualization is Gapminder. Check it out for a ton of interesting data sets.

But maybe I'm completely misunderstanding you here. If your intention is to create software GUIs and define the Look&Feel and interaction metaphors for software, whole operating systems, native/web apps, then Processing is probably not the solution you are looking for. Then we are talking about studying interaction/UX design.

bergstrom..

Re: [GUI Development] Where should I start?

1 year ago

I'm sure that visualization should always come first, and this is not what I was trying to imply. Personally, the visualization is what I see as part of the UI in total.

I guess the best way for me to describe this would be to say that I wish to make interactive yet artistic ways to display data sets, the data set in particular does not matter. I would choose one that is interesting, design/develop the way that it can be visually produced than see what other neat interactive things I can do for it... I honestly see all that as part of UI dev as well.

I'm sure that my understanding of it is not "correct" but from what I see and have been hearing processing sounds a lot like where I want to be for this. I know that what I'm asking for help with really cannot be as complex as some of the other things I've seen in my lurking. Unless processing is in fact so limited that I wont be able to do my "interactive" part of things I don't see why not. I'm not sure how else to describe it, option 1: bar graph, bit O' eye'candy animations to make you feel like some sort of badass... Click a button a whole new "style" to look at the same data comes up.

I'm here to learn how to display a random data set that I pick, and make it look fancy dancy so that I can feel better about my artistic ego. :)

eightohni..

Re: [GUI Development] Where should I start?

1 year ago

OK, I think I kinda understand where you're going here. And yes, Processing still is indeed a great place for this. Off the top of my head, let me point you to a couple of inspiring resources:

We feel fine – probably one of the premier examples for presenting data in a playful way.

The Weight of Data – great talk by Jer Thorp on data visualization.

Infoshetics – massive resource of cutting edge data viz.

One thing to consider though: Don't create artificial eye candy.

By all means, make your data move, bounce, jiggle, clickable and whatnot. But don't muddle the insight into the data by placing style over substance. Put the data into 3D space, because it makes sense to view it from different perspectives. Animate the data, because it's the only way to observe change over time. And yes, take that boring Excel-chart and give it that much needed Ooompf! But don't take data that's absolutely best viewed in a pie chart, and force it into a particle system, just because you think "it looks awesome". After all, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. My belief is, that for every data-set there's a perfect way of presenting it. And it's up to your creativity and cleverness to find that perfect way.

It's one of the biggest take-aways from my studies, and one my profs had to really hammer into my thinking. But it's true. Good design isn't about a sparkly presentation, but about added value.

Lots of luck and fun in your endeavors!

bergstrom..

Re: [GUI Development] Where should I start?

1 year ago

Thanks for your patience and great replies! Sorry I can not describe it that well, I'm having an off week it seems.

And yes, I do understand the need for minimalism. Which is something that I strove for in a lot of my FUI's/media player skins. I don't intend to take a perfectly good and interesting piece of data and jumble it with a load of "what the heck" all over it. I just want to see what I can create and what can actually be useable in a every day situation from my point of view....

I guess this is what I get for being a skinner.

Again mate, thanks!

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