A Good Style Guide Under the Creative Commons?

eldavojohn writes "I've been charged with making a specific user interface style guide for a suite of software by my employer. I'm not quite sure where to start. So I turned to my favorite search engine only to be brutally disappointed with what is out there to help me. I'm a software developer but have not had any formal training in UI design or look and feel. I'm looking for something more than just "keep it simple, stupid." I'm looking more for something that is specific but not technologically dependent. This doesn't have to be a global standard, merely a document that illustrates how one would effectively describe look and feel. Does anyone know of such a guide either created by an organization, government or company for their own uses — possibly one even released under the creative common license?" In addition to just documentation, what other UI advice can Slashdot readers offer in order to ensure quality development?

Re:Practical first step

[Intron]

Then form a review committee and start issuing minutes.

Your Platform/Toolkit's HIG

[Sentry21]

Pretty much every platform (in this case, I'd count GNOME and KDE as 'platforms') will have a set of Human Interface Guidelines that will give advice on how to craft a usable interface that meshes well with native applications and provides a solid user experience. There's no one hard-and-fast style guide, though there are lots of examples of what NOT to do if you Google (see the User Interface Wall of Shame [mac.com] for one).

Have I got a job for you

[iliketrash]

"I'm a software developer but have not had any formal training in UI design or look and feel."

That would make you the perfect Microsoft employee.

Re:Simple rules

[eln]

And make sure that whatever objet d'art you create doesn't look like too much of a turd.

I really don't understand the need for this rule.

Signed,
Chester W. Lampworth
President and CEO
Amalgamated Manure, Inc.

Done.

[wchatam]

Everything you need is right here [gnu.org].