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| == Mobile Design Elements == | For many years, there was no particular assistance provided to those seeking to design for mobile handsets. Over time, books and other documents and supporting information has emerged. Now, major software vendors like Adobe are embedding mobile-centric technology in their products. |
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| ==== Little Springs Design (soon, revised and switching to 4ourth Mobile style) ==== A bunch of mobile components (and some other info, like typography) for general mobile design, as well as gestures, and even iPhone specific stuff for the fanbois. * [[http://www.littlespringsdesign.com/downloads/mobileDesignElements/MobileDesignElements-2010jul7.indd.zip Adobe InDesign CS4 (.indd) format, compressed, 11.5 mb]] * [[http://www.littlespringsdesign.com/downloads/mobileDesignElements/MobileDesignElements-2010jul7.pdf PDF for viewing, or opening in, Adobe Illustrator, et. al., 1.4 mb]] |
New ones are constantly being added, or replaced, so please help us keep this up to date. Visit the wiki at www.4ourth.com/wiki or contact us with updates you may encounter. |
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| If you are still on Freehand (and we salute you) the old, not-at-all-updated version * [[http://www.littlespringsdesign.com/downloads/mobileDesignElements/mobileDesignElements21sept2009.zip Macromedia Freehand MX 2004 (.fh11) format, compressed, 1.1 mb]] |
== Templates & Stencils == These are graphic items you can use with various drawing programs to create concepts, mockups, process diagrams, comps or graphics for final designs. First listed are organizations with either general templates, or a number of templates for different devices and OSs. This is followed by a list by platform, as recently most designers and agencies have become concentrated on one or two devices or platforms, leading to a surge in such templates. Note that this is just those we've found, or found useful. Many more may exist, or be included as part of the various manufacturer and OS developer links under the UI Guidelines section, below. Also be aware that by no means are all of these reviewed for quality, and are just checked to make sure that (at the time) they were valid links to real files, and are in the right category. === Design Organizations === ==== 4ourth Mobile ==== These are the templates we use every day for designing mobile device interfaces. Includes a numer of mobile components and additional information like typograph, for general mobile design. Also includes gesture guidelines, and some handset/OS specific items. The illustrations and diagrams in this book were created with these components. * [[http://www.4ourth.com/downloads/MobileDesignElements-2011april15.indd.zip|Adobe InDesign CS4 (.indd) format, compressed zip file, 15.7 mb]] * [[http://www.4ourth.com/downloads/MobileDesignElements-2011april15.pdf|PDF for viewing, or opening in, Adobe Illustrator, et. al., 1.4 mb]] If you are still working in Macromedia Freehand, the old (September 2009) version is still available. It has Little Springs branding, as that's who Steven worked for when he made it. * [[http://www.littlespringsdesign.com/downloads/mobileDesignElements/mobileDesignElements21sept2009.zip|Macromedia Freehand MX 2004 (.fh11) format, compressed, 1.1 mb]] ==== Graffletopia ==== * [[http://www.graffletopia.com/search/mobile|Mobile UI Stencils]] (Omnigraffle) ==== Mobility ==== * [[http://www.fullcreative.com/2010/10/mobility-a-free-set-of-mobile-ui-design-elements/|Mobility]] A free set of mobile UI design elements. (Photoshop) ==== Nokia ==== Templates from Nokia, mostly for designing on S60 devices. * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/Technology_Topics/Web_Technologies/Browsing/Web_Templates/|Forum Nokia Mobile Web Templates]] * [[http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Category:Mobile_Design_Patterns|Nokia Mobile Design Patterns]] Not really the same thing, as they are just articles, not actual things to use for drawning. If someone thinks it needs to go somewhere else, move it. * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/cfc7b6a4-2dc5-4c91-88a5-c35764fff8fe/S60_Wireframing_Stencils.html|S60 Wireframing Stencils]] S60 (through 5th edition) elements of all sorts. ==== Punchcut ==== * [[http://punchcut.com/perspectives/expanding-universe-toolset-managing-screen-resolutions|Punchcut Toolset for Managing Screen Resolutions]] a collection of devices of various sizes, in PSD format, to assist with developing content or design at multiple resolutions. ==== Squetch ==== * [[http://www.eleqtriq.com/2010/08/sqetch-wireframe-toolkit/|Wireframe Sketching Kit]] with tools for Browser, iPad upright, iPad landscape, Smartphone, GUI-Elements and Form-Elements. Not sure what some mean, but I guess "Smartphone" means they are trying to not just be iOS, so they get a category. (Illustrator) |
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| * [[http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/about/stencils/ Yahoo! Stencil Kit]] many non-mobile parts, but also useful general and iPhone bits and pieces. | * [[http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/about/stencils/|Yahoo! Stencil Kit]] many non-mobile parts, but also useful general and iPhone bits and pieces. |
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| ==== Nokia ==== * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/Technology_Topics/Web_Technologies/Browsing/Web_Templates/ Forum Nokia Mobile Web Templates]] * [[http://wiki.forum.nokia.com/index.php/Category:Mobile_Design_Patterns Nokia Mobile Design Patterns]] Not really the same thing, as they are just articles, not actual things to use for drawning. Include or not? * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/cfc7b6a4-2dc5-4c91-88a5-c35764fff8fe/S60_Wireframing_Stencils.html S60 Wireframing Stencils]] S60 (through 5th edition) elements of all sorts. |
=== Specific Operating Systems === ==== MS Windows Phone 7 ==== * [[http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=196225|Design Templates for Windows Phone 7]] from Microsoft. Includes 28 layered Photoshop template files and the Segoe system font (Photoshop) * [[http://www.graffletopia.com/stencils/689|Microsoft Windows Phone 7 wireframe stencil for Omnigraffle]] from MarlinMobile (OmniGraffle) |
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| ==== Graffletopia ==== * [[http://www.graffletopia.com/search/mobile Mobile UI Stencils for Omnigraffle]] ==== Teehan-Lax ==== * [[http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/2010/06/14/iphone-gui-psd-v4/ Library of iPhone UI Elements]] Photoshop library of iPhone-specific elements only, now the link to the all-new v4 library. ==== Smashing Magazine ==== *[http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/08/18/android-gui-psd-vector-kit/ Library of Android UI Elements]] Photoshop library of Android (default) elements only. ==== Developer.Android ==== *[http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design.html Icon Design Guidelines, Android 2.0]] Includes ways to download their template pack and other useful stuff. Quite detailed for the graphic designer, for a change. == Documentation Templates == Lots of documentation styles will work. Use your favorite one, or... Little Springs has a mobile-specific documentation style, but it is still project (client) specific as yet. When we get a chance we'll sanitize it, write it up and share it here. |
==== iOS ==== iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad * [[http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/2010/06/14/iphone-gui-psd-v4/|Library of iPhone UI Elements]] Photoshop library of iPhone-specific elements only, from Teehan-Lax. Updated occasionally, so if you see a new one, please update the link for us. (Photoshop) * [[http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/2010/08/12/iphone-4-gui-psd-retina-display/||Library of iPhone4 UI Elements]] Same as above but for the iPhone 4 resolution instead. (Photoshop) * [[http://fantasy-apps.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2r7sus|iPhone UI Kit]] Lots of UI widgets like switches, buttons, etc. (Photoshop) * [[http://dribbble.com/shots/42977-iPhone4-Retina-GUI-PSD?offset=7|Another Libtary of iPhone4 UI Elements]] Based on the Teehan-Lax work above, but presumably different in some way. (Photoshop) * [[http://www.usercentred.net/2010/06/28/illustrator-template-for-iphone-design/|Vector Wireframe Templates for iPhone]] (Illustrator) * [[http://reddevilsx.deviantart.com/art/iPhone-4-PSD-HD-176629139|iPhone 4 HD]] Another one, not sure who made it or if it's fresh or a derivation of the Teehan-Lax stuff again. (Photoshop) * [[http://www.vcarrer.com/2010/09/iphone-wireframe-kit-google-docs.html|iPhone Wireframe Kit]] In, of all things, Google Docs. Haven't tried it, but I really need to. (GoogleDocs) * [[http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/applications/psd/?order=5&q=ipad#/d2qvrn1|iPad Template]] Preview only has the frame, so not sure what is included. (Photoshop) * [[http://mrforscreen.deviantart.com/art/iPad-Wall-Presenter-179103252|iPad Wall Presenter]] I think just the frames with guides to put backgrounds and designs into. (PNG and Photoshop) * [[http://www.zurb.com/playground/ipad-stencils|Sketching the iPad from Zurb]] to encourage sketching, even as far as to print empties and use your mad Sharpie® skills. (OmniGraffle) |
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| == Drawing Tool Tips & Tricks == Just a list that we keep for ourselves, so we don't forget things. |
==== Android OS ==== All versions, all platforms, all operator overlays. * [[http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/08/18/android-gui-psd-vector-kit/|Library of Android UI Elements]] from Smashing Magazine. Photoshop library of Android (default) elements only. (Photoshop) * [[http://thiago-silva.deviantart.com/art/Android-2-2-GUI-171047600|Android 2.2 Elements]] based on the Smashing Magazine work. (Photoshop) * [[http://www.marlinmobile.com/blog/?page_id=285|Android Wireframe Tools]] (OmniGraffle) * [[http://www.webdesignshock.com/freebies/free-photoshop-android-interface-gui/||Android GUI Set]] which has a lot of UI widgets, and includes the typography needed to make it all work.(Photoshop) * [[http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design.html|Icon Design Guidelines, Android 2.0]] from Developer.Android.com. Includes ways to download their template pack and other useful stuff. Quite detailed for the graphic designer, for a change. (Photoshop) * [[http://bharathp666.deviantart.com/art/Android-Widgets-182178250|14 Android GUI Widgets]] by which they seem to mean default desktop widgets (e.g. clock), vs. UI widgets like scrollbars. (Photoshop) * [[http://delightgraphic.deviantart.com/art/HTC-HD2-Smartphone-vector-183186532|HTC HD2 PSD Vector]]150 layers, 60 groups, almost all vector. (Photoshop) * [[http://zandog.deviantart.com/art/HTC-G2-PSD-182148621|HTC G2]] 370 layers, almost all vector, (Photoshop) * [[http://zandog.deviantart.com/art/Motorola-Droid-2-PSD-180694347|Motorola Droid 2]]350 layers, almost all vector (Photoshop) * [[http://zandog.deviantart.com/art/Samsung-Galaxy-S-PSD-178972735|Samsung Galaxy S]] Device not specified. 127 layers. (Photoshop) * [[http://zandog.deviantart.com/art/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-P1000-PSD-180537736|Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000]] 110 layers. (Photoshop) * [[http://www.zurb.com/playground/honeycomb-stencils|Android Honeycomb Tablet]] Preview of wireframe components, sketch sheets, etc. (based on screenshots, emulators, etc, so not final). From Zurb (OmniGraffle) * [[http://www.graffletopia.com/stencils/630|Google Android 1.6 Wireframe stencil for Omnigraffle]] from MarlinMobile (OmniGraffle). * [[http://www.graffletopia.com/stencils/673|Google Android 2.1 / 2.2 Wireframe stencil for Omnigraffle]] from MarlinMobile (OmniGraffle). |
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| ==Sharing Between Versions of InDesign== Newer versions can always read older .indd files. Do not save as an .inx file, as it just wastes time. |
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| Downsaving creates an Adobe Interchange file with an .inx extension. This is a simple xml file that actually does work with all versions of InDesign (at least down through CS2), but has a limiter Adobe put in to annoy us all. To fix an .inx file created with CS4 to work with CS2 (and 3): * Open the INX file with your favorite text editor (like TextMate or BBEdit) and change the version number. Replace line number 2 (which looks like this): * '<?aid style="33" type="document" DOMVersion="6.0" readerVersion="5.0" featureSet="257" product="6.0(352)" ?>' * with this: * '<?aid style="33" type="document" DOMVersion="5.0" readerVersion="4.0" featureSet="257" product="5.0(662)" ?>' |
---- == UI Guidelines == OS and device manufacturers have increasingly been providing guidelines for the implementation of their UI. This may include brief, general guidance, relatively specific format rules, or quite involved discussions of design implementation and the reasoning behind them. |
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| === Stupid INDD Tricks === Things you might need to make InDesign work better, and which I could not easily find. Some are version specific. * There is no Clone (duplicate in place) function by default in InDesign. Three options: # Copy, then shift-opt-cmd-v pastes in place, but is very cumbersome to me # Better: opt-cmd-u is Step and Repeat. Opens a dialogue (which you can use to generally step and repeat) but which preserves last use. If set once to count 1, offsets all zero, then you just press enter and get a duplicate-in-place. # Best is shift-opt-cmd-d which is the Duplicate command. By default it does this at some offset or other. But this is controlled by the Edit > Step & Repeat menu item. You have to have something selected to set it, but like setting color or type style with nothing selected, it then sticks until you use step and repeat (even by accident) and change the offsets. Set vertical and horizontal to get a Clone function, if that is your thing. * Tricky styles, as for underlines, to allow things like making reverses in type without separate boxes (as for scroll-and-select link indicators). Ask for details or look at the Mobile Design Elements document for examples. * Text can be built into ANY box. Not always perfect, but good for some stuff, like form fields, title bars, etc. * Any box can be accidentally turned into a text box. Deleting text does not un-text-box it. To do that, right click on the element, Content > Unassigned. * Eyedropper works opposite (to me at least) of Photoshop, etc. Select the item(s) you want to have the new attributes, then click the item you are sampling. Note you can sample a LOT of stuff, so check the settings first. I don't even follow how it works after this, so just press Option to clear the current attributes and start from zero again. * Collaboration: While the official collaboration tool points up their text focus, and is basically a collaborative workflow-based text editor, it has some other stuff that helps. Mostly, you can move pages from one open ''document'' to another. With planning (so you don't step on each other) this means chunks can be branched off to others and then merged back in. Tried it, and it works. * GREP! Search and replace complexly. Also has attribute search and replace. Find a string, make it bold, etc. * Deselect is not cmd-D as in Photoshop but shift-cmd-A for “deselect all” as in AI. Use it! Clicking away to deselect will often hit an invisible element, scooting it or turning it into a text box or something else I'll have to fix later. * Text Box insets are cmd-B (shift-cmd-b is the bold switch). If you have a non-rectangle and need to just have the top come down, use the FIrst Baseline number to move it down. Often, a lot (won't move at all for 20-40 pts). Also, play with vertical alignment: can use Justify to set one piece of text top, one bottom, rather cleverly. Saves on nesting boxes sometimes. * [[http://indesignsecrets.com/the-hidden-join-paths-command.php Hidden commands in InDesign]] including the ever-useful Join command. This is about activating in CS2, but the basics are true. Many AI-level drawing functions are hidden away in the code, and can be used with keyboard shortcuts, or other trickery. Note: CS4 added several of these, such as the Join command. * Reset INDD to default: While pressing Shift+Option+Command+Control, start InDesign. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files. |
All provide much more documentation for developers, so if there is insufficient information in the UI guidelines, you may wish to browse the rest of the developer resources for the answer. Some UI or UX information may be included in other sections. |
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| === Stupid AI Tricks === Things you might need to make Illustrator work better, and which I could not easily find. * Perspective-like distorting involves using modifier keys at specific times: # Select whole shape, groups work fine. # E (free transform) # Start dragging a “downrange” corner # Click Cmd to convert that corner only # Click Cmd+Shift+Opt to move it and the corresponding pont with axial symmetry. # Be sure to shorten also. I'd distort a square as your guide before doing any actual work, and keep both a distorted and original shape as your guide. |
=== Android (from Google and OEMs) === * [[http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/index.html|Android User Interface Guidelines]] * [[http://developer.motorola.com/docstools/library/Best_Practices_for_User_Interfaces/|Motorola’s Best Practices for Android UI]] * [[http://www.mutualmobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/MM_Android_Design_Guidelines.pdf|Mutual Mobile Android Design Guidelines]] * [[http://www.androidpatterns.com/|Listing of Android patterns]], real ones, with problems and solutions as drawings, from UNITiD in Amsterdam. * [[http://code.google.com/tv/web/|Google TV Web Developer's Guide]] and [[http://code.google.com/tv/android/index.html|Google TV Android Developer's Guide]], both from code.google.com. === Apple iOS === * [[http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/userexperience/conceptual/mobilehig/Introduction/Introduction.html|iPhone Human Interface Guidelines]] * [[http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/userexperience/conceptual/mobilehig/MobileHIG.pdf|iPhone Human Interface Guidelines]] PDF * [[http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/general/conceptual/ipadhig/Introduction/Introduction.html|iPad Human Interface Guidelines]] * [[http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/general/conceptual/ipadhig/iPadHIG.pdf|iPad Human Interface Guidelines]] PDF === HP Palm WebOS === * [[https://developer.palm.com/content/api/design/mojo/user-interface-summary.html|User Interface Summary]] * [[https://developer.palm.com/content/api/design/mojo/hi-guidelines.html|Human Interface Guidelines]] === Microsoft Windows CE, Mobile & Phone === * [[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc872774.aspx|Windows Touch UI Guideline]] * [[http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb158602.aspx|UI Guidelines for Windows Mobile 6.5]] * [[http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=183218|UI Design & Interaction Guide for Windows Phone 7]] v 2.0 PDF, from Microsoft. === Symbian Family (S40 and S60) === * [[http://library.forum.nokia.com/index.jsp?topic=/Design_and_User_Experience_Library/GUID-A8DF3EB8-E97C-4DA0-95F6-F464ECC995BC_cover.html|Nokia Design & User Experience Library]] * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/Design/|Forum Nokia Design Portal]] PDF. * [[http://developer.symbian.org/wiki/User_Interface|Symbian UI Wiki]] * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/73e935fe-8b59-43b2-ab3e-1c5f763672db/Series_40_UI_Style_Guide.html|Nokia Series 40 UI Style Guide]] * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/34762388-9434-4c42-9c5e-3e545b0975ea/S60_Platform_Visualization_and_Graphic_Design_Guideline_v1_0_en.pdf.html|S60 Visualization and Graphic Design Guideline]] PDF. * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/5c419b14-75ff-4791-b1a8-db1e0d72e36e/Symbian_3_UI_Style_Guide.html|Symbian^3 UI Style Guidelines]] PDF. === RIM Blackberry === ==== Smartphone ==== * [[http://docs.blackberry.com/en/developers/deliverables/17965/index.jsp?name=UI+Guidelines+-+BlackBerry+Smartphones6.0&language=English&userType=21&category=Java+Development+Guidelines&subCategory=|UI Guidelines for BlackBerry 6.0 Smartphones website]] * [[http://docs.blackberry.com/en/developers/deliverables/17964/BlackBerry_Smartphones-UI_Guidelines-T893501-980426-0721013746-001-6.0-US.pdf|UI Guidelines for BlackBerry 6.0 Smartphones]] PDF. * [[http://docs.blackberry.com/en/developers/deliverables/20196/index.jsp?name=UI+Guidelines+-+BlackBerry+Smartphones2.5&language=English&userType=21&category=Java+Development+Guidelines&subCategory=|UI Guidelines for BlackBerry 4.x, 5.x Smartphones]] * [[http://docs.blackberry.com/en/developers/deliverables/20195/BlackBerry_Smartphones-UI_Guidelines-T1011811-1011811-0903100131-001-2.5-US.pdf|UI Guidelines for BlackBerry 4.x, 5.x Smartphones]] PDF. * [[http://docs.blackberry.com/en/developers/deliverables/4305/BlackBerry_Browser-4.6.0-US.pdf|BlackBerry Browser Content Design Guidelines]] PDF. ==== QNX / Tablet ==== * [[http://docs.blackberry.com/en/developers/deliverables/27299/|UI Guidelines for the BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet]] online, or the [[http://docs.blackberry.com/en/developers/deliverables/27298/BlackBerry_PlayBook_Tablet-UI_Guidelines--1361251-0418095918-001-1.0.1-US.pdf|same information as a PDF]] === Samsung Bada === * [[http://dpimg.ospos.net/contents/docs/resources_1004/com.osp.appuiguide.help/html/FramesetMain.html?menu=MC01010403&mtb1=&mtb2|Bada Application UI Guide]] === MeeGo === * [[https://meego.com/developers/ui-design-guidelines/handset|Handset UI Design Principles]] * [[https://meego.com/developers/meego-ux-design-principles|UX Design Principles]] A brief, neat overview of how to approach the overall interaction of the OS. * [[http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/eb8a68ba-6225-4d84-ba8f-a00e4a05ff6f/Hildon_2_2_UI_Style_Guide.html|Hildon UI Guidelines for Nokia Maemo]] * [[http://meego.com/developers/ui-design-guidelines/handset|MeeGo UI Design Guidelines for Handset]] === J2ME === The Java Platform, Micro Edition (the same thing used to have a "2" in there, and is still mostly referred to by that abbreviation) is a common platform for running applications on practically all featurephones, worldwide. It was developed by Sun, so is now owned by Oracle. Installation methods vary, and some applications will work on basically all devices, while some are targeted to specific operators, regions, manufacturers or classes of devices. J2ME runs on over '''three billion handsets''' right this minute. This is a big deal. * [[http://developer.sonyericsson.com/cws/download/1/716/984/1262667210/DW-102212-UI_Rulebook.pdf|Sony Ericsson UI Rulebook for JavaPlatform8 and higher]] * [[http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javame/index.html|Java ME Landing Page]] a bunch of introductions, as well as developer resources, from Oracle. === BREW === A competitor to J2ME, created by Qualcomm, also allowing a (more or less) single piece of software to run on a range of handsets. * [[http://developer.att.com/developer/forward.jsp?passedItemId=1900002|AT&T UI Elements for Brew MP]] === FeaturePhone UI Guidelines === Featurephones do have operating systems, and native applications are developed outside of the manufacturer's direct control for these devices. However, they generally cannot be installed by end users. These are created or specified by operators, and installed at the factory. This is mostly stuff like a custom phone book. Even the default browser is likely to be J2ME or BREW. While UI guidelines do exist, these are generally proprietary so cannot be distributed. We have a few of them, but cannot share them. They would also be generally irrelevant; if you have to develop for this situation, you will be given the most applicable version by the operator and/or manufacturer, and have to work closely with them to get the software implemented. ---- == Drawing Tool, Tips & Tricks == This is really just a list of items that we keep for ourselves, so we don't forget things. Feel free to add items, or even categories, if there's a tool you want to share your notes about. It is not provided in the printed book text, and shouldn't be as is too specific to our methods of work, or is not particularly mobile-specific. Or both. * [[Sharing between versions of InDesign]] * [[Stupid INDD Tricks]] * [[Stupid AI Tricks]] |
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| * [[http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1084741&seqNum=2 Real World Tips for Working with Text in InDesign CS3 - Sample Chapter from Peachpit Book]] * [[http://freefreehand.com/ Free Freehand: Trying to get Adobe to let FH become open source or otherwise available]] * [[http://freefreehand.yousaidit.com/topics/How_to_save_FreeHand/questions/-/latest The Q&A list from Free Freehand]] * [[http://kelsocartography.com/blog/?p=2955 How to get FH MX to run in Snow Leopard]] * [[http://indesignsecrets.com/double-downsave.php Mike Rankin solves the double downsave problem]] |
* [[http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1084741&seqNum=2|Real World Tips for Working with Text in InDesign CS3 - Sample Chapter from Peachpit Book]] * [[http://freefreehand.com/|Free Freehand: Trying to get Adobe to let FH become open source or otherwise available]] * [[http://freefreehand.yousaidit.com/topics/How_to_save_FreeHand/questions/-/latest|The Q&A list from Free Freehand]] * [[http://kelsocartography.com/blog/?p=2955|How to get FH MX to run in Snow Leopard]] * [[http://indesignsecrets.com/double-downsave.php|Mike Rankin solves the double downsave problem]] * [[http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/support/Training/Online/webdesign/usability.html|Usability Links]] |
For many years, there was no particular assistance provided to those seeking to design for mobile handsets. Over time, books and other documents and supporting information has emerged. Now, major software vendors like Adobe are embedding mobile-centric technology in their products.
New ones are constantly being added, or replaced, so please help us keep this up to date. Visit the wiki at www.4ourth.com/wiki or contact us with updates you may encounter.
Templates & Stencils
These are graphic items you can use with various drawing programs to create concepts, mockups, process diagrams, comps or graphics for final designs.
First listed are organizations with either general templates, or a number of templates for different devices and OSs. This is followed by a list by platform, as recently most designers and agencies have become concentrated on one or two devices or platforms, leading to a surge in such templates.
Note that this is just those we've found, or found useful. Many more may exist, or be included as part of the various manufacturer and OS developer links under the UI Guidelines section, below. Also be aware that by no means are all of these reviewed for quality, and are just checked to make sure that (at the time) they were valid links to real files, and are in the right category.
Design Organizations
4ourth Mobile
These are the templates we use every day for designing mobile device interfaces. Includes a numer of mobile components and additional information like typograph, for general mobile design. Also includes gesture guidelines, and some handset/OS specific items. The illustrations and diagrams in this book were created with these components.
Adobe InDesign CS4 (.indd) format, compressed zip file, 15.7 mb
PDF for viewing, or opening in, Adobe Illustrator, et. al., 1.4 mb
If you are still working in Macromedia Freehand, the old (September 2009) version is still available. It has Little Springs branding, as that's who Steven worked for when he made it.
Graffletopia
Mobile UI Stencils (Omnigraffle)
Mobility
Mobility A free set of mobile UI design elements. (Photoshop)
Nokia
Templates from Nokia, mostly for designing on S60 devices.
Nokia Mobile Design Patterns Not really the same thing, as they are just articles, not actual things to use for drawning. If someone thinks it needs to go somewhere else, move it.
S60 Wireframing Stencils S60 (through 5th edition) elements of all sorts.
Punchcut
Punchcut Toolset for Managing Screen Resolutions a collection of devices of various sizes, in PSD format, to assist with developing content or design at multiple resolutions.
Squetch
Wireframe Sketching Kit with tools for Browser, iPad upright, iPad landscape, Smartphone, GUI-Elements and Form-Elements. Not sure what some mean, but I guess "Smartphone" means they are trying to not just be iOS, so they get a category. (Illustrator)
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Stencil Kit many non-mobile parts, but also useful general and iPhone bits and pieces.
Specific Operating Systems
MS Windows Phone 7
Design Templates for Windows Phone 7 from Microsoft. Includes 28 layered Photoshop template files and the Segoe system font (Photoshop)
Microsoft Windows Phone 7 wireframe stencil for Omnigraffle from MarlinMobile (OmniGraffle)
iOS
iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad
Library of iPhone UI Elements Photoshop library of iPhone-specific elements only, from Teehan-Lax. Updated occasionally, so if you see a new one, please update the link for us. (Photoshop)
http://www.teehanlax.com/blog/2010/08/12/iphone-4-gui-psd-retina-display/ Same as above but for the iPhone 4 resolution instead. (Photoshop)
iPhone UI Kit Lots of UI widgets like switches, buttons, etc. (Photoshop)
Another Libtary of iPhone4 UI Elements Based on the Teehan-Lax work above, but presumably different in some way. (Photoshop)
Vector Wireframe Templates for iPhone (Illustrator)
iPhone 4 HD Another one, not sure who made it or if it's fresh or a derivation of the Teehan-Lax stuff again. (Photoshop)
iPhone Wireframe Kit In, of all things, Google Docs. Haven't tried it, but I really need to. (GoogleDocs)
iPad Template Preview only has the frame, so not sure what is included. (Photoshop)
iPad Wall Presenter I think just the frames with guides to put backgrounds and designs into. (PNG and Photoshop)
Sketching the iPad from Zurb to encourage sketching, even as far as to print empties and use your mad Sharpie® skills. (OmniGraffle)
Android OS
All versions, all platforms, all operator overlays.
Library of Android UI Elements from Smashing Magazine. Photoshop library of Android (default) elements only. (Photoshop)
Android 2.2 Elements based on the Smashing Magazine work. (Photoshop)
http://www.webdesignshock.com/freebies/free-photoshop-android-interface-gui/ which has a lot of UI widgets, and includes the typography needed to make it all work.(Photoshop)
Icon Design Guidelines, Android 2.0 from Developer.Android.com. Includes ways to download their template pack and other useful stuff. Quite detailed for the graphic designer, for a change. (Photoshop)
14 Android GUI Widgets by which they seem to mean default desktop widgets (e.g. clock), vs. UI widgets like scrollbars. (Photoshop)
HTC HD2 PSD Vector150 layers, 60 groups, almost all vector. (Photoshop)
HTC G2 370 layers, almost all vector, (Photoshop)
Motorola Droid 2350 layers, almost all vector (Photoshop)
Samsung Galaxy S Device not specified. 127 layers. (Photoshop)
Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000 110 layers. (Photoshop)
Android Honeycomb Tablet Preview of wireframe components, sketch sheets, etc. (based on screenshots, emulators, etc, so not final). From Zurb (OmniGraffle)
Google Android 1.6 Wireframe stencil for Omnigraffle from MarlinMobile (OmniGraffle).
Google Android 2.1 / 2.2 Wireframe stencil for Omnigraffle from MarlinMobile (OmniGraffle).
UI Guidelines
OS and device manufacturers have increasingly been providing guidelines for the implementation of their UI. This may include brief, general guidance, relatively specific format rules, or quite involved discussions of design implementation and the reasoning behind them.
All provide much more documentation for developers, so if there is insufficient information in the UI guidelines, you may wish to browse the rest of the developer resources for the answer. Some UI or UX information may be included in other sections.
Android (from Google and OEMs)
Listing of Android patterns, real ones, with problems and solutions as drawings, from UNITiD in Amsterdam.
Google TV Web Developer's Guide and Google TV Android Developer's Guide, both from code.google.com.
Apple iOS
HP Palm WebOS
Microsoft Windows CE, Mobile & Phone
UI Design & Interaction Guide for Windows Phone 7 v 2.0 PDF, from Microsoft.
Symbian Family (S40 and S60)
RIM Blackberry
Smartphone
QNX / Tablet
Samsung Bada
MeeGo
UX Design Principles A brief, neat overview of how to approach the overall interaction of the OS.
J2ME
The Java Platform, Micro Edition (the same thing used to have a "2" in there, and is still mostly referred to by that abbreviation) is a common platform for running applications on practically all featurephones, worldwide. It was developed by Sun, so is now owned by Oracle. Installation methods vary, and some applications will work on basically all devices, while some are targeted to specific operators, regions, manufacturers or classes of devices. J2ME runs on over three billion handsets right this minute. This is a big deal.
Java ME Landing Page a bunch of introductions, as well as developer resources, from Oracle.
BREW
A competitor to J2ME, created by Qualcomm, also allowing a (more or less) single piece of software to run on a range of handsets.
FeaturePhone UI Guidelines
Featurephones do have operating systems, and native applications are developed outside of the manufacturer's direct control for these devices. However, they generally cannot be installed by end users. These are created or specified by operators, and installed at the factory. This is mostly stuff like a custom phone book. Even the default browser is likely to be J2ME or BREW.
While UI guidelines do exist, these are generally proprietary so cannot be distributed. We have a few of them, but cannot share them. They would also be generally irrelevant; if you have to develop for this situation, you will be given the most applicable version by the operator and/or manufacturer, and have to work closely with them to get the software implemented.
Drawing Tool, Tips & Tricks
This is really just a list of items that we keep for ourselves, so we don't forget things. Feel free to add items, or even categories, if there's a tool you want to share your notes about. It is not provided in the printed book text, and shouldn't be as is too specific to our methods of work, or is not particularly mobile-specific. Or both.