Design/Archive/Wikimedia User Interface/Principles

Extensible & Flexible

• Understandable design details;
• Minimal design details as in both quantity and style;
• As little details as possible with usability as a priority;
• Able to extend the library without a design team;
• Able to take apart components to make new ones without a design team;
• Able to accommodate future changes.

Timeless & Functional

• Components and their design details are rooted in users’ use cases;
• Avoid unnecessary details - every detail serves as a function, should be able to articulate to our users;
• Simple, usable, and functional shapes, animations, colors, etc..

Neutral

• Wikimedia projects, especially Wikipedia, is a neutral source of information.
• Our community is diverse. A neutral interface invite participation as opposed to intimidate.
• Avoid sharp corners and use rounded corners carefully. We want to appear trustworthy and neutral as opposed to childish or robotic.

Keeping in mind of...

• Some languages tend to have longer average sentences, avoid limited space allotment for important information. Allow an interface to accommodate to longer average sentences;
• Different perceptions of iconography and colors across cultures;
• Interface on mobile.

Keeping in mind of contributors’...

• Contribution time;
• Design knowledge limitations;
• Design software knowledge limitations;
• Need to understand why design decisions are made.