Interactive design metric visualization: visual metric support for user interface design

Interactive metric visualization is a novel approach providing complex, multi-dimensional feedback on the effects of layout changes in user interface designs. A graphical overlay based on the underlying rationale of quantitative design metrics, provides immediate feedback, continually guiding designers toward improved layouts. Effective visual metaphors, colour coding, and dynamic updating enable designers to interpret and utilize more complex information than from simple quantitative data or static overlays. This technique is especially suited to accelerated design and development using modern visual development tools. An experimental prototype for this approach is described and initial experience is reported