Design Attribute Checklist

"The dumbest mistake is viewing design as something you do at the end of the process to 'tidy up' the mess, as opposed to understanding it's a 'day one' issue and part of everything."

Tom Peters, Author of "In Search of Excellence"

Attractiveness
Are design attributes properly selected and applied? Is there an overall sense of style?

Integration
Do the parts work together gracefully? Are there lateral hyperlinks or cross-references among functional sections? Is there an overall sense of seamlessness?

Organization
Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts? Are the pieces properly placed? Is there an overall sense of structure?

Coherence
Are the workflow roles and tasks clear from the screen design? Are text descriptions adequate and understandable? Is there an overall sense of context?

Consistency
Do functions operate according to common rules? Are valid differences clarified? Do design elements conform with one another internally or across the software? Is there and overall sense of conformance to a standard?

Appropriateness
Do functions flow gracefully? Are there sensible shortcuts and defaults? Is there and overall sense of stickiness and the inheritence of relevant information?

Functionality
Are all important features supplied? Do critical functions operate consistently and completely? Is there an overall sense of utility?

Helpfulness
Does it automatically perform sensible actions? Are you reminded or informed of what needs to be done – or are you are required to do everything? Is there an overall sense of politeness?

Forthrightness
Is the workflow obvious in the interface? Is necessary information emphasized? Are error conditions announced? Is there an overall sense of clarity?

Personalization
Are default conditions and views customized to you as an individual? Is there “permissioning” (Access Control List) entitlements to help guide the work process? Is there an overall sense of boundaries and entitlements?

Attractiveness	Are design attributes properly selected and applied? Is there an overall sense of style?
Integration	Do the parts work together gracefully? Are there lateral hyperlinks or cross-references among functional sections? Is there an overall sense of seamlessness?
Organization	Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts? Are the pieces properly placed? Is there an overall sense of structure?
Coherence	Are the workflow roles and tasks clear from the screen design? Are text descriptions adequate and understandable? Is there an overall sense of context?
Consistency	Do functions operate according to common rules? Are valid differences clarified? Do design elements conform with one another internally or across the software? Is there and overall sense of conformance to a standard?
Appropriateness	Do functions flow gracefully? Are there sensible shortcuts and defaults? Is there and overall sense of stickiness and the inheritence of relevant information?
Functionality	Are all important features supplied? Do critical functions operate consistently and completely? Is there an overall sense of utility?
Helpfulness	Does it automatically perform sensible actions? Are you reminded or informed of what needs to be done – or are you are required to do everything? Is there an overall sense of politeness?
Forthrightness	Is the workflow obvious in the interface? Is necessary information emphasized? Are error conditions announced? Is there an overall sense of clarity?
Personalization	Are default conditions and views customized to you as an individual? Is there “permissioning” (Access Control List) entitlements to help guide the work process? Is there an overall sense of boundaries and entitlements?