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.

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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.