Growing a Styleguide: Macroergonomic Strategies for Achieving Consistent User Interface Design
Consistency in user interface design is generally recognized as a desirable goal. The main problem facing most practitioners is how to achieve it. In many cases the solution begins with a user interface styleguide that defines the design criteria for user interface developers. A styleguide is a necessary, but not sufficient, part of the solution. In practice, achieving consistency requires a multi-faceted approach ranging from design guidelines to organizational structures and processes. This paper discusses macroergonomic aspects of styleguide development in a large software development organization, focusing on the processes and organizational strategies used to develop content and achieve initial buyin by user interface designers and developers.