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Over the following years, Readymag’s user interface changed. Hundreds of new features were being added, just as hundreds of flaws were being fixed. Weak points were rethought and redesigned. This process is ongoing. Today, Readymag's UI is still far from our ideal; but there’s something there that many users have fallen in love with. Perhaps, it can be called a human touch. In a world where every product claims to be a problem-solving tool with copycat interfaces, Readymag stands out.

user interface

Readymag came out in 2013, when designing a freeform layout in your browser without coding was still brand new. The interface was designed completely in Photoshop. Can you imagine that today? With colorful buttons and interactions, it looked fresh and unique. It didn't look like anything designers were using day-to-day at that time. In many ways, it was a brave experiment.

Readymag user interface in 2012, designed by Anton Herasimenko.

UI elements

The user interface represents the sum of possible experiences, not of visual elements. The way you accomplish tasks with a product  —  what you do and how it responds — that’s the interface.

So, the structure and appearance of the interface determine what is and isn’t possible.

Structure and appearance are defined through conveyed meanings.

All possible experiences should also be communicated through conveyed meanings.

Once we accept that there is a meaning to be told, it’s useful to think of interface design as a communication process. There is not only a message, but also a sender — as well as a recipient. There has to be a common thread that both of them can understand, otherwise the communication fails.

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Each piece of our grid control inputs is designed to visually convey its particular function.

It is crucial for every feature to provide a recognizable function. An interface designer should always wonder how a user will know an action is possible.

Preferably, the user interface should be self-explanatory (i.e., easy to understand without any tutorials or support services).

All features should also be discoverable in the interface, without external help.

An interface should keep users informed about their actions and any changes.

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shape

When the interface is self-explanatory, it becomes easy to learn and use.