Desktop UI Design

Purpose

Design intuitive desktop application interfaces using native UI frameworks (Tkinter, Qt, WPF, etc.) following platform conventions and usability best practices.

When to Use

Creating desktop application interfaces
Designing forms and dialogs
Planning menu structures and navigation
Organizing application windows

Key Capabilities

Layout Design - Organize controls logically with proper spacing
Platform Conventions - Follow OS-specific design guidelines
Usability Patterns - Apply desktop UI best practices

Approach

Understand user workflows and tasks
Group related controls together
Follow platform conventions (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Use familiar patterns (menus, toolbars, status bars)
Ensure keyboard accessibility
Provide visual feedback for actions

Example

Context: Task management application main window

Menu Bar: File | Edit | View | Tools | Help
Toolbar: [New] [Open] [Save] [Refresh]
─────────────────────────────────────
Main Content Area:
┌─ Task List ─────────────────────┐
│ ☐ Task 1    High    Pending     │
│ ☑ Task 2    Normal  Complete    │
│ ☐ Task 3    Low     Pending     │
└─────────────────────────────────┘
Status Bar: 3 tasks | 1 active | Last refresh: 2:30 PM

Design Principles:

Most important actions in toolbar
Full functionality in menus
Context menus for quick access
Status bar for non-critical info
Keyboard shortcuts for common actions

Best Practices

✅ Use native widgets for platform consistency
✅ Provide keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+N, F5, etc.)
✅ Show visual feedback (disabled states, progress indicators)
✅ Use standard dialog patterns (OK/Cancel, Yes/No)
❌ Avoid: Custom widgets that don't match platform look
❌ Avoid: Hiding important actions deep in menus