Simplified user interface explained

A simplified user interface (SUI) is an illustration of a software interface that reduces irrelevant information to abstract shapes to create a "stylised but instantly recognisable image" that conveys the contextually important details.^[1]

Similar in look to wireframes, SUIs have uses in marketing,^[1] user onboarding (for instance by Slack^[2] and Google Analytics^[3]), and technical communication.^{[4] [5]}

As well as improving the speed and clarity of communication, for those creating documentation SUIs offer a degree of future-proofing against incremental changes to the interface,^[1] and aid the translation of documents into other languages.^[6]

Further reading

• Web site: Write the Docs podcast episode 33: simplified user interfaces, with Anton Bollen . Tom . Johnson . 19 January 2019 . I'd Rather Be Writing . 27 June 2021.
• Web site: Simplified graphics and screenshots in software documentation . Leonie . Saremba . Anton . Bollen . February 2021 . TCWorld . 27 June 2021.
• Web site: Graphic content warning: the pros, cons, and alternatives to screenshots . Steve . Segelin . 2018 . WriteTheDocs. 27 June 2021.
• Web site: Creating beautiful SUIs . Kat . Cassidy . katcassidy.com . 27 June 2021.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Simplified graphics: meet the new design style for technical communication . Bollen . Anton . 7 August 2019 . LinkedIn . (Originally published as 'SUI: revolutionising graphic effects', Communicator, Summer 2019, Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators (ISTC).) . 27 June 2021.
2. Web site: 3 great examples of simplified user interface . Justin . Simon . TechSmith. 27 June 2021.
3. Web site: Discover . Google Analytics . 27 June 2021.
4. The globots are coming . Paul . Ballard . Summer 2021 . Communicator . ISTC. 14–15.
5. Web site: Simplified user interface . . 27 June 2021.
6. Web site: Simple solutions to evergreen images . Michele . Wiedemer . 19 January 2019 . LinkedIn . 27 June 2021.