Blog post 3 chapter review of ”UI is Communication” by Everett N McKay


Why This Book?

As someone studying Information Processing, I’m constantly looking for ways to improve my 

understanding of software design and usability. When I came across UI is Communication by Everett 

N. McKay, I was intrigued by its core premise that user interfaces should be designed as a form of 

communication. Since my team project involves designing an engaging and user-friendly Greenifie

app/game, I wanted to see if this book could offer insights that would make our interface clearer and 

more effective.

Summary of What I Read

I focused on the first couple of chapters, where McKay lays the foundation for his argument. Good UI 

design is not just about aesthetics but about effectively communicating with users. He emphasizes 

that every element of a UI-buttons, icons, menus and error messages should be intuitive, guiding 

users to their goals with minimal confusion. The book draws parallels between UI design and human 

conversation, suggesting that a good interface should feel as natural as asking a question and getting 

a helpful response.

One of the key points McKay makes is the importance of immediate feedback. When users interact 

with a system, they should always know what’s happening and what to do next. He contrasts good and 

bad UI examples, showing how unclear interfaces leave users confused and frustrated, while well￾designed ones feel almost effortless to navigate.

My Reactions and Insights

What stood out to me the most was the idea that UI is essentially a conversation between the designer 

and the user. Just like in spoken communication, ambiguity leads to misunderstandings, while clarity 

fosters smooth interactions. This perspective made me reflect on past experiences with poorly 

designed software. Times when I wasn’t sure what a button would do or why an error message was 

vague. McKay’s principles explain why those experiences were frustrating.

Another profound takeaway was the importance of designing for assumptions. Users come to an 

interface with expectations based on their prior experiences. If a UI doesn’t align with those 

expectations, it disrupts the interaction. The interface should be structured around common mental 

models so that people instinctively understand how to use it.

Application to Our Project

Reading this book made me realize that we need to clear feedback to the user. Our Greenified

app/game should always confirm user actions e.g., "You have successfully planted a tree!" and 

provide guidance when users make mistakes. If players are left wondering how to progress or what 

their actions achieve, we’ve failed in our communication.

English learning

Text was pretty easy to read. I came across couple of new words that I had to google such as 

ambiguity, foster and vague.

Kommentit

  1. X26. maaliskuuta 2025 klo 7.51

    Good UI design is very important. I realized it lately while playing Sea of Thieves... I literally had no idea someone can design such a terrible interface. There’s literally nothing good about it. It’s like the person designing it had never played any video game before. You might want to check it out as an example of how not to do it.

    VastaaPoista
  2. A27. maaliskuuta 2025 klo 0.55

    Your review of UI is communication was great! By reading your review I started to feel like this book would help me as another Information Processing student. Also good that you learned some new vocabulary from the book :)

    VastaaPoista
  3. L27. maaliskuuta 2025 klo 9.30

    Great post! I like how the book compares UI to a conversation. It’s cool that you’re applying these ideas to your Greenifie project. Also nice job learning new words along the way.

    VastaaPoista
  4. A27. maaliskuuta 2025 klo 11.49

    Really cool reflections here! I like how you connected the book's ideas directly to your Greenified project especially the part about UI being like a conversation. That “You have successfully planted a tree!” example is such a nice touch!

    VastaaPoista
  5. Writer30. maaliskuuta 2025 klo 8.27

    User experience is indeed important, and your emphasis on feedback to user was a good thought in my opinion. I also liked the way you built a bridge between your Greenified project and the chapter you read! Very inspiring and perhaps also required for a project to evolve in a stabile way. Keep up with the blog posts!

    VastaaPoista
  6. starsaga31. maaliskuuta 2025 klo 5.15

    This is a great summary! I really liked your insight about UI being a conversation between the designer and the user

    VastaaPoista
  7. Someone29. huhtikuuta 2025 klo 13.41

    This is a thoughtful reflection! You clearly show how McKay’s ideas relate to your own project, especially the importance of feedback and clarity in UI.

    VastaaPoista

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