See also https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T116549 ("Provide a color
palette and design for buttons that are purely highlighted links, to
distinguish them from actual UI buttons") which I think needs designer and
developer input.

On Mon, Oct 26, 2015 at 12:43 PM, Pau Giner <[email protected]> wrote:

> I think one of the underlying aspects here is the idea of side-effects and
> safe navigation.
>
> We learnt by using the web that buttons and links had generally different
> expectations. Links have been used for navigation purposes, while buttons
> are associated with commands which affect the status of the system. These
> associations make us to click links without having to fear any unexpected
> change in the system.  This allows to navigate more fluently when those
> assumptions are met, and get into trouble when those are broken (e.g., a
> delete link in the middle of other navigation links).
>
> I think the purpose of colour buttons is to set similar expectations. We
> highlight the next logical step and indicate whether some new content will
> be created (green) or destroyed (red) as an outcome. Creating and deleting
> content, even if these actions can be undone seems worth some
> considerations in an environment where content is public and edited
> collaboratively by many.
> So I think that setting these expectations is useful on helping the user
> to determine on which decisions to put more thought and which ones to do
> more fluently.
>
>
> I think we can design great experiences with or without this pattern, but
> this is a pattern that requires to be applied consistently to work. We need
> to consider also that the resulting effects on the user affect more their
> intuition than their conscious thoughts. So while I think it can improve
> the user experience, it is not something easy to test just by asking if the
> user can figure out why the button is green instead of blue, even less if
> the user has not been exposed to a consistent application of the pattern
> for a while.
>
> If the problem is that it is not easy to be applied consistently, we may
> consider clarifying the guidelines to indicate the cases where each one
> should use with as unambiguous definitions and clear examples as possible.
>
> Google use of colour buttons has been mentioned. In this talk
> <https://vimeo.com/29965463> (at 26:40) the code colour they used is
> explained: red for creating something, blue for do/confirm actions such as
> search, and green fro actions with an audience such as share. The fact
> Google has been using this approach does not mean that we need to follow,
> but it illustrates that associating colours to certain types of actions is
> not an unprecedented idea in the design of user interfaces.
>
>
> Pau
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 24, 2015 at 2:02 AM, Isarra Yos <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On 23/10/15 18:28, S Page wrote:
>>
>>> Obviously design is for users. But having a pleasant productive time
>>> using a design and understanding its nuances are very different things.
>>> "Testing with your users to see if they understand the difference between
>>> [two button colors]" seems crazy (unless I misunderstand what designers
>>> mean by "understand"). Does Google test to see if users understand the
>>> difference between the rounded edge and the shadowed edge in Material? I
>>> really doubt it. Different colors and treatments provide different
>>> experiences, and there are guidelines when to use them.
>>>
>>
>> That's nuances, details. Nevermind nuances. The question here is, on
>> whatever level, does the distinction help the user? Have users noticed that
>> there is a difference? Has it meant anything to them? Has anyone looked
>> into this?
>>
>> If it's shown to help, that's all we need. We have a justification for
>> the maintenance overhead and stuff. And cookies. Always cookies. We should
>> all go get some cookies.
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Pau Giner
> Senior User Experience Designer
> Wikimedia Foundation
>
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>
>


-- 
Nick Wilson (Quiddity)
Community Liaison
Wikimedia Foundation
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