A Summary of User Interface Design Principles

This document represents a compilation of fundamental principles for designing user interfaces, which have been drawn from various books on interface design, as well as my own experience. Most of these principles can be applied to either command-line or graphical environments. I welcome suggestions for changes and additions -- I would like this to be viewed as an "open-source" evolving document.

1. The principle of user profiling
2. The principle of metaphor
3. The principle of feature exposure
4. The principle of coherence
5. The principle of state visualization
6. The principle of shortcuts
7. The principle of focus
8. The principle of grammar
9. The principle of help
10. The principle of safety
11. The principle of context
12. The principle of aesthetics
13. The principle of user testing
14. The principle of humility

(Via Talin)