As mentioned above, the analysis phase forms the basis for model-based user interface development and the survey results also provide the information required in later phases for the design of the interface. The major requirement in the analysis phase is to insure the reusability of the data. This is accomplished through sustainable structuring and classification of the information.

 

In the structural design phase, the initial structures for the future user interface are developed. Here, the first step is to condense the analysis data down to the smallest common information that is relevant to the planned system. All data obtained is subjected to this process in order to produce a structure or, a “use model” of the system. This structure contains “use objects” (higher level system tasks) and elementary use objects (individual tasks, which do not have any other tasks). The first tool-aided support for the structural design phase was provided by useML, a system-independent, descriptive language that allows a structured representation of the use model and other elements.  

Structural design is followed by the design of the user interface, the phase which has the main purpose of providing a hardware-specific description of the information and functions contained in the use model, although remaining software independent. The work of the design phase is subdivided into developing concepts for content structure, interaction type, layout, labeling, and configuration.