These are ten general principles for user interface design.

Key Heuristic design principles are taken into account throughout a user-centered design approach; however, many UX designers tend to overlook these principles and are unable to translate similar guidelines for mobile interface design.

These are ten general principles for user interface design. They are called "heuristics" because they are more in the nature of rules of thumb than specific usability guidelines. In the 90's Nielsen summarized these principles and they have been the benchmark for solid, structures UX Design.

Key Heuristic design principles are taken into account throughout a user-centered design approach; however, many UX designers tend to overlook these principles and are unable to translate similar guidelines for mobile interface design.

With Google’s backing of HTML 5, mobile devices leveraging a mobile browser and HTML 5 rendering capabilities will be able to run web applications directly without any downloading or installation of applications. This limits the need to develop for multiple mobile platforms and enhances/changes the way mobile interface design is handled moving forward. Rather than remaining within the parameters of iPhone or Android based interface elements and placement, applications can provide a richer user experience and, in turn, should follow specific design patterns and principles.

Various mobile design guidelines should be accounted for throughout the application life cycle. A few to keep in mind...

1. Screen size is compact

It is a challenge to design an interface for small screen sizes. Keep the focus on displaying important functionalities. Reduce the information overload found in most mobile apps and strive for an information rich application keeping the purpose of the application and direct needs of the user in mind.

2. People see one screen at a time

Small screen sizes limit visibility to a single screen. Although modal windows are possible by opening an entirely new screen within the mobile interface, the use of modal windows is confusing to the majority of users. If the focus is on the experience and direct need of the user a multi-modal application can be avoided.

3. Don't rethink the wheel

Use standard controls and behaviors a user is familiar with on mobile devices to minimize onscreen help. Although the access to many features and functionality are available through HTML 5, designers should be cautious of over-designing. It is still imperative mobile applications remain simple and direct. It is a very different experience to register within a My Account area via a mobile interface than a web interface. Even though the web can be duplicated for the mobile device this is rarely yields an optimal user experience.

That being said, Gartner predicts by year-end 2010, 1.2 billion people will carry handsets capable of rich, mobile commerce, providing a rich environment for the convergence of mobility and the web. This continued growth opens numerous opportunities for mobile interface design, but requires an intelligent approach to rolling out user-centered applications.