Origins of the Apple Human Interface

Computer History Museum

Why leaders watch it

Apple interface pioneers recount design decisions and testing with users, a case in user-centered product work.

A 1997 Computer History Museum lecture in which Larry Tesler and Chris Espinosa recount how the Apple human interface was born, from the Lisa through the Macintosh. It covers design decisions such as discoverability and the standard editing keys.

Takeaways

• Test with real users early
• Consistency across the interface mattered
• Design needed champions and persistence

Topics: Product leadership, Innovation & creativity

Related

• Steve Jobs Introduces the Macintosh · Computer History Museum
• How Steve Jobs got the ideas of GUI from XEROX · Ringo Pebam
• Susan Kare explains Macintosh UI ergonomics on the Computer Chronicles (1984) · erg0steur
• Douglas Engelbart Interviewed by John Markoff of the New York Times · Computer History Museum
• CHM Live | Original iPhone Software Team Leader Scott Forstall (Part Two) · Computer History Museum
• Bill Atkinson: Hypercard · TWiT Tech Podcast Network
• Ted Nelson struggles with uncomprehending radio interviewer, 1979 · TheTedNelson
• MIX08 Microsoft Office 2007: The Story of the Ribbon · zoobean
• Steve Jobs iPhone 2007 Presentation (HD) · Jonathan
• Oral History of Steve Naroff Part 1, Session 1 · Computer History Museum
• Bret Victor The Future of Programming · Joey Reid
• Steve Jobs The Lost Interview · Steve Jobs