Present Arms

Guidelines, easily tested statements of principle for game presentation design:

• The only decoration is structure.
• Everything is equally visible & informative, otherwise absent.
• No difference without distinction or distinction without difference.
• Only assume competency.

I’ve come up with such lists before, but they’ve been verbose or numerous or not-so-easily-tested or not phrased in terms of principles etc. eg No distractions, everything presented at equal weight and visibility, no additional emphasis or suggestion anywhere, never ever help the player but also don’t ever get in their way, etc. The above seems better in accuracy, also application and testing against choices.