Evaluating the use of a Golden Ratio Guide for web-design using a no-code editor

Sammanfattning: The use of no-code editors makes developing web applications more accessible since they are based on Graphical User Interface elements instead of conventional programming languages. This allows users without previous programming experience to design web-application interfaces. However, designing web applications with no-code editors can be a daunting process for beginners without design experience. This study therefore investigates which aspects of no-code editors can support novice designers when designing aesthetically pleasing web-application layouts. A usability analysis of three state-of-the-art no-code editors was conducted using the Cognitive Dimensions of Notations framework. The main aspect that impacted usability in the no-code editors was a difficulty aligning and positioning elements due to hidden dependencies and unforeseen actions. Based on this finding, a prototype was developed to address these issues. The prototype introduced the concept of a "Golden Ratio Guide", a visual guide intended to support the alignment and positioning of elements. A user study was conducted with inexperienced designers (n=5) to test if the Golden Ratio Guide helps with designing aesthetic web-application layouts. Contrary to expectations, a survey with users of such web-applications (n=36) showed that the web-layouts designed without the Golden Ratio Guide were preferred.