After the content is organized in a meaningful, logical way, the information is made accessible for the intended users by the creation of a user interface: "The interface is the intermediary between users and content, an interpreter and guide to the complexities of a site" (Fleming, Web 63). The user interface gives the logical structure of a web site visual meaning. (5.1, 5.2)

User interfaces are not limited to web design or computer applications. The Boston Subway system uses an interface to aid its passengers in selecting the correct subway line to ride, so that they arrive at their intended destination quickly and easily. By using different colors to distinguish different lines (Red Line, Blue Line, Green Line, and so forth), the designers developed a consistent and easily recognizable interface for riders to follow. In this scenario the logical structure is the organization of the various routes, while the visual meaning is the color-coded subway lines. Together these two elements create a successful user experience.

Metaphors to Represent Information

In writing, authors use metaphors to explain something unfamiliar or abstract by comparing it with something understood. For example, "time flew" conveys the idea that time passed extremely fast. Time did not actually fly, but it is compared to things that ordinarily move quickly.