``Although following these guidelines is encouraged, you are free to adopt the guidelines that best suit your software. However, by following these guidelines, you enable users to transfer their skills and experience from one task to the next and to learn new tasks more easily... However, by following these guidelines, you enable users to transfer their skills and experience from one task to the next and to learn new tasks more easily...


Conversely, adhering to the design guideline does not guarantee usability. The guidelines are valuable tools, but they must be combined with other factors as part of an effective software design process, such as application of design principles, task analysis, prototyping and usability evaluation.'' (The Windows Interface Guidelines, xix).