ignore the code: Realism in UI Design

The goal is not to make your user interface as realistic as possible. The goal is to add those details which help users identify what an element is, and how to interact with it, and to add no more than those details. UI elements are abstractions which convey concepts and ideas; they should retain only those details that are relevant to their purpose. UI elements are almost never representations of real things. Adding too much realism can cause confusion.

via ignore the code: Realism in UI Design.

Vista のコントロールパネルや Mac OS X の環境設定を見ていると、上記の指摘がよく分かる。なんなんだあの直感的なわかりにくさは。