Overview
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 - Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 161: Visual user-interface elements, published by CEN, sets out requirements and recommendations for the selection, usage, and dependencies of visual user-interface (UI) elements in interactive systems. Focused on the ergonomic aspects, this standard is designed to help organizations develop software user interfaces that are usable, accessible, and consistent regardless of device type, whether fixed, portable, mobile, or in cross-device environments.
By supporting the optimal use of visual components, EN ISO 9241-161:2025 helps ensure that interactive systems are intuitive and user-friendly, contributing to increased usability, reduced user errors, and improved satisfaction. This standard supersedes the 2016 edition and represents the latest international consensus on visual UI elements.
Key Topics
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 addresses several critical elements of visual user-interface design for interactive systems:
- Requirements and recommendations for the selection and application of visual UI elements, considering user needs and ergonomic principles.
- Description and categorization of essential visual UI components, such as buttons, sliders, accordions, avatars, badges, breadcrumb trails, check boxes, combo boxes, date pickers, dialogue boxes, dropdown lists, entry fields, maps, groups, handles, hierarchical lists, implicit designators, instructive information, input tokenizers, and labels.
- Dependencies and composition of visual elements, focusing on how they function together within an interface.
- Accessibility considerations to ensure that visual UI elements are usable by all, including individuals with disabilities.
- Usability focus by providing guidance aimed at supporting efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction in interactive system use.
The standard does not provide detailed design techniques, graphical implementation details, or address purely decorative UI elements intended only for aesthetic value.
Applications
EN ISO 9241-161:2025 is relevant to a broad range of stakeholders involved in interactive system development, including:
- Software developers and UI designers: For creating or assessing software interfaces across platforms and devices.
- Quality assurance teams: To evaluate software for usability and compliance with ergonomic principles.
- Project managers and product owners: For integrating ergonomic requirements into design and development workflows.
- Accessibility professionals: To ensure that product interfaces meet inclusive design guidelines.
- Procurement and compliance officers: For specifying requirements in contracts or tenders on software solutions.
Typical usage scenarios include enterprise software development, consumer mobile applications, website design, public information systems, industrial control interfaces, and any context where human-system interaction takes place. Adopting this standard helps minimize user training needs, reduce error rates, and improve productivity by facilitating clear, consistent, and accessible visual interface elements.
Related Standards
Organizations and professionals implementing EN ISO 9241-161:2025 may also benefit from familiarity with related ergonomic and user-interface standards, such as:
- EN ISO 9241 series: Comprehensive guidance on the ergonomics of human-system interaction, particularly:
- ISO/IEC 25010: Systems and software engineering - Systems and software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE) - System and software quality models
- WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): For accessibility best practices in online and software environments
Practical Value
By adopting EN ISO 9241-161:2025, organizations ensure that their interactive systems support usability, accessibility, and overall user satisfaction. This not only benefits end-users but also enhances brand reputation, regulatory compliance, and market competitiveness in a user-centric digital world.
