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1. Parallel Workspaces

Lets users switch views to reach distinct sets of tools and information. Navigation is persistently available and is used when users perform a distinct sets of tasks.

2. Wizards and Tunnels

Leads the user through the interface step by step, doing tasks in a prescribed order. Users’ decisions affect later choices. Commonly used choices are often set as defaults.

Used when you’re designing a UI for a task that is long or complicated, and that will be novel for the user — it's not something that they do often or want much fine-grained control over.

3. The Organiser Workspace

Put side-by-side panels on the interface.

In one, show a set of items that the user can select at will; in the other, show the content of the selected item. Used when you’re presenting a list of objects, categories or actions and the user needs to get more detail.

4. Hub & Spoke

(Hierarchical menu) Users return to a central hub such as a main menu screen to transition from one activity to the next.

Use when you’re designing a UI where people will only want to complete a small number of tasks at any one time, such as telephone-based support, kiosks, cash machines and DVDs.