GUI designs

A module with two input and output ports and the module graphics shown between the ports

A module with two input ports and one output port and the module name shown between them

A module with three input ports and one output port. The module graphics as well as its name are shown between the ports

A module, represented by its ports and its name, with GUI actions. One action is shown twice in different positions. Which one is better?

The same module with the same actions, but shown only in one position

An isometric view of the canvas where all modules are located (the GUI won't show this view, this is just for the purpose of illustrating changing the viewpoint)

The parabola in the last image shows a possible path of viewer when changing the view from one module to another. The view changes gradually from the original scale to a bird's eye view and then back to the original scale, while changing the x/y position towards the new module.

The x/y position change linearly with time, i.e., x(t) = a1 * t + b1, y(t) = a2 * t + b2. The distance z from the canvas plane (which influences the scale of the view) changes quadratically with time, i.e., z(t) = u * t² + v * t + w. The scale changes perspectively with z: scale = 1 / (z + 1).