In order to generate a graphical user interface for a programme application on a display, multiple plug-ins for said programme application are registered in a plug-in catalogue. The plug-ins comprise a main window plug-in and multiple window area plug-ins. When the programme application is started, the main window plug-in is started, said plug-in representing a main window on the display and defining multiple sub-areas of the main window. The defined sub-areas of the main window are registered in an area manager. In addition, the window area plug-ins are started and each plug-in is registered in the area manager and linked by the area manager to one of the defined sub-areas of the main window. Each window area plug-in represents a window area on the display in the sub-area of the main window to which the plug-in is linked.