Microsoft Silverlight Books

Oh my... a readable book on programming

Before I even discuss the quality of the contents, I'd like to point out this is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and what a rare quality that is amongst programming books. The examples (both good and bad) are concise and properly supported by arguments. The analogies are fitting and funny.

This book will make you think twice (at least) about a lot of things you've been taking for granted in the world of Interface Design. If you care at all about how people experience your software, this book will uncloud your thinking and reset your preconceptions.

The quality of the physical book leaves something to be desired though, the paper and the binding are clearly below average.

David Rutten
01 March, 2010

A must have for any Interaction Designer

This book is the bible for Interaction Design, I had About Face 2.0,when this one came out I didn't think twice about buying this one.

Some key points;
- These guys do a great job of pointing out and giving suggestion for designers that are challenged with the "Why do we need an Interaction Designer" question that we are all faced with.
- Second the content is extremely through, teaching you principles of how to approach the design phase all the while keeping in mind that the end users doesn't think of software like developers do.
- This book does a great job of explaining persona's, tasks and goals, as well as where to concentrate your efforts.
- This book does an excellent job of explaining the importance of interface design.
- This book explores and critiques many common standard practices (many that should not continue to be apart of modern designs).
- This book explains modeless feedback versus modal dialogs, and when and how to use each.

This is by far the most complete book for Interaction Design that I have encountered, and I highly recommend it to anyone even contemplating becoming a designer.

What the book lacks;
- Though the book contains some images and examples, in my opinion more images and more examples would have made the book much better (also bigger, yikes!).
- The book also lacks a end to end process that is practical for most fast pace software development firms.
- The book lacks information in regards to dealing with data heavy applications (common to today's RIA's), rather it speaks to application design in real general but applicable methods.

Maybe About Face 4.0! :)

Christian Baptiste
24 November, 2009

Essential Reading for interface designers!

Wide ranging in scope, yet finely focused enough for a variety of disciplines to be able to apply this knowledge directly. Primarily directed at anyone involved in software interface design, its principles could also easily apply to other disciplines as well, such as architecture and industrial design - anyone concerned with how people use products. The only complaint - and it is minor - is that it has a slightly pedantic feel, and its concepts are so refined (e.g.: user personas) that some of the theory may not be practical but for the largest of development budgets. That said, the author(s) still offer ways to scale back on this detail. All in all, a must have on the reference shelf of every interface designer.

Mark A. Talbot
12 March, 2009

If it was all obvious, there wouldn't be a book about it!

Scoring in the game of interaction design is very simple. You get 0 points for discovering the obvious and making it easy for the user and -10,000 points for missing it.

This book should be the bible for companies trying to turn their software products around.

Tobeornotobe
08 May, 2008

Nearly a complete course in the "Cooper Method"

I read (and still have) the previous two editions of this book. Unlike the usual "complete revised and updated" hype for new editions, this one has had some serious re-work and expansion.

The whole structure of the book is new and very close to being a complete course/textbook in the Cooper approach to Goal-based Design. All the sections have been expanded based upon reactions to the previous version(s) as well as their collective experience. The most obvious changes are towards describing in greater detail the process and how to integrate it into the large design/development cycle.

For those who have not read (about) Cooper (and his firm's) work, this book is the complete approach in detail. It is written for professional UI designer and developers and makes some assumptions about the background of the reader.

Executives, stakeholders or those needing a more general overview should pick up his other book "The Inmates are Running the Asylum" which was written for that audience. That book includes more business cases and rationale without the heavy details.

As a UI professional for over 20 years find his approach to be the most useful in creating truly useful and usable applications. This book continues to point out how get beyond mere incremental design enhancements to truly revolutionary and winning designs.

...Bill
08 October, 2007