User-Centered Web Design - Softcover

Cato, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0201398605 ISBN 13: 9780201398601

Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 2001

Synopsis

(Pearson Education) Offers wisdom on the interface design process, questioning the purpose and usefulness of some commonly used methods. Offers exercises that promote creativity and the development of user-centered solutions. Designed to offer the reader a personal Web design workshop. Color screen shots and illustrations. Softcover.

About this title

About the Author

John Cato has 27 years experience designing software and interactive systems for clients such as Hewlett-Packard, Anderson Consulting, Microsoft, Rio Tinto plc, Westinghouse Systems, and Datastream International, specialising in usability engineering, HCI, and project management mentoring. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and runs a number of workshops and focussed training courses, as well as providing user-centred design consultancy and carrying out usability evaluations for a wide range of clients. 0201398605AB07132001

From the Back Cover

The most effective web sites are those that can attract and keep customers by being user-friendly and easy to navigate -- using a web site is a discretionary activity, where the user is king and can easily move elsewhere if presented with ambiguities or confusing options. Web sites MUST be designed with the user as the primary concern if they are to succeed.

User Centred Web Design is an original and practical guide to designing or transforming successful interactive web sites, focussing on designing for the end-user. In a concise, readable text it presents an overview of user-centred interactive website project management and design, providing practical advice and proven methodology, as well as ideas and tips for ensuring that the final design meets the needs of both client and end-user.

This book questions the usefulness and purpose behind commonly-used methods and thinking, and will encourage you to develop more creative and user-centred solutions and to embrace more effective management of web design projects.

User Centred Web Design:

* Offers clear, concise, practical wisdom on the design process
* Covers new perspectives and techniques for designing successful web sites
* Contains a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques for creative design
* Is your personal web design workshop!
0201398605B07132001

Reviews

Finding information on large web sites can be a chore because they are often created without the user in mind. Cato's book addresses this problem with an awareness, understanding, and action methodology. Though more of a treatise on user-centered design than a how-to book on web site creation, it offers real-life scenarios and site critiques that lay readers will find practical. Recommended as a supplement to HTML/how-to-build-a-web-site manuals already in your collection.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Websites are for people; people like you and me. Some we might use every day and others we take occasional brief rambles through.

Using a website, we get to know the organization and feel their character. We decide if we want to have a relationship with them and whether we will come back.

So, think of your website as an extension of yourself. It is a reflection of you in the role you have and the context of your world. As a business, you need to convey the style of your corporate culture, and visions for the future of the company, its customers, staff and suppliers. The whole message is on your website; you and your website are not separate things.

Whatever you do, it will create an effect on the person who enters it and interacts with it. As Thoreau said "it is the mark of the special man to raise the quality of the day." As designers, we might try to do this when we create a website.

When you think of a website, you might think of many different things, including information, e-commerce and shopping, or enjoyment and advertising.

There are two main aspects of use. What use is it to the visitor (the user)? What use is it to you as an organization?

visitors' purpose to purchase (air tickets, books, toys, CDs) to look at (leisure, reflection, visual entertainment) to live in (regular daily business, transactional) to communicate (group space) to visit occasionally (examining bank balances, stock prices) to explore (information, education)

organization purpose selling (e-commerce) obtain involvement reduce daily overhead costs relationship, marketing, communication provide more cost-effective financial services sell information

Although the needs of the user and the organization are connected, each has a different point of view. Each point of view must be honored and satisfied. It must be a mutually satisfying relationship.

Some sites have changed since writing this book but the lessons from these sites still apply.

I encourage you to treat this book as a personal workshop. This gives you an opportunity to do design and explore how to meet the needs of the user and the organization. By taking small components, and working with them, you can experience design in a microcosm. 0201398605P07172001

Edition details

• Publisher: Addison-Wesley
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0201398605
• ISBN 13: 9780201398601
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320