Interdisciplinary Interaction Design: A Visual Guide to Basic Theories, Models and Ideas for Thinking and Designing for Interactive Web Design and Digital Device Experiences

Interaction design has many dimensions to it. It addresses how people deal with words, read images, explore physical space, think about time and motion, and how actions and responses affect human behavior. Various disciplines make up interaction design, such as industrial design, cognitive psychology, user interface design and many others. It is my hope that this book is a starting point for creating a visual language to enhance the understanding of interdisciplinary theories within interaction design. The book uses concise descriptions, visual metaphors and comparative diagrams to explain each term’s meaning. Many ideas in this book are based on timeless principles that will function in varying contexts.

The book will give you:

• Concise explanations and visual representations of over a dozen different discipline’s theories and ideas.
• Great starting point for courses that deal with interactive design, Web design, user experience, interface design and new media.
• Foundational book for timeless interdisciplinary interaction design principles for both thinking and designing in the interactive world.

James Pannafino is a faculty member at Millersville University, Pennsylvania in the Art and Design Department where he teaches graphic and interactive design courses. Before teaching at the college level, James worked as both a graphic and interactive designer in the professional field. His research interests include Interactive design fundamentals, visualization, visual storytelling and digital narrative forms. James has presented at conferences at the following institutions and universities: HOW Interactive Design, Fordham University, Harvard University, Maryland Institute of College and Art, Penn State University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His love for communication design and visualization has led him to produce his first book; Common College Sense: The Visual Guide to Understanding Everyday Tasks for College Students. The book uses both visual diagrams and written explanations to clearly describe common-sense tasks.