Series 2: Fundamentals of Good Web Design

(The following is a series of reviews on web 2.0, web design, and social media books.  It will be a 9 part series.  Each review is structured to provide a brief summary of  the books along with some application to current course assignments for a Web 2.0 Production course taught by Dr. Sorin Matei, Purdue University.)

Series 2: Interaction design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction

Designing interactive product to support the way people communicate and interact in their everyday and working lives. (Preece, J., Rogers, Y., & Sharpe, 2007)

Summary
Preece et al. enforces the idea that interactive design is a result of understanding a user’s desires and capabilities. The book begins by getting into the fundamental details of interaction design by outline four basic principles. Once defined, each is discussed in explicit details providing examples for the web and inanimate objects. I especially like this book because the authors use a variety of real-life examples of actual web sites and designs to convey the true message of their advice of how to make a web site not only functional, but also easy to use and visually appealing without compromising anything. This book also stresses the importance of understanding and conceptualizing the design space before sitting down to put any objects on the screen.

There are fifteen chapters packed full of tips and real-life examples for making the design of a web site appeal to the users cognitive and social norms. Interactive design involved expressive interfaces. These interfaces are where the joys of typology and graphic design play a major role. It’s amazing how the style of a headline or blog entry can affect the experience of the user. The book provides a history of digital typeface and how it has transformed the art of communication. Fonts and commonly accepted icons have also added to the level of interaction on computers. Today we see certain icons for RSS, adding to Facebook, boomkmarking through Delicious that show users additional ways to connect with others when reading a personal web site or blog.

Preece et al discuss the significance of including users in design. Users can help to organize, manage, and control content on any site, even blogs. Like open source coding, involving uses has made software like linux even better. Users should be consulted throughout development of a we site from the earliest phases to the latest and their input is seriously taken into account for all modifications. An online community or web site is only as successful as what its users make it. A users tasks and goals should be the driving force behind web development and not the content distribution of the client/developer. The intended behavior of users should be driving the creative inputs. All design decisions are taken within the context of the users, their work, and their environment.

Web 2.0 Relevance
Web 2.0 and virtual communities allow for users to communicate in a variety of ways including photos, video, instant messaging and status updates (like Twitter and Facebook). Not only has Web 2.0 made the transferring of information between users easier, but it has also made it more visually appealing. Preece et al discuss how the introduction of graphical representations of uses, or avatars, has made the design game that much more personal. Not only do designers have to design a website that meets the goals of the design project, but they also have to maximize the site’s interactivity. Today web 2.0 thrives off of user-generated content. This extends the idea of involving users in design development. This trend is mirrored in the advice from Preece et al. Human-centered design and moving from concept to creation by involving users will make for a successful web site.

Four Basic activities of interaction design that are appropriate for the development of web 2.0 infused site:
1. Identifying needs and establishing requirement for the user experience
Note: Know our target users and the support the interactive web design will provide; do this by gathering data and analysis)

2. Developing alternative designs that meet those requirements
Note: Core of designing; concept design, prototyping, etc.; this process is identical to product development of consumer goods, etc.

3. Building interactive versions of the designs
Note: Interact with them and design; have to use it in order to see what it will do

4. Evaluating what is being built throughout the process and the user experience it offers
Note: Evaluation of the site and the process, and acceptability – need to get actual users to use it; does it match the goals?

Reference

Preece, J., Rogers, Y., & Sharpe (2007). Interaction design: Beyond human-computer interaction (2nd ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.