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Print Book $49.95
Print Book £35.50
By Jenifer Tidwell
First Edition
November 2005
Pages: 352
ISBN 10: 0-596-00803-1 |
ISBN 13: 9780596008031
(Average of 4 Customer Reviews)
This convenient resource offers advice on creating user-friendly interface designs--whether they're delivered on the Web, a CD, or a "smart" devices like a cell phone. Solutions to common UI design problems are expressed as a collection of patterns--each one containing concrete examples, recommendations, and warnings. Intended for designers with basic UI design knowledge.
Full Description
Designing a good interface isn't easy. Users demand software that is well-behaved, good-looking, and easy to use. Your clients or managers demand originality and a short time to market. Your UI technology -- web applications, desktop software, even mobile devices -- may give you the tools you need, but little guidance on how to use them well.
Post-purchase benefits:
UI designers over the years have refined the art of interface design, evolving many best practices and reusable ideas. If you learn these, and understand why the best user interfaces work so well, you too can design engaging and usable interfaces with less guesswork and more confidence.
Designing Interfaces captures those best practices as design patterns -- solutions to common design problems, tailored to the situation at hand. Each pattern contains practical advice that you can put to use immediately, plus a variety of examples illustrated in full color. You'll get recommendations, design alternatives, and warnings on when not to use them.
Each chapter's introduction describes key design concepts that are often misunderstood, such as affordances, visual hierarchy, navigational distance, and the use of color. These give you a deeper understanding of why the patterns work, and how to apply them with more insight.
A book can't design an interface for you -- no foolproof design process is given here -- but Designing Interfaces does give you concrete ideas that you can mix and recombine as you see fit. Experienced designers can use it as a sourcebook of ideas. Novice designers will find a roadmap to the world of interface and interaction design, with enough guidance to start using these patterns immediately.
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Book details
First Edition: November 2005
ISBN: 0-596-00803-1
Pages: 352
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 4 Reviews)
Featured customer reviews
Good Interfaces and Other Tasty Morsels, June 27 2008
Submitted by Marc Dorsett [Respond | View]
I have to admit... winning a book from my Adobe User's Group meeting is not everyone's idea of a great night out. But for me, this little journey into the printed world has turned into one of my favorite "at arm's length" references.
Jenifer Tidwell's 'Designing Interfaces' puts a new realm of web design into focus that I found to be, otherwise, a maze of ungovernable buttons and clicks. So you know where this endorsements leads, find the book here:
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596008031/index.html and get ready for a good read.
As a graphic designer, I am fine-arts orientated and took up the web and ColdFusion programming as a way to make my own studio truly marketable to more of the masses. Jenifer's obvious experience unfolds on every page, making an interface design more understandable and reachable to people like me - people who knew what to do but needed better ways to do it.
The book has a wide scope of matter buts still give a generous supply of examples, both written and visual, to make the point clear and simple. When it comes to interfaces, the bookstore is littered with 'web design' but very little in interface reference. Ms. Tidwell doesn't just provide a book, she writes and explains as though she has a thousand competitors in the field and she is going to be the best. I appreciate that aggressive approach to research.
The real clincher for me in a 'learn to' book is being able to jump right to areas that I need assistance. Good reference doesn't make me read the whole thing to find what I am needing right now. 'Designing Interfaces' does just that - let me have what I need now and I will fill up on the rest as time permits - which happened pretty quickly!
All told, this is a superb resource, one which has earned a front-row seat in my bookshelf. I am certain it will be in yours, too.
Great interface component reference, June 16 2008
Rating:
Submitted by Anonymous Reader [Respond | View]
For many years now, I have been coding web sites and applications. Through all that time, nothing has ever been as tough for me as coming up with a design that I am truly happy with. Attempting to create an optimized and stable algorithm or coming up with the answer to a problem that requires non-conventional coding practices; these are always challenges, but ones that are most often eventually solved. Creating that mythical eye catching never-been-done-before layout is something that I have attempted and, sadly to say, usually fell short on. I suppose you'd consider this a case of a programmer wanting an application to not look like a programmer designed it. This was my reason for picking up the Designing Interfaces book.
The first chapter talks about how users think. However, as I finished the chapter introduction, I realized that the author and I are definitely coming from two very different places. In my experience, I get very little hands-on with the user base, or the client that the application is being built for. Even if I do talk to the client directly, instead of going through the levels of proper channels, they usually have a set design in mind, limiting my choices. That's not to say, however, that a good designer couldn't be creative given these design constraints. On the other hand, the author mentions that building a user profile is something that eats up a lot of time though it is always worth it, and while I agree whole-heartedly, sometimes a deadline approaches too quickly or it's just not in the budget to give this the time it truly needs. Past this quibble and reading on, the patterns of human behavior in the first chapter give an almost checklist of things to keep in mind when designing, and even though you read and probably think, "common sense", it is very helpful to have in one place.
As the chapters passed one by one, I found the same patterns in my reading emerge. Read the introduction to the chapters the first time you pick up the book to get an idea behind why that particular chapter is important, or, at the very least, for posterity. After that, just skip to the section in each chapter marked as "Patterns" when you need them. These patterns are where the book really shines. Each of the patterns are laid out in a similar way letting you quickly see what it is, when you would use it, why it is used (as in why it is beneficial to your user), how you create the pattern, and then some examples of its use. Considering that there are nine chapters, each with about ten different patterns, this book contains a wealth of information.
I was originally hoping for more of a design lesson; color theory, placement with a hint of golden ratios, maybe a small college art class packed into 331 pages. Though I did not get much of that, at least until the last chapter or two, I definitely found an excellent reference to keep by my side. For example, if I'm building a layout, I'll open the book right up to chapter 4 to see what the common options are; for showing hierarchical data, I'm opening up to chapter 6 to see when and for what reason I might want to go with a tree map over a normal tree. I couldn't recommend it more to someone wanting a helpful component pocket guide of sorts for interfaces, but if you are looking for theory, I'd go with something more geared in that direction.
Web designers should read this too, December 31 2007
Rating:
Submitted by
cicerone
[Respond | View]
From the title, you might think this is geared at software GUI designers and to a certain extent, it is (it's about a 50/50 split between desktop and Web examples). However, this is a false dichotomy because in a nutshell, what is Web design? It's a (branded) software interface for Web content.
This book will teach you interface design patterns that are very relevant for the Web and as the Web becomes an application platform in of itself, it's even more imperative to have a grasp of these idioms beyond "Home" and "About Us"
Just Excellent, January 13 2006
Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Stanicki
[Respond | View]
Designing Interfaces: Patterns for Effective Interaction Design by
Jenifer Tidwell.
I have taken a more than a couple programming language classes during
my IT career,
and not until discovering this book did I realize that something was
missing from
them: Interface Design. It usually got about two sentences per
semester, and it
was usually something like "make sure your prompts and input controls
line up".
This book is a remedy for those who want to develop professional
looking applications,
but need help organizing the information and user controls on a screen.
The format
reminds me of a college textbook: many color illustrations, diagrams,
and bullet points.
It uses examples (screenshots) of how well known applications organize
and present data
for the user. These include dialog boxes for desktop applications, menu
items for hand
held devices, and web applications using real life examples. The
examples shown are from
familiar applications and web sites to include but not limited include
Excel, Photoshop,
blogs, and many many more.
The first chapter deals with getting to know what your users expect (a
bit of analysis).
Chapter 2 discusses dividing up the information to be presented. After
that the book is
divided into Navigation, Page Layout, User Actions and Commands,
Showing Complex Data,
Form Design, as well as Builders and Editors (Word, Paintshop etc...).
The last chapter
covers style and aesthetics: typography, color, imgages, and even the
use of angles and
curves.
The real strength of this book is that the design solutions are
organized by What to use,
When to Use It, Why you would use it, and How to use it. These ideas
are reinforced with
screen shots of well known commercial applications
I have to give this book 5 of 5 stars for these reasons.
1. Clarity - the author follows her own advice in format, organization
and content.
If you don't know what a Closeable panel is, look on page 111,
there's a picture.
2. The what's, why's, when's, and how's of each type of design idiom
for user interfaces.
It's to the point.
3. Tons of real world examples in graphic representation.
4. Covers a broad scope, but provides ample details for each subject.
5. Interfaces such as maps, graphs, charts, user input, and page
navigation are included.
There's something for everyone.
6. Applies to both desktop and web applications. (I see plenty of web
design books,
but little or nothing on the subject of interfaces in general).
excellent pattern catalog, January 04 2006
Rating:
Submitted by
Jeanne Boyarsky
[Respond | View]
“Designing Interfaces”does for UIs what the Gang of Four did for code. Each chapter starts with a detailed overview of a UI topic with examples of good and bad design. The bulk of the chapter goes into many idioms/patterns that apply to that part of UI design. For example, form design, data presentation and editors are covered in chapter form. There is even a chapter on the emotional effect of pages. The emphasis on user interaction and not just design, distinguishes this book from others.
While there are many books on website design, this one also covers desktop and mobile interfaces. Many principles are the same and differences are highlighted. The author culls some ideas from the website design and usability classics; always making a reference. Other ideas are standards and yet more are original.
The main point of the book is to create a catalog and common language for discussing interface design. At this, the author succeeds fabulously. Each idiom or pattern is given a distinctive name, described with the what/when/why/how and provides examples. Just like Gang of Four, the patterns are appropriately cross referenced. This book is both a great read and a great reference. If you design or make GUI recommendations, you should buy it today!
Media reviews
"This is technical communication at its best: a great concept brilliantly executed. "
-- Major Keary, Book News
"Tidwell is right on the money when it comes to offering a broad range of options to address just about any interface design need you may run into. Her experience working with Matlab's Mathworks didn't limit her to offering advice for client software interface design. Tidwell goes well beyond it, delving into web design and mobile interface waters, which she swims with equal comfort and efficiency...All in all, this becomes a must reference for anyone needing to learn or polish skills in software interface design for any medium."
-- Manny Hernandez, Ask Manny: A Bilingual Blog
"This is one of those books that you'll read once and then start making post-it note bookmarks in certain areas...What you end up with is a rich volume of design techniques that can make the difference between a "wow" application and shelfware. This book will carve out a space within arm's reach on my work bookshelf. Periodic review of the contents will go far in making me a better designer in my development activities."
-- Thomas Duff, Duffbert's Random Musings
"I was enthusiastic about the idea of a book that would either improve my ability or at least allow me to take a reasonably interested programmer on a team and get them to my level of semi-competence. Happily, I believe this book meets both goals."
-- Elizabeth Zwicky, ;login:
"The book's good points are the brief but good content of the chapter overviews, the how sections of each pattern, and the illustrations...One of the major benefits of the Design Patterns book was that it provided a common vocabulary with which to discuss and communicate software designs. It will be interesting to see if this book has the same effect on interaction and interface design."
-- John Wetherbie, JavaRanch
"This book is a must buy for any FLEX coder out there and especially for any one who considers themselves a software designer to at least read. It covers a lot of things that are unsaid in the industry or unless you have the luxury of studying human behavioral science or a subject along those lines."
-- Scott Barnes, MossyBlog.com
"This is a great reference, and - yes - a lazy Sunday afternoon read. You should be a design professional and have experience under your belt such as nav bars, dialogue boxes and what a drop down is, and what it is used for effectively. This book does not tell or show you how to get that golden interface (nor should it). Designing Interfaces explains some of the key things that you should know inherently (if not, then know it after you have read it) and helps strengthen your cerebral toolbox and amaze yourself."
-- Todd Yeadon, Halifax Creative User Group
"The main strength of her approach is that she is very thorough. Her examples include different types of software and hardware...It's a handsome, well-designed book - as befits its subject..."
-- Roy Johnson, MANTEX Information Design
"Here are tips on everything from navigation and forms to using graphic editors and structuring for actions. Color screen shots, graphs, and tables pack pages which demonstrate the how, when, and why of interface design."
-- Diane Donovan, Library Bookwatch: Midwest Book Review
"The book is entirely on the subject of software interfaces for the user. As such, it addresses some of the most frustrating problems a user faces - poor design, unclear layout, lack of intuitiveness, and sometimes just a bother to use...As a user frustrated with many software packages and poorly designed interfaces, Designing Interfaces should be read by everyone working with trying to create a user-friendly product."
-- Harold McFarland, Harold's Bookshelf
"Tidwell's book is intended for readers with some experience in interface design, and familiarity with toolkits and control sets. Readers who would benefit from it include those working on desktop applications, rich internet applications, and highly interactive websites. With Designing Interfaces, Tidwell succeeded in taking what could have been a long, dry list of cures to user interaction woes, and turning out an attractive catalog of UI improvement techniques. Two additional benefits to readers: checking out some of the examples firsthand, and compiling a wish list from the first-rate bibliography. A great read on patterns, and on interface design as a whole."
-- Chris Masotti, The Captial Letter, Sacramento Society for Technical Communication
"Patterns can help us be more efficient: know what to look for, understand relationships, know what to do. In Designing Interfaces, Jennifer Tidwell demonstrates how to make applications easy to use by designing them to be familiar. By knowing what users might expect from an application or interface, the designer can choose the appropriate idioms, controls, and patterns to produce a familiar look and feel, enabling users to apply their previous knowledge and experiences to an interface that is new and perhaps novel."
-- Roger Grice, Technical Communication
