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The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web

The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web

by Jesse James Garrett
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Release Date: October 2002
ISBN: 9780321684486
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Book Description

Smart organizations recognize that Web design is more than just creating clean code and sharp graphics. A site that really works fulfills your strategic objectives while meeting the needs of your users. Even the best content and the most sophisticated technology won't help you balance those goals without a cohesive, consistent user experience to support it.

But creating the user experience can seem overwhelmingly complex. With so many issues involved-usability, brand identity, information architecture, interaction design-it can seem as if the only way to build a successful site is to spend a fortune on specialists who understand all the details.

The Elements of User Experience cuts through the complexity of user-centered design for the Web with clear explanations and vivid illustrations that focus on ideas rather than tools or techniques. Jesse James Garrett gives readers the big picture of Web user experience development, from strategy and requirements to information architecture and visual design. This accessible introduction helps any Web development team, large or small, to create a successful user experience.

Table of Contents

  1. Copyright
    1. Dedication
  2. About the Author
  3. About the Technical Reviewers
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Tell Us What You Think
  6. Introduction
    1. The Story Behind the Book
  7. 1. User Experience and Why It Matters
    1. Everyday Miseries
    2. Introducing User Experience
    3. User Experience and the Web
    4. Competitive Advantage and ROI
    5. Minding Your Users
  8. 2. Meet the Elements
    1. The Five Planes
      1. The Surface Plane
      2. The Skeleton Plane
      3. The Structure Plane
      4. The Scope Plane
      5. The Strategy Plane
    2. Building from Bottom to Top
    3. A Basic Duality
    4. The Elements of User Experience
      1. The Strategy Plane
      2. The Scope Plane
      3. The Structure Plane
      4. The Skeleton Plane
      5. The Surface Plane
    5. Using the Elements
  9. 3. The Strategy Plane: Site Objectives and User Needs
    1. Defining the Strategy
    2. Site Objectives
      1. Business Goals
      2. Brand Identity
      3. Success Metrics
    3. User Needs
      1. User Segmentation
      2. Usability and User Research
    4. Team Roles and Process
    5. Further Reading
  10. 4. The Scope Plane: Functional Specifications and Content Requirements
    1. Defining the Scope
      1. Reason #1: So You Know What You’re Building
      2. Reason #2: So You Know What You’re Not Building
    2. Functionality and Content
    3. Gathering Requirements
    4. Functional Specifications
    5. Content Requirements
    6. Prioritizing Requirements
    7. Further Reading
  11. 5. The Structure Plane: Interaction Design and Information Architecture
    1. Defining the Structure
    2. Interaction Design
      1. Conceptual Models
      2. Error Handling
    3. Information Architecture
      1. Architectural Approaches
      2. Organizing Principles
      3. Language and Metadata
    4. Team Roles and Process
    5. Further Reading
  12. 6. The Skeleton Plane: Interface Design, Navigation Design, and Information Design
    1. Defining the Skeleton
    2. Convention and Metaphor
    3. Interface Design
    4. Navigation Design
    5. Information Design
      1. Wayfinding
    6. Wireframes
    7. Further Reading
  13. 7. The Surface Plane: Visual Design
    1. Defining the Surface
    2. Follow the Eye
    3. Contrast and Uniformity
    4. Internal and External Consistency
    5. Color Palettes and Typography
    6. Design Comps and Style Guides
    7. Further Reading
  14. 8. The Elements Applied
    1. An Example: Search Engine Implementation
    2. Asking the Right Questions
    3. The Marathon and the Sprint
  15. Colophon
    1. About jjg.net