UI is Communication: How to Design Intuitive, User Centered Interfaces by Focusing on Effective Communication

by Everett N McKay

Overview

User interface design is a challenging, multi-disciplinary activity that requires understanding a wide range of concepts and techniques that are often subjective and even conflicting. Imagine how much it would help if there were a single perspective that you could use to simplify these complex issues down to a small set of objective principles. In UI is Communication, Everett McKay explains how to design intuitive user interfaces by focusing on effective human communication. A user interface is ultimately a conversation between users and technology. Well-designed user interfaces use the language of UI to communicate to users efficiently and naturally. They also recognize that there is an emotional human being at the other end of the interaction, so good user interfaces strive to make an emotional connection. Applying what you learn from UI is Communication will remove much of the mystic, subjectiveness, and complexity from user interface design, and help you make better design decisions with confidence. It’s the perfect introduction to user interface design.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780123969804
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	06/11/2013
Pages:	378
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Everett McKay is Principal of UX Design Edge (uxdesignedge.com), a user experience design training and consulting company for mobile, web, and desktop applications based in Vermont. Everett’s specialty is UX design training for software professionals who aren’t experienced designers through onsite and public courses and workshops. He also runs AskAUXExpert.com, a web-based UX design consulting service.

Previously, Everett was a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft Corporation on the Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows Server teams. While there, he was responsible for the writing of and consulting on the Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines. While at Microsoft, he was also responsible for teaching their in-house introductory UI design course. Before joining Microsoft, Everett was a programmer, specializing in designing and developing Windows and Macintosh user interfaces. He holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Communication Design Principles

Chapter 2: Interaction Design

Chapter 3: Visual Design

Chapter 4: Communicating to People

Chapter 5: A Communication-driven Design Process

Chapter 6: UI Design Case Studies

Conclusion

Glossary

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

An approachable, practical communication-based guide to interaction and visual design that designers and non-designers can immediately apply to their projects to make solid design decisions quickly and confidently.

Editorial Reviews

"Here [McKay] offers a guide to designing user interfaces by drawing on principles and common-sense insight about communication. There are no prerequisites, he says, no assumptions about the reader's field or level of experience." —Reference and Research Book News, October 2013

"The best teammate a designer can have is a communication specialist to look over your shoulder. Having Everett's book is the next best thing to having him on your team." —Bert Keely, Architect of Windows Pen and Touch

"McKay practices what he preaches – UI is Communication is relevant, readable, entertaining, and chock full of useful examples." —Carolyn Snyder, Snyder Consulting

From the Publisher