Home - Mobile Phone Programming
Simple and Usable Web, Mobile, and Interaction Design (Voices That Matter)
Price:
$16.99
$29.99
& 2-Day * Free Nationwide Shipping! (* details)
Availability: Usually ship in 24 hours if sold by Amazon.com
Product Details
| Binding: | Paperback |
|---|---|
| EAN: | 9780321703545 |
| Label: | New Riders Press |
| Feature: | |
| Publisher: | New Riders Press |
| Studio: | New Riders Press |
Editorial Reviews
In a complex world, products that are easy to use win favor with consumers. This is the first book on the topic of simplicity aimed specifically at interaction designers. It shows how to drill down and simplify user experiences when designing digital tools and applications. It begins by explaining why simplicity is attractive, explores the laws of simplicity, and presents proven strategies for achieving simplicity. Remove, hide, organize and displace become guidelines for designers, who learn simplicity by seeing before and after examples and case studies where the results speak for themselves.
Customer Reviews
Tyler Tate @ 2010-09-27 An approachable, practical guide to achieving simplicity
We've all been frustrated by a gadget, from trying to install a printer to spending hours setting up a new mobile phone. Page one of Simple and Usable points out that: "[The] Technology that is supposed to make our lives easier often feels like it's on the march against us." What then is the antidote to confusing products, software, and web sites? The answer is--as one might guess from the title of the book--simplicity.
Simple and Usable is both an extremely approachable and an incredibly practical guide to simplicity. Author Giles Colborne compelling shares four fundamental strategies for accomplishing simplicity: remove, organize, hide, and displace.
First, figure out the most important tasks of mainstream users, and make those tasks really easy to accomplish. Then, kill all the features that aren't core. From limiting choice, to eliminating distraction, to using smart defaults, Giles offers many tangible tactics for reducing complexity.
But just throwing something out isn't the only way to simplify. Effective organization can make an interface feel simpler to use. "There are plenty of options open to you in organizing an interface--size, color, position, shape, hierarchy." Giles explains that organizing for simplicity involves emphasizing just one or two important elements. He shares useful techniques for achieving organization such as chunking, hard edges, grids, and layering.
For those features that can't be eliminated but that are used only rarely, Giles recommends a third strategy: hiding. "Often a feature has a few core controls for mainstreamers and extended, precision controls for experts," he says. "Hiding the precision controls is a good way to keep things simple." Giles shares how progressive disclosure and timely clues can be used to reveal a hidden feature at just the right moment.
While the first three strategies--remove, organize, and hide--work well in conjunction, the fourth strategy is, as Giles puts it, "a cheat." Displacement is the technique of moving functionality from one location, say a TV remote control, to a different location, such as onto the TV screen itself. "One of the secrets of creating simple experiences," Giles says, "is putting the right functionality on the right... part of the system."
Not only is Simple and Usable packed with practical strategies for achieving simplicity, but it's also quite an enjoyable read. Giles manages to infuse frequent examples into the book's impressively concise 1-page sections, making for inviting reading whether you're on a 3-minute bus ride or spending a Saturday at the cafe. As an advocate of simplicity myself, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a hand in building websites, software, or products.
Simple and Usable is both an extremely approachable and an incredibly practical guide to simplicity. Author Giles Colborne compelling shares four fundamental strategies for accomplishing simplicity: remove, organize, hide, and displace.
First, figure out the most important tasks of mainstream users, and make those tasks really easy to accomplish. Then, kill all the features that aren't core. From limiting choice, to eliminating distraction, to using smart defaults, Giles offers many tangible tactics for reducing complexity.
But just throwing something out isn't the only way to simplify. Effective organization can make an interface feel simpler to use. "There are plenty of options open to you in organizing an interface--size, color, position, shape, hierarchy." Giles explains that organizing for simplicity involves emphasizing just one or two important elements. He shares useful techniques for achieving organization such as chunking, hard edges, grids, and layering.
For those features that can't be eliminated but that are used only rarely, Giles recommends a third strategy: hiding. "Often a feature has a few core controls for mainstreamers and extended, precision controls for experts," he says. "Hiding the precision controls is a good way to keep things simple." Giles shares how progressive disclosure and timely clues can be used to reveal a hidden feature at just the right moment.
While the first three strategies--remove, organize, and hide--work well in conjunction, the fourth strategy is, as Giles puts it, "a cheat." Displacement is the technique of moving functionality from one location, say a TV remote control, to a different location, such as onto the TV screen itself. "One of the secrets of creating simple experiences," Giles says, "is putting the right functionality on the right... part of the system."
Not only is Simple and Usable packed with practical strategies for achieving simplicity, but it's also quite an enjoyable read. Giles manages to infuse frequent examples into the book's impressively concise 1-page sections, making for inviting reading whether you're on a 3-minute bus ride or spending a Saturday at the cafe. As an advocate of simplicity myself, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a hand in building websites, software, or products.
Tim @ 2011-05-04 Well done for an introduction or a review of important points
I am impressed with this book on several counts.
1. The content combines succinct mini-chapters with gorgeous and complementary images.
2. The quality of the paper stock, the book's information design, and the overall package is top notch.
3. I learned a couple new things despite having been around the profession for a while.
4. The focus is not on one particular type of product.
I don't think the book is all things to all people and I suspect it was not meant to be. A seasoned UX professional may not learn a lot from it, but this is a good book for students and for business people who might need an introduction to good user experience research and design principles. For the experienced UX person, I think the book could be a good review of some key precepts that sometimes might seem distant in the day-to-day rush of getting things done.
I do wish there were footnotes to the interesting research studies the author sometimes refers to in the chapters. The more we UX pros back up our assertions with proper research, the more we will be taken seriously by our employers and clients. Perhaps a bibliography on the simpleandusable.com website would be a good adjunct to the book?
1. The content combines succinct mini-chapters with gorgeous and complementary images.
2. The quality of the paper stock, the book's information design, and the overall package is top notch.
3. I learned a couple new things despite having been around the profession for a while.
4. The focus is not on one particular type of product.
I don't think the book is all things to all people and I suspect it was not meant to be. A seasoned UX professional may not learn a lot from it, but this is a good book for students and for business people who might need an introduction to good user experience research and design principles. For the experienced UX person, I think the book could be a good review of some key precepts that sometimes might seem distant in the day-to-day rush of getting things done.
I do wish there were footnotes to the interesting research studies the author sometimes refers to in the chapters. The more we UX pros back up our assertions with proper research, the more we will be taken seriously by our employers and clients. Perhaps a bibliography on the simpleandusable.com website would be a good adjunct to the book?
Adam @ 2011-08-08 My new favorite give-away
There is a short list of books that I recommend when asked "What book should I read in order to understand what you do?" This is it! I already own two copies. It's so intelligently broken down that it's very quotable. The only thing that would make it better would be quick reference tabs but that would ruin the aesthetic.
C. Jarrett "forms an @ 2010-10-21 Dip in, think, act
Let's be clear: this is a very short book. It's not going to teach you tons of stuff about how to create a better product. It's not a textbook.
What it is: pared-down, thought-provoking, beautiful.
When I picked it up, my first thought was 'lovely' and my second was 'is that it?'. It didn't seem weighty enough to have that much of an impact.
As I read it, I realise that there's a lot more insight in it than the size implies. Giles has worked really hard to pare this down to a few simple messages that you can act on straight away.
Yes, you can read it all in a (fairly short) train or plane ride. I did that, but I found that I kept stopping to reflect on ideas in the book and how I wanted to use them, or challenge myself to use them, in various projects. I'll come back to it, both to read through and to dip in now and then when I need a little thoughtful inspiration.
Definitely recommended.
What it is: pared-down, thought-provoking, beautiful.
When I picked it up, my first thought was 'lovely' and my second was 'is that it?'. It didn't seem weighty enough to have that much of an impact.
As I read it, I realise that there's a lot more insight in it than the size implies. Giles has worked really hard to pare this down to a few simple messages that you can act on straight away.
Yes, you can read it all in a (fairly short) train or plane ride. I did that, but I found that I kept stopping to reflect on ideas in the book and how I wanted to use them, or challenge myself to use them, in various projects. I'll come back to it, both to read through and to dip in now and then when I need a little thoughtful inspiration.
Definitely recommended.
Scott Herring @ 2010-10-18 You CAN Judge This Book by Its Cover!
Like its predecessor by Steve Krug "Don't Make Me Think", which clearly inspired author Giles Colborne, "Simple and Usable" weaves a practical framework for making intelligent choices when creating user experiences. Laden with real-world examples, the book takes a deliberately simple approach to describing effective techniques for software, website and mobile interaction design. Mr. Colborne's book reflects his ability to practice what he preaches: simplicity. Each concept is described in a single page, with an accompanying, relevant photograph. Organization of the material is like a recipe in a cookbook: a picture of the finished product, a list of ingredients, and a step by step approach to delivery.
Three characteristics shine through in "Simple and Usable":
* Elegance
Call it the "iPhone" of usability books - it's packaged better than other books in this space. It's a fast, easy treatment you can read in a few hours.
* Practicality
Nearly every page has a concept or tactic that you can use every day. The examples stem from products Mr. Colborne has created himself, such as online travel planners or automotive sales websites, or ones he has used, like Flip cameras or the elevator in Tokyo's Apple Store.
* Simplicity
Easily the most noteworthy trait of the book is the information design of the book itself, from orientation to staging and continued through execution.
I would recommend "Simple and Usable" for novice and intermediate user experience designers looking for new ideas or quick reminders of the right way to go about designing interaction.
Three characteristics shine through in "Simple and Usable":
* Elegance
Call it the "iPhone" of usability books - it's packaged better than other books in this space. It's a fast, easy treatment you can read in a few hours.
* Practicality
Nearly every page has a concept or tactic that you can use every day. The examples stem from products Mr. Colborne has created himself, such as online travel planners or automotive sales websites, or ones he has used, like Flip cameras or the elevator in Tokyo's Apple Store.
* Simplicity
Easily the most noteworthy trait of the book is the information design of the book itself, from orientation to staging and continued through execution.
I would recommend "Simple and Usable" for novice and intermediate user experience designers looking for new ideas or quick reminders of the right way to go about designing interaction.
Dan Bergevin @ 2011-02-27 Exactly what I needed
I'm going to pick up another copy of this book so I can compensate for my beer-stained, coffee-ringed, bent-up and broken-in copy.
Yeah, it's super light, thin, and laden with fun but not useful pictures. This would be a downside, but Paul Arden did the same thing and his books are priceless. Why? Because the information hits for the fences, every time, without a single wasted word. The pics are fluff, but screw 'em - you can't argue with effectiveness.
If you are a designer of anything, whether it is websites or furniture or ergonomic gun parts, you need this. I was using it within a few hours of buying it and it has filled a lot of gaps in my next book's design.
Recommended, even at its seemingly high price. Just use it, and use it a lot, and you'll definitely get a decent ROI.
Yeah, it's super light, thin, and laden with fun but not useful pictures. This would be a downside, but Paul Arden did the same thing and his books are priceless. Why? Because the information hits for the fences, every time, without a single wasted word. The pics are fluff, but screw 'em - you can't argue with effectiveness.
If you are a designer of anything, whether it is websites or furniture or ergonomic gun parts, you need this. I was using it within a few hours of buying it and it has filled a lot of gaps in my next book's design.
Recommended, even at its seemingly high price. Just use it, and use it a lot, and you'll definitely get a decent ROI.
Drys @ 2010-10-30 What it says on the cover
This book is a delight. Everything about it is Simple and Usable - the layout, the beautiful illustrations, and the text.
It asks why every device we come into contact can't feel simple and usable. But it doesn't just preach this as an aim. It sets out to show what we can do to achieve it, as well as looking at what can get in our way.
It's packed with moments where you read and shout out "Of course, why didn't I think of that?" or "I'd totally forgotten that, I know how I can apply that straight away". A key piece for me was the section about designing for the mainstream rather than for expert users. And the section suggesting you describe what you want to change as a story or vision was very valuable.
It is a very practical book. Using four strategies: remove, organise, hide and displace is an excellent way to go about thinking of a redesign, and the idea is backed up with lots of examples of how to think about and implement these strategies. I can see this is a book I will return to again to deal with specific questions.
My only criticism of the book is the lack of bibliography. I would have loved to have recommendations for further reading
This book has a lovely personal tone, making it clear the author is experienced, knows what he is talking about, but he uses anecdotes to illustrate points rather than to show how clever he is. I'd recommend Simple and Usable to anyone involved in physical or digital product design. But it is also a great read for anyone frustrated by the complexity of current devices, who wonders how they could be improved.
It asks why every device we come into contact can't feel simple and usable. But it doesn't just preach this as an aim. It sets out to show what we can do to achieve it, as well as looking at what can get in our way.
It's packed with moments where you read and shout out "Of course, why didn't I think of that?" or "I'd totally forgotten that, I know how I can apply that straight away". A key piece for me was the section about designing for the mainstream rather than for expert users. And the section suggesting you describe what you want to change as a story or vision was very valuable.
It is a very practical book. Using four strategies: remove, organise, hide and displace is an excellent way to go about thinking of a redesign, and the idea is backed up with lots of examples of how to think about and implement these strategies. I can see this is a book I will return to again to deal with specific questions.
My only criticism of the book is the lack of bibliography. I would have loved to have recommendations for further reading
This book has a lovely personal tone, making it clear the author is experienced, knows what he is talking about, but he uses anecdotes to illustrate points rather than to show how clever he is. I'd recommend Simple and Usable to anyone involved in physical or digital product design. But it is also a great read for anyone frustrated by the complexity of current devices, who wonders how they could be improved.
Sarah @ 2010-10-10 The secrets of simplicity, revealed!
Packed with stories and real-world examples, "Simple and Usable" is one of the best books I've read for practical, specific strategies to design products and websites that are delightfully easy to use and learn.
The biggest ah-ha moment for me came when this book laid out the 4 core strategies to simplify a complex product. In just 4 words, it summed up all the key methods a designer uses to transform a product into something that's simple and intuitive: Remove, Organize, Hide, or Displace. Simply brilliant!
This book should be featured prominently on the bookshelf of any usability analyst, user experience designer, or product designer -- alongside works like "Presentation Zen" and "Don't Make Me Think."
The biggest ah-ha moment for me came when this book laid out the 4 core strategies to simplify a complex product. In just 4 words, it summed up all the key methods a designer uses to transform a product into something that's simple and intuitive: Remove, Organize, Hide, or Displace. Simply brilliant!
This book should be featured prominently on the bookshelf of any usability analyst, user experience designer, or product designer -- alongside works like "Presentation Zen" and "Don't Make Me Think."
R. Dorris @ 2011-03-05 Simplistic and under-whelming
This is a very light read with little detail regarding simple and usable design. Yes, it gives you the tired analogies that we've seen many times before, but the author does not work hard to develop new insight or support for those analogies.
In one case the author discusses how a change in a travel web site made a big difference in how much people enjoyed using it, but sidesteps the issue that there was a 10-year gap between the two versions. A lot changes in 10 years!... like how web sites are implemented, the technologies they use, and the comfort level the public has with interactive web sites.
And talk about a sexist book! Early on when discussing "control", the example is when a woman searches for a dress, and when a man reads the world news :)
It's a great book for picking up a few one-liners to use in your UI discussions, but not much more than that.
In one case the author discusses how a change in a travel web site made a big difference in how much people enjoyed using it, but sidesteps the issue that there was a 10-year gap between the two versions. A lot changes in 10 years!... like how web sites are implemented, the technologies they use, and the comfort level the public has with interactive web sites.
And talk about a sexist book! Early on when discussing "control", the example is when a woman searches for a dress, and when a man reads the world news :)
It's a great book for picking up a few one-liners to use in your UI discussions, but not much more than that.
Heddi Cundle @ 2011-01-13 Exceptional book - must read!
This is the one of the most productive books I've ever read! Not only does the layout of each page justify the book's title but the content is quite mind blowing. It fundamentally teaches us logic behind creating a product - whether it be a Flip camera or a banking website.
For everything we feel as 'easy' to navigate, there are phenomenally talented people who strive to ensure our experience is simple. This can make the difference between an incredibly successful product or a huge failure i.e. does the user feel in control because they understand how the product works? Can they recommend this to their friends because they can explain it as simply as they understood it themselves? Just these questions alone can make or break a company's revenue.
Simple & Usable is ultimately a perfect bible for anyone who is genuinely interested in understanding our brain patterns, cognitive tools and what truly makes us gravitate towards products or services.
I highly recommend everyone read this to gain simple knowledge on elevating their own creativity and the potential we can achieve as a result. It's simply making our subconscious...conscious!
For everything we feel as 'easy' to navigate, there are phenomenally talented people who strive to ensure our experience is simple. This can make the difference between an incredibly successful product or a huge failure i.e. does the user feel in control because they understand how the product works? Can they recommend this to their friends because they can explain it as simply as they understood it themselves? Just these questions alone can make or break a company's revenue.
Simple & Usable is ultimately a perfect bible for anyone who is genuinely interested in understanding our brain patterns, cognitive tools and what truly makes us gravitate towards products or services.
I highly recommend everyone read this to gain simple knowledge on elevating their own creativity and the potential we can achieve as a result. It's simply making our subconscious...conscious!
Frederic @ 2010-10-18 Best simple book ever
I just loved this book.
I used to think that it was complex to make simple design.
This book simply gives the most important rules to reduce complexity.
Nice pictures, easy to read, fun and persuasive.
I used to think that it was complex to make simple design.
This book simply gives the most important rules to reduce complexity.
Nice pictures, easy to read, fun and persuasive.
Spencer Ivery @ 2010-11-29 Good Read
The content of the book is a true reflection of the title and it was a good read. As a practioner in UxD, the author's book title "simple and usable" supported his well illustrated thought process on user experience design.
Share your thoughts with other customers
Create your own review
Create your own review