Explore the new design discipline that is behind such products as the iPod and innovative Web sites like Flicer. While other books on this subject are either aimed at more seasoned practitioners or else are too focused on a particular medium like software, this guide will take a more holistic approach to the discipline, looking at interaction design for the Web, software, and devices. It is the only interaction design book that is coming from a designers point of view rather than that of an engineer. This much-needed guide is more than just a how-to manual. It covers interaction design fundamentals, approaches to designing, design research, and more, and spans all mediumsInternet, software, and devices. Even robots! Filled with tips, real-world projects, and interviews, you'll get a solid grounding in everything you need to successfully tackle interaction design.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was less than a mile from the smoking towers of the World Trade Center. As I walked dazed through the surreal streets of lower Manhattan, I saw powerful scenes of connection and interaction. People had pulled TVs out from their apartments onto the streets, and crowds were gathered around them. Commuters frantically called home from their mobile phones. An intricate web of systems coordinated firefighters, police, and emergency medical technicians, who rushed to the terrible scene, sirens wailing down the avenues. At my office in SoHo, friends contacted me via instant messenger, wanting to know if I was okay. Since my phone was only sporadically working, I coordinated my eventual flight to Brooklyn through e-mail with a friend.
This is a book about design, a particular type of design called interaction design. It's a new discipline, even though humans have been using interaction design since before recorded history. Interaction design is about people: how people connect with other people through the products and services they use. Interaction designers create these products and servicesthose we rely on in times of crisis like September 11th, and those we enjoy in quiet, joyful moments.
Whether you're an interaction designer already or just interested in interaction design, even if you don't know (yet) what that really means, this book is for you. I hope it contains information of interest to novices and experts alike, starting with the questions "What is an interaction?" and "What is interaction design?" and ending with a look into the future of interaction design. My goal in writing this book is to make your understanding of interaction design richer, deeper, and broader.