- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Addison Wesley; 1 edition (July 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0201398605
- ISBN-13: 978-0201398601
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 18.6 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 903,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In User Centred Web Design, usability expert John Cato outlines a design process that has a Web site visitor's needs in mind. He offers both theoretical discussions and real-world case studies. Although the illustrations in this compact book are small and not always well-printed, the insightful advice is clearly communicated and would be valuable to anyone setting out on the open sea of Web development. And, with its analyses of various corporate Web sites, User Centred Web Design addresses particularly important issues for those involved with e-business. This is not a software how-to book or a showcase of what's cutting-edge on the Web today. But it does inspire the sort of careful thinking found in Don Norman's The Psychology of Everyday Things.
Throughout the book, Cato offers diagrams, paradigms, and to-do lists, the first being his looping description of one's relation to the world: Awareness > Understanding > Action. His model for designing is Discover > Design > Use. Discovery includes the vision, exploration, "the 'Ah ha' moment". Design is where it is all born, and Use involves market testing and verification. These are just a few of the theoretical game plans he offers. Cato uses case studies to show how one can make user profiles contribute to the design process. It feels very similar to learning good marketing skills in business school.
The book also takes a careful look at the visual techniques used on many sites today, breaking down what works and what doesn't, even proposing alternatives. For example, is the user confused over whether something is a button? Cato writes, "Make it buttony, and employ mouseovers to give confirmatory feedback", and "Go for creative ways of grabbing attention; they do not have to be large things."
You'll also learn how to push your creativity, get over your fears and believe in yourself (good all-around life advice). There's even a section that looks at design issues for Web-enabled cell phones. This book won't wow you with its visuals, but the ideas and inspiration within may help you wow others with your Web design. --Angelynn Grant
Review
"An extremely refreshing book, I especially enjoyed the writing style and the numerous examples detailed within the book. An original and practical guide to designing or transforming successful interactive websites."
Web builder bulletin, August 2001
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Cato has produced an authoritative and well referenced guide which I am sure will become and indispensable work for aspiring web designers. If your web work isn't getting good user feedback then the practical nature of this book will help you identify the reasons why. If you haven't undergone a formal design education then this book will help you fill-in the gaps. Buy it and make the web a nicer place to visit!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was very impressed with this book. Not only does it go through the theory about how people use web pages but also ways to test your web site. This is the book that has helped me so much with my degree.
This book is very well written and very helpful. I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about usability in web design.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A "user friendly' and practical guide
11 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback
A "user friendly' and practical guide to designing or transforming personal or professional interactive websites, John Cato's User-Centered Web Design specifically focuses on designing for the end-user. A concise, readable text presents a comprehensive overview, practical advice, proven methodology, ideas and advice for insuring that final web designs meet the needs of both the client and the end-user. Strongly recommended for the novice web designer, User-Centered Web Design will also prove an invaluable reference for even the more experienced web master in tweaking websites for maximum effectiveness and ease of use by site visitors.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Usable book for user centered design
6 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback
This book by John Cato offers a great set of examples on how to move the the process of user-centered development for websites. The book is filled with examples that help developers, designers, and managers get a grasp of the steps, thought process, interaction with users, process, and documentation that is greatly helpful in building a product the intended audience uses. Cato includes helpful lists, advice, and points out common problems along with instruction for correcting them.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Practical, but based in good theory
6 Jun 2002
Format:Paperback
Some may consider that user evaluation is a "luxury" - but you may do well to consider the cost of NOT incorporating any user evaluation/involvement. Well documented examples of commercial websites that have failed are legion, often because the "designers" simply designed for themselves or their clients, ignoring their target audience.
This book offers practical advice that enables web designers to satisfy the people that really matter - the users. It is a very good example of academic research translated into everyday practice.
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