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User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design Are Changing the Way We Live, Work, and Play

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At a glance

Condition
New
Dimensions
5.75 x 1.55 x 8.55 in
Weight
1.2 lb
Publisher
MCD
Publication date
November 19, 2019
Edition
Illustrated
Language
English

Description

AMAZON BEST BOOKS OF 2019 PICK FORTUNE WRITERS AND EDITORS' RECOMMENDED BOOKS OF 2019 PICK "User Friendly is a tour de force, an engrossing fusion of scholarly research, professional experience and revelations from intrepid firsthand reporting." ―EDWARD TENNER, The New York Times Book Review In User Friendly, Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant reveal the untold story of a paradigm that quietly rules our modern lives: the assumption that machines should anticipate what we need. Spanning over a century of sweeping changes, from women’s rights to the Great Depression to World War II to the rise of the digital era, this book unpacks the ways in which the world has been―and continues to be―remade according to the principles of the once-obscure discipline of user-experience design. In this essential text, Kuang and Fabricant map the hidden rules of the designed world and shed light on how those rules have caused our world to change―an underappreciated but essential history that’s pieced together for the first time. Combining the expertise and insight of a leading journalist and a pioneering designer, User Friendly provides a definitive, thoughtful, and practical perspective on a topic that has rapidly gone from arcane to urgent to inescapable. In User Friendly, Kuang and Fabricant tell the whole story for the first time―and you’ll never interact with technology the same way again. Read more

Specs 9

Publisher MCD
Publication date November 19, 2019
Edition Illustrated
Language English
Print length 416 pages
ISBN-10 0374279756
ISBN-13 52
Item Weight 1.2 pounds

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Top Amazon Reviews

Interesting but fell short of expectations
This is an interesting but ultimately disappointing book. I was very keen to learn what the authors had to say specifically about User friendly design. But their anecdotal research — which would be very interesting — was reported very briefly, almost cursorily. Their ideas on how designers should incorporate user friendly principles is, frankly, incoherent. Thirty years ago I wrote a book on customer satisfaction in which I discussed the importance of the ‘fit’ — or user friendliness— of the product. I was hoping this book would go beyond what I had discovered. Unfortunately if they have gained additional insights those insights are not available in the book as written. My suggestion: 1. Expand the anecdotes so we Reader’s can understand, for example, how researchers realized the need to change the shapes of different controls, or how Apple made products that were user friendly while Microsoft couldn’t. 2. Drop the MBA-speak: Tell your story and your ideas in simple English. You have an important message and I hate to see it getting lost. Regards ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2019 by Milind Lele
The Spirit of User Friendly Design
“Technology should become simpler over time. Then it should become simpler still, so that it disappears from notice.” We take it for granted - at least in consumer-grade products and services. Pampered by instant-gratification feedback loops, rushing through minimal interfaces, we are more and more accustomed to machines that “just work”. Cliff Huang and Robert Fabricant - with decades of user experience work under their belts - give us a fascinating story of how this idea of “user friendliness” was invented, how it evolved and what are the possible trends of the future. It is a journey through the most iconic events, companies and people defining the design field in the last hundred years. I have found the most revealing how ease of use of equipment came to prominence only recently, despite the obvious (in hindsight?) proofs how catastrophic a bad design can be - be it a bomber plane, lawn mower or nuclear power station. It is difficult for people to change beliefs, the notion of “human error” lingered for far too long. By the same token, new products have to build upon contemporary mental models; if they are too dissimilar then almost nobody will adopt them. Early cars experimented with tillers, as they were familiar to people with boat-piloting experience (and nobody had experience with automobiles). Sometimes a product is released ahead of its time, failing not necessarily of technical shortcomings but rather because nobody has experiences allowing to use it without friction, to recognize its metaphor. Another eye-opener - as technology evolves to be simpler to use, it becomes invisible. Ultimately, the whole environment will anticipate and seamlessly support the needs of customers. The forefront of such changes lies in companies which have total control of their environments - like Disney in its parks, or Carnival with cruise ships. There, customer journeys can be designed end-to-end, with every component - sensors, wall screens, personnel training - engineered and controlled by a single organisation. However, with projects of such scale, seamless experience is threatened by the inability of large organisations to operate under a common vision. Politics, feuds between departments, distrust between teams - all of that shows in the finished product as cracks in otherwise smooth experience. And once your customers notice the technology behind, the magic is gone. The book is filled with many such lessons, particularly revealing for readers not educated in the design field. Some reviewers claim that it falls short of giving enough detail on how exactly designers work and how companies differ in methodologies. That may be true, but the authors’ intent is clear - to describe a high-level overview of many elements comprising the design craft. And I cannot state enough how enjoyable is their story. Highly recommended. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2019 by Jan Dziekan
A must-read design book!
This is one of the must-read design books of the year! I found USER FRIENDLY to be accessible, engaging, and deeply informative, written with a story-driven style that will resonate with seasoned UX designers and the curious fans. I'm buying copies not only for my team of designers at work, but for my parents and family too! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2019 by Amazon Customer
Essential Reading
Review Image by Josh Leong Josh Leong
User friendly is well written, incredibly engaging, and should be required reading for individuals who seek to or currently practice user experience design. Because product design is ultimately a trade based discipline that in some sense accepts many other disciplines to it, one of its biggest missing pieces is a strong connection to the stories that built it, and a common narrative to bring it together. As the field of User Experience is still evolving rapidly, it makes the hidden stories of ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2019 by Josh Leong Josh Leong
Excellent book!
This book is fascinating. I had trouble putting it down. Its perspective on modern, human-centric design is first rate. :-)>
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2019 by RufusWoodyIII
Everyone should know a little about User Friendly Designs
Review Image by San Diego Nerd San Diego Nerd
As an engineer, I am fully aware of the importance of process and equipment designs. This book starts with Apple Spaceship HQ design, uses lots of real life stories to elaborate the User Friendliness. A great book for practicing engineers and scientists.
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2019 by San Diego Nerd San Diego Nerd
Gives context to how we think about design
A really good read, Fabricant gives to the tools and concepts we use in design everyday day context.
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2019 by Emile
Fascinating and Thought-Provoking Stories About The Road Towards User-Centred Design
This is a book intended for general audience to learn about fascinating, and sometimes not-so-well-known stories about how we got where we are now regarding those popular phrases like user experience and user-centred design. Design practitioners will find it resonant, general readers will find really interesting stories across history and, hopefully, start to appreciate more for all those who design. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2020 by Noah Fang
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