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3.88 of 5 stars

Designing the Obvious belongs in the toolbox of every person charged with the design and development of Web-based software, from the CEO ... read full description


reviews

Jun 06, 2009
Jen rated it: 4 of 5 stars
There have been many experiences over the last year and a half in my job at a user experience/interface design company where I've struggled to voice the logic and reasoning behind design choices and suggestions. A lot of what is logical to me is just that. Logical. I just KNOW it - yet, communicating the WHY and HOW of my why I think what I think has not come easily to me. Which is why I read books, blogs, and articles like this.

This book presents the reasoning behind design decision More...
Aug 28, 2011
Minah rated it: 4 of 5 stars
It's very good quick read and guidance to create user expereince design. The core things are requirements, reduction, and regularity of what you want to build. It's easy to say but this book explains really well how to do it. As an IA/UXD, chapter 4. Support the User’s Mental Model and chapter 5. Turn Beginners Into Intermediates, Immediately are very useful to have better sense to improve user experience.
Aug 21, 2011
Thomas rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Hoekman provides a great framework for approaching design and the continual process of refinement. Considering this text is now 4 years old, Internet years aside, some references remain true. Specifically web form design with inline validation. No matter how sophisticated applications become, data entry will always be essential for business and personal web interfaces. This book is an endless champion for simple intuitive design, creating useful applications that are powerful because their e More...
Jan 03, 2011
Dan rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Although this book has a few gems in it, it is for the most part exactly what the title suggests, but too much so. Most of the suggestions in the book were either too obvious or they were too specific and categorical. Probably a worthwhile read if you’re in the business of usability but probably not otherwise.
Mar 15, 2009
Dolores rated it: 4 of 5 stars
The dedication gives you a sense of the book: "This book is dedicated to anyone who has ever used a Web application and resented the experience."

I'm working on a Web-based ordering system which needs to be "intuitive" and "intuitive" doesn't happen on its own. So I'm looking for (and finding) inspiration in this book.
Apr 02, 2010
Irene rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Very good and concise. Lots of theoretical information - zero implementation details (so if this is what you want, look elsewhere). Nothing mind-blowing, but sometimes the true talent of an author is gathering everything together in one spot so you can clearly see the patterns.
Jun 13, 2011
Terry rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Font of the book was sans serif, so was a bit hard to read @ times. But too the point, well-explained, and applicable to my own environment at work. Will be flipping through this again and again.
Dec 17, 2009
Rebecca rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This was actually recommended to me as a book with great ideas about design (I'm not a web designer/developer), and it is. The examples all relate to web applications, but the points he makes can easily be translated to other design/style projects. I learned quite a bit.
Oct 08, 2010
Kurt rated it: 3 of 5 stars
This should have been 3-5 long blog posts, and in style and grammar, it was. The content is good and worthy, but so fluffed to fill pages that I often had to re-read sections to get the essence, then stop reading before the fluff filled my head and pushed out the useful content.

Worth reading, but beware the fluff.
Jan 17, 2010
Amber rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Love this one. I really wish more UI folks would pick it up and implement it into their designs...
Jan 06, 2011
Elizabeth marked it as to-read
Recommended by UX Magazine:
http://uxmag.com/design/user-experience-...
Nov 14, 2009
Rick rated it: 4 of 5 stars
good quick read with a lot of well understood guidance. Good stuff.
Dec 13, 2010
Natascha is currently reading it
smart book,
lots of good information
Nov 20, 2011
Viirak added it
<3 it!
Aug 22, 2010
Dan rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Common sense approach to web interface and application design. Designing with the user in mind. Poka-yoke "mistake-proofing". Eat your own dog food. Create Personas. Elevation is reduction. Kaizen...eliminate waste. The 5S Approach: Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.
Jan 21, 2009
Moses rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Introduces some useful design terminologies towards the beginning of the book. But loses it favor towards the end... Quick read.
Dec 16, 2009
Ping rated it: 4 of 5 stars
A great book on making your web apps more focused, pleasant for the user, and for lack of another word... more "obvious". Lots of screenshots of good examples of web apps, tons of advice, well-organized, with bits of humor thrown in. It's slim, but it packs a punch. Definitely will be sharing this with my coworkers.
Jan 13, 2010
Aaron rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This is book is a great guide and a notable resource. It really is a good entry point for developers or designers looking to improve their UX skills. Good break downs and plenty of further reading fodder.
Feb 27, 2011
Megan rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book is fun-to-read and extremely helpful so far.
Jun 07, 2008
Nicole rated it: 5 of 5 stars
good read for those looking to learn about current interface challenges & smart solutions/referneces. I really enjoy the author's quirky tone.
Sep 21, 2011
Seth rated it: 4 of 5 stars
An interesting and challenging look at designing web applications. The focus here is on simplicity and ease of use.
Jan 27, 2008
Michel rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Beknopt. En de moeite waard. Niet veel nieuws bijgeleerd, maar ik ben een sucker voor mooi gemaakte boekjes.
Jul 27, 2007
Shawna is currently reading it
I am almost through and it has lots of little interesting things in it. Good book to read if working on the web.
Mar 05, 2010
Khalilah rated it: 3 of 5 stars
A quick read that feels like a companion piece to Steve Krug's "Don't Make Me Think."
Dec 06, 2011
Jaireh rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Great book for anyone willing to have a try at web-app creation
Jul 09, 2010
Ray rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent book for designers and developers.
Dec 17, 2009
Sean rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Solid advice on web site design and usability
Sep 07, 2010
April rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Quick and easy read to get your introduced to good web applicatiod design. I especially liked the hamburger analogy when asking users what functionality they would like to have.
Feb 11, 2012
Deborah added it
Feb 10, 2012
Ryan marked it as to-read