Designing the Obvious: A Common Sense Approach to Web Application Design

by Robert Hoekman Jr.

Designing the Obvious belongs in the toolbox of every person charged with the design and development of Web-based software, from the CEO to the programming team. Designing the Obvious explores the character traits of great Web applications and uses them as guiding principles of application design so the end result of every project instills customer satisfaction and loyalty. These principles include building only whats necessary, getting users up to speed quickly, preventing and handling errors, and designing for the activity. Designing the Obvious does not offer a one-size-fits-all development process—in fact, it lets you use whatever process you like. Instead, it offers practical advice about how to achieve the qualities of great Web-based applications and consistently and successfully reproduce them.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Usability, Programming, Web, Website Design, Business

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2002

About the author

Robert Hoekman Jr is an American writer and editor and the host of the Spillers podcast and event series. His work has been featured by Fast Company, WIRED, Huckberry, Bike Exif, and others. He has won awards for writing and podcasting. He’s currently damn near finished writing his first novel.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 decisions and choices of web applications and interfaces -supported by usability studies and psychological research- and helps in giving me a vocabulary for what I constantly struggle to voice. For a person such as myself -without a background in interface design or a usability masters degree- who has fallen into the world of user interface design (and luckily really enjoys it), this kind of book (and blogs like it) has been incredibly helpful.

[Dennis Kardys Kardys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book. It covers a lot of territory, so there was definitely a healthy dose of reminding me of things I already knew, while also continually introducing new concepts. The author writes in an extremely accessible tone, with enough personality and sarcasm to keep it from feeling dry. I kept a highlighter nearby while reading this one, and looking back, I'm pretty sure almost every page is marked up with good, quotable takeaways. If you're deep into UX already, you probably won't experience any startling epiphanies reading this, but like "Don't Make Me Think", it's so packed with useful practical guidelines that it's the kind of book you want soak up and then pass on to every designer and developer buddy you know.

[Kurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Emiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains a collection of practical tips to improve the design of your user interface. It does not contain much information on the underlying design principles, or on how to test your design. That's not the focus of this book.

It is divided into clear chapters. Each chapter can be seen as a design principle, if you will. In each chapter, Hoekman provides numerous practical tips. These tips, unfortunately, are lost in the amount of text surrounding them. I could read the largest part of this book by just scanning the pages, which is not how I usually read books. The tips themselves are definitely useful.

I think this book is a good starting point if you have experience developing applications and you want to start learning about user interface design. The practical tips can be used the next working day. If you then want to gain deeper insights and learn more, you can pick up another book.

[Udi h Bauman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful insights & guidelines, but very detailed & long.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the book is dated having been published in 2007, many of the concepts are still relevant today.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 ease of use and numerous benefits.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had some good concepts. Much of it felt like common sense, but I still found myself recalling specific pieces of the advice while at work, so it must not have been too common. I think more examples, especially visual examples would have been useful. It's one thing to say it, and another thing to illustrate it with a before/after type of example. It also seemed like he was somehow recompensed by Blinksale, as often as he mentioned them.

[Ping · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dan Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Aaron M · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Igor Pascoal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduces some of the main things you have to keep in mind when designing web applications. It's great for beginners. It could probably have less words but it's a quick read. Seems to only be available as an ebook now.

[Shawna]

I am almost through and it has lots of little interesting things in it. Good book to read if working on the web.

[Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beknopt. En de moeite waard. Niet veel nieuws bijgeleerd, maar ik ben een sucker voor mooi gemaakte boekjes.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone willing to have a try at web-app creation

[Nicole Califano · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read for those looking to learn about current interface challenges & smart solutions/referneces. I really enjoy the author's quirky tone.

[Moses · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduces some useful design terminologies towards the beginning of the book. But loses it favor towards the end... Quick read.

[Khalilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read that feels like a companion piece to Steve Krug's "Don't Make Me Think."

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Natascha]

smart book,
lots of good information

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, easy to understand UX book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, good concepts, too many extra words - padded a bit maybe to make it longer? It's a quick read though, and you'll walk away with some new tidbits, which really makes it a 3 1/2 star.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Seth Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and challenging look at designing web applications. The focus here is on simplicity and ease of use.

[Viirak]

<3 it!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended by @jasonperkowski