About Face

This is a massive (text)book but well worth the investment if you’re interested in IxD. Section one introduces the Goal-Directed design methodology—a systematic design process for interactive products centered on understanding users’ goals, needs and motivations.

Key to this process is using personas to translate user research into design requirements. I’d used personas before but was unclear on how to create and use them well and was confused by various differing explanations. Alan Cooper authored the concept so it was helpful learn his intention for them.

Sections 2 and 3 introduce helpful concepts like product posture, perpetual intermediates, excise, idiomatic design, and WIMP that I was completely unfamiliar with or had never given any thought. I’ll definitely pull from this text the next time I teach UX/UI design.