Rating: 
Summary: Equally strong on usability and design
Review: Unlike many books on usability or on web or interactive design, "The Design of Sites" covers both aspects in equal depth. It is well research, with hundreds of examples, and it is written in concise language with oodles of cross-references to other sections. The book is very attractively designed, and works well from start to finish or with random soundings. Above all, it is comprehensive in addressing all design problems, yet brief and to the point on the many "patterns" (which could just as well be called "topics") it covers.Perhaps not the first book a new web designer should read, but a good candidate for the second one -- it is certainly of great interest to anyone who has begun to grapple with the many design challenges of web development. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Design Patterns in UI Architecture
Review: Your Boss keeps telling you to follow best practices of the web, but you've looked around and can't find any. There is no set formual you say? Well there are Design Patterns that can be applied to (and custom tailored for) appropriate situations. The beauty is that these guys already documented it for you! This is not a book to be read straight through though, instead pick up various sections at random or by tabular index as is appropriate to your given design needs at the time. This book and Wodtke's "Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web" make up the cream of the 2003 crop when it comes to Information Architecture & Design (wake up calls). You'll read things here that you've thought of before, but never been able to articulate well...review a litle everyday and you'll have an arsenal of good comebacks for that clueless 'business strategist' who keeps challenging your sense of good design.
| 
