Rating: 
Summary: Easy to understand; good return on investment
Review: After reading the book, I felt that I had just completed a marketing class at a top business school. Ms. Phyo brings the world of design and technology to the business table. The snapshots of information, blown-up for explanation, then reduced again to see the big picture helped me to understand the many steps involved in designing a cost-effective and user-friendly web site. I would put my money on Return on Design and recommend it without hesitation to my colleagues.
Rating:
Summary: A Step by Step Approach that really works
Review: Ani's book is the first time that I've really seen someone step back and put together all the pieces to create a step-by-step approach to building web sites that really work. The problem that I've seen over and over again is that books on web design tend to approach the subject from a single angle from the perspective of a visual designer, a technologist, a user interface designer or a marketing person. This book defines the correct role for all participants and shows how web sites need to meet everyone's goal so that they look good, serve the user and fulfill the business objectives that brought them into existence in the first place.The message is more relevant than ever. Although the term "user centered design" seems to have been around forever I still encounter sites all the time that seem to have been designed to feed their creator's egos rather than assist me in finding the information I need. What I really like about this book is the clear series of steps which is so much better than the typical leaps and half steps back which is too often the reality of different players attempting to work together on a web project. I particularly like the concept of "user scenarios", something that is typically skipped in favor of preconceived notions of what the user needs but is in fact an extremely valuable and instructive step.
Rating:
Summary: A Step by Step Approach that really works
Review: Ani's book is the first time that I've really seen someone step back and put together all the pieces to create a step-by-step approach to building web sites that really work. The problem that I've seen over and over again is that books on web design tend to approach the subject from a single angle from the perspective of a visual designer, a technologist, a user interface designer or a marketing person. This book defines the correct role for all participants and shows how web sites need to meet everyone's goal so that they look good, serve the user and fulfill the business objectives that brought them into existence in the first place. The message is more relevant than ever. Although the term "user centered design" seems to have been around forever I still encounter sites all the time that seem to have been designed to feed their creator's egos rather than assist me in finding the information I need. What I really like about this book is the clear series of steps which is so much better than the typical leaps and half steps back which is too often the reality of different players attempting to work together on a web project. I particularly like the concept of "user scenarios", something that is typically skipped in favor of preconceived notions of what the user needs but is in fact an extremely valuable and instructive step.
Rating:
Summary: More moeny + happy clients = more surfing...
Review: Ani, way to go! Great book and really needed in todays' market. No one knows better the need to focus on the basics of design more than someone that has their own company. Except maybe someone trying to kep their job in difficult time. This book will help anyone understand and develop their own methodology and production processes that clients are looking for. User-centered design has always helped me land clients and keep visitors happy and Ani's proven examples will give you direction and insight into what's working out there. If you don't have a lot of time to spend on learning information, interaction and usability, this book wraps it all up in a nutshell. I especially liked the endless feedback loops described in the book. Afterall, the second job with the client is what keeps the money coming in. :) If you know me, you know I'm all about the money and this book helps you make money. More money = more surfing, right? aloha,
-Brent
Rating:
Summary: Smart!
Review: Finally, someone has written the book that describes the best way to think about designing interactive media. As a professional web designer/architect, I've found Ani really nails it in terms of process, and will help me cover my bases better. I recommend this book for beginners, who can now start out right the first time. And for veteran web people, this is a comprehensive, clear document of the methodology you might have been using for years, but may have cut corners on. My copy is going to have lots of dog-ears...
Rating:
Summary: useful, comprehensive
Review: Finally, someone has written the book that describes the best way to think about designing interactive media. As a professional web designer/architect, I've found Ani really nails it in terms of process, and will help me cover my bases better. I recommend this book for beginners, who can now start out right the first time. And for veteran web people, this is a comprehensive, clear document of the methodology you might have been using for years, but may have cut corners on. My copy is going to have lots of dog-ears...
Rating:
Summary: The True Process Unveiled.
Review: Having a complete understanding of a topic allows one to explain very complex ideas to people who not as expert. Ani Phyo has done an excellent job of breaking everything down into their most simple forms and showing, through examples, how these concepts lead to creating amazing web sites. People working in the internet industry today will fully understand how everything works and what everyone's role is after spending some time reading this book. Those hoping to work in the industry also will get a complete overview of what it takes to create some of the best web sites of the internet.
Rating:
Summary: Returning to the roots of good design
Review: I have to admit I had some skepticism about this book when I read the title. Don't let that stop you from picking up a copy. Ani Payo's engaging content is far from the kind you would hear at a typical marketing seminar. The book starts out defining a new process for creating sites, a workflow if you will. From there you hit the ground running. Topics that are covered range from defining the difference between print collateral content and web content, to the difference between designing for a product and designing for those that use the product. Every page of this book is packed with information that can help you create a successful site that not only meets the business objectives, but surpasses them by explaining how to get the most out of the site once it's up and before the next redesign or enhancement is added. It clearly explains every aspect of the task involved with creating a site from information design to usability engineering. If you could put the top 20 most successful sites along side of each other and take the one most effective characteristic of each site and put it within the confines of a book chapter you would have Ani Phyo's Return on Design. This book defines what it takes to create a good and successful web site. I would recommend this book to any web professional from armatures to seasoned experts.
Rating:
Summary: Returning to the roots of good design
Review: I have to admit I had some skepticism about this book when I read the title. Don't let that stop you from picking up a copy. Ani Payo's engaging content is far from the kind you would hear at a typical marketing seminar. The book starts out defining a new process for creating sites, a workflow if you will. From there you hit the ground running. Topics that are covered range from defining the difference between print collateral content and web content, to the difference between designing for a product and designing for those that use the product. Every page of this book is packed with information that can help you create a successful site that not only meets the business objectives, but surpasses them by explaining how to get the most out of the site once it's up and before the next redesign or enhancement is added. It clearly explains every aspect of the task involved with creating a site from information design to usability engineering. If you could put the top 20 most successful sites along side of each other and take the one most effective characteristic of each site and put it within the confines of a book chapter you would have Ani Phyo's Return on Design. This book defines what it takes to create a good and successful web site. I would recommend this book to any web professional from armatures to seasoned experts.
Rating:
Summary: Smart!
Review: I'm no expert on Web design. However, I do spend a great deal of time fiddling with badly desined web sites. Certainly everyone has encountered a web site that made them want to scream. I do understand what is involved in building a web site, we build them regularly. Ani Phyo is very intuitive and approaches her subject matter with great finessse. I have interacted with sites that she and her partner have designed and clearly, they get it. Not only are the sites intuitive and smart but they take it to the next level. They have an organic nature that transcends what you'd expect on the web. Their sites are breathing, living organisms. To encounter them is to be a part of a community. Yes, a community! Isn't that what the Internet is all about? I highly recommend this book mostly for the client. The client needs to define their needs and comprehend what is possible. The designer can take it to the next level.
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