The Elements of User Experience review

KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is a golden rule of user-based design, but often ignored by web designers hypnotised by technology. The user is left blinded, unable to navigate through clever design to crucial content. Never has this issue been more important than as we move into the broadband age, where usability is equated to speed of access and the very fundamentals of user experience are left trampled underfoot.

There are a whole host of usability experts who will gladly charge you a small fortune to attend a seminar celebrating the KISS message. There are far fewer who can actually make a real difference to the way web designers think and create in the real world. One who can is the unlikely sounding Jesse James Garrett, who is certainly no cowboy when it comes to information architecture, being the author of the influential The Elements of User Experience stacking diagram (see www.jjg.net).

Despite being nearly three years old, the diagram and its message aren't dated and, building on this firm foundation, Garrett expands the concept into an equally topical and essential book. Exploding the five 'planes' of the diagram, which create the conceptual framework of user experience, Garrett cuts cleanly through the complexity of user-focused design. Once you understand the importance of the surface, skeleton, structure, scope and strategy planes, and how by building from the bottom upwards you can best embrace user friendliness, everything becomes clear.

The book has been designed for ease of use, as you might expect, and don't be fooled by the small size, as it's full of informative diagrammatic content. None of this dilutes the message, but allows a global understanding of the issues after just a couple of hours of reading. There's precious little padding and every paragraph has impact. Unfortunately, this impact is greatly reduced if you're a professional web designer, because if you don't know this stuff already it's doubtful you'll be in business for very long.

However, if you are new to web design - be that in the context of a graphic designer looking for a career in new media, or a management type wanting to better understand how to commission and oversee the design of a user-friendly web presence - this book is essential. Even the experienced web designer should at least go and download the diagram. Every information architect at every level will learn something from it.

Author: Davey Winder