Product Description

Although Web usability has received lots of hype, especially during the dot-com meltdown, the focus has been mostly on technical issues. Usability experts stress the pitfalls of frames and too many images on Web pages. They recommend editing out unnecessary words and writing in a non-linear style-all valuable advice, of course. But less frequently do they highlight the importance of the visual presentation of Web pages.

The Web is a communication medium that does most of its talking visually. What you see on a Web page tells you what you might find within the site, how to get there, and why it might interest you-not to mention the instinctive emotional response that shapes your Web experience. As a result, Web usability issues are communication issues. Easy-to-use sites are those that communicate quickly and effectively.

Site-Seeing takes a fresh approach to Web usability by applying visual communication principles and decision-making to Web design. Specifically, readers will learn the key concepts behind visual organization, look and feel, technical considerations, and clear planning that stem from audience awareness. Through numerous, full-color examples author Luke Wroblewski deconstructs "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of Web design.

The visual presentation of a site does more than merely making it pretty. It organizes information according to function. It creates distinct and appropriate personalities. It provides emotional impact and attachment. In short, it engages the audience-and keeps them coming back.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130404 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 364 pages

Review
"a carefully considered textif you are involved in designing a website this is one of the books you should consider reading before you start" (Cvu, October 2002)

Book Info
Delivers the insights and advice you need to boost a site's visual appeal-and take Web usability to the next level. Shows how good visual design can make a site not just usable, but user-friendly. Softcover.

From the Back Cover
"Usability" has become the watchword of contemporary Web design, and with good reason. But until now, books on Web usability have focused chiefly on response times, compatibility, and other technical matters, providing only limited guidance on design issues. This book takes Web usability a step further-and shows how good visual design can make a site not just usable, but user-friendly.

Using hundreds of real-world Web examples, interface expert Luke Wroblewski explains how to enhance usability by applying the principles of visual communications to site design. Good visual design, he demonstrates, can make a site's organization crystal clear-and convey its personality or "attitude" in an instant. Offering lots of specific design recommendations for text, links, images, navigation, forms, home pages, dynamic content, and Web services, Site-Seeing delivers the insights and advice you need to boost a site's visual appeal-and take Web usability to the next level.
* Learn how colors, type, photos, and more work together to give each site a distinct personality
* Create Web sites that are both practical and charged with emotion
* Discover how visual organization can clarify Web site elements and simplify interactions

Customer Reviews

Usability - Physician Heal Thyself
To be fair about this, I am not judging the content of the book, but the format of the book is horrific. The author presents concepts for implementing usable web design through a book that seems to ignor hundreds of years of proven usability principles for the printed word. Interesting design, or even attractive design, is not always usable design.

The book looks like an undergraduate graphic design project - and not a successful one at that. While the author may have many good things to say, communication of those points gets lost in the design. His credibility for what he has to say also gets lost, because of the way he presents his information. I purchased this book for about $6 (used), that's a fair price for an example of what not to do. If you want to gain a solid understanding of basic usability principles, start with Steve Krug's "Don't Make Me Think".

Still a 'must have' book four years later.
This is the book to buy after you have two other basic books on web design. As your other books are thrown away or replaced you will still need 'Site-Seeing'. It covers both the history and progress of web design. Read this book in bed or on a plane trip, preferably not in front of a monitor. I also found it helpful not to take the chapters in any formal order. Delve in! You will be helped. To me, this book is so solid that an upgrade is still a couple of years away.

Visual & "wordy" is what makes this book great!
As a fan of Site-Seeing, I must respond to a few of the reviews asserting that the author should have condensed certain material in the book. For me, the many visual examples and the great, detailed explanations (one reviewer suggested "wordy") are exactly what makes this book so useful. Rather than just skimming over important design concepts, the author actually takes the time to properly explain these important principles and illustrate them with examples. In my opinion, many other web design books use only words, whereas in this book, you can actually see and understand what the author is talking about. This is very important to me, as a visual learner. That is just one reason why this book is still on my desk.