Above the Fold: Understanding the Principles of Successful Web Site Design [Paperback]

Brian Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 2011

Above the Fold is a book about the fundamentals of effective graphic communication set in the context of Web design. Unlike other books that focus on the intersection of design and technology, Above the Fold explores the relationship between the stakeholders of a Web project-- the designer, the user and the client -- and how this continuous cycle affects the decisions made by successful Web designers. Above the Fold is not technical manual or a how-to book, nor is it about timely trends; it's about the timeless fundamentals of layout, usability and measurement that lead to a successful digital product. 

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Alas, I wish this book had existed when I began designing for the Web. It's some consolation to know that Above the Fold will become an essential part of Web design curricula for years to come. It's a must-read / must-have book for anyone studying Web design."

Charles Nix

Chairman, Type Directors Club

Professor, Parsons School of Design 

"Above the Fold is one of the few Web design books that goes past just the display of a Web site and dives into the entire process of unlocking the strategy to create a successful digital product."

Bryan Hamilton

User Experience Director, Razorfish

"Brian presents a rather well-rounded picture of the Web design process--from design and usability, to aspects of marketing and analysis--providing the reader with clear insights they can take away and apply. Nicely done."

Thomas Beeby

Principal, Chief Creative Officer, Beeby, Clark and Meyler

"Brian clearly articulates the symbiotic connection between 

the Web designer, client and end user. Above the Fold is one 

of the best books I've seen that treats the creative process as  a vital asset necessary for business success."

David Vogler

Creative Director, NBC Universal

"A great idea will never take off if it's not presented clearly. Above the Fold has the secret sauce to get your ideas the 

success they deserve."

Peter Knierim

Crispin, Porter + Bogusky

About the Author

Brian Miller is the owner and design director at the Brian Miller Design Group, a small design firm in Norwalk, CT that specializes in branding for the Web and print. Brian's client list includes GE, NBC Universal, SportsMD, Rockstar Games, 2K Games, GigMasters and Nat Nast. Brian is a lecturer at the Shintaro Akatsu School of Design, board member for the Type Directors Club and author of Above the Fold. Brian's work has been published in the Print Magazine Regional Design Annual, GD USA and The New York Festivals in addition to receiving numerous industry awards. Brian has a Masters degree from Pratt Institute in design management and a BFA in graphic design from the Hartford Art School. He lives in South Norwalk, Connecticut with his wife Bridgette, daughter Sarah and dog Shick. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: HOW Books (March 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 144030842X
• ISBN-13: 978-1440308420
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.8 x 8.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Education & Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Writing > Technical
  • #22 in Books > Computers & Technology > Internet & Web Culture > Blogging & Blogs
  • #45 in Books > Arts & Photography > Decorative Arts & Design

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Best Books Available On The Web Design Process April 28, 2011

By Steffan Antonas

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Brian clearly put a lot of thought and careful consideration into the structure, content and flow of the book. It's well done. I've been building websites for 4 or 5 years now and this is the first book I've found that does a good job of walking the reader through the entire thought process of planning and creating a structured strategy for designing websites. If you're sold on the idea that smart thinking and great design thrive on a methodical approach, this book will delight you. That said, it's not a how-to book on building code or using tools like Photoshop, so if you're just getting into web design and you're itching to learn specific skills for building stuff, you'll probably want to hold off on buying this for now and come back to it later when you're ready to start doing professional projects. Just do so knowing that, when you do eventually come back and read it, you'll probably kick yourself for not having read this one upfront ;-).

For those of you interested in buying the book, here's a quick list of pros and cons:

PROS (many):

- There's zero fluff-factor. Brian did a solid job of explaining things simply and succinctly and moving on. Every page gets straight to the point. You'll get through it quickly without feeling like you wasted any time.

- It's easy on the eyes. There are plenty of visuals to support the content. If you surf though CSS galleries a lot looking for inspiration for your projects, you'll also get a lot of value just from flipping through the pages.

- It's an ideal start for aspiring design professionals because it provides a comprehensive, horizontal look at the design process end to end. If your goal is to learn how to manage big design projects, the book helps you develop an essential vocabulary and a broad awareness of things you need to consider (and why you do) before you get started.

CONS (few):

- The information in some sections is a little "light". At 255 pages, that's not really a knock. There's plenty of great info to chew on. The book was clearly designed for breadth, rather than depth, which is why it succeeds in giving the reader a complete and broad awareness of the design process. Depth needed to be sacrificed in order to cover everything. Entire books have been written on each topic covered in this book (like SEO, typography, usability etc). The good news is that being aware of why these are critical steps in the process will aid you in your search for deeper dives into how this stuff is done.

- No suggestions for further reading. Recognizing that this book was designed for breadth, it would have been useful to have had a short list of suggested resources in each section to guide the reader to deep dives. Including a vetted list of "further reading" would have been great. This isn't a make or break by any means, it's just a nice to have.

Overall a great book that you'll probably want to keep in your collection.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Web Design Demystified March 28, 2011

By Ted A. Dobbs

Format:Paperback

"Above the Fold" provides everything that you need to build a strong foundation for a successful web site. The book is broken into 3 sections that talk specifically about design, planning and marketing issues associated with web site design. From reviewing the basic principles of design from a web perspective to prototyping and search engine optimization, author Brian Miller does an excellent job of explaining the specifics of the medium without getting bogged down in markup languages. As a predominantly print-based graphic designer, "Above the Fold" gave me the knowledge and tools to design just as successfully and comfortably for the web.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, relevant and current. Definitely a keeper! June 16, 2011

By N. Wu

Format:Paperback

The best introductory book for print designers currently making the leap to web from a type design standpoint. It clearly explains every facet you need to know without complex jargon & assumptions, but with current examples that are relevant. Recommended and a keeper.