Communicating Design: Developing Web Site Documentation for Design and Planning 1st Edition

by Dan M. Brown (Author)

40 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0321392350

ISBN-10: 0321392353

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Communicating Design: Developing Web Site Documentation for Design and Planning (2nd Edition) (Voices That Matter)
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Most discussion about Web design seems to focus on the creative process, yet turning concept into reality requires a strong set of deliverables—the documentation (concept model, site maps, usability reports, and more) that serves as the primary communication tool between designers and customers. Here at last is a guide devoted to just that topic. Combining quick tips for improving deliverables with in-depth discussions of presentation and risk mitigation techniques, author Dan Brown shows you how to make the documentation you're required to provide into the most efficient communications tool possible. He begins with an introductory section about deliverables and their place in the overall process, and then delves into to the different types of deliverables. From usability reports to project plans, content maps, flow charts, wireframes, site maps, and more, each chapter includes a contents checklist, presentation strategy, maintenance strategy, a description of the development process and the deliverable's impact on the project, and more.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dan Brown has been practicing information architecture and user experience design since 1994. Through his consulting work in both public and private sectors, he has improved enterprise communications for both Federal and Fortune 500 clients, currently the Federal Communications Commission. Dan writes and speaks frequently on information architecture, and contributed to the inaugural issue of UX Matters, a new online magazine dedicated to user experience design. Dan is very active in the local Washington, DC information architecture community, and serves on the advisory board for the Information Architecture Institute.

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: New Riders; 1 edition (September 16, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0321392353
ISBN-13: 978-0321392350
Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
Average Customer Review: 40 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,463,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2261 in Books > Computers & Technology > Web Development & Design > Web Design
- #6040 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering > Electrical & Electronics
- #9195 in Books > Computers & Technology > Software

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Buyer beware - companion website does not have promised resources

June 2, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Part of the value of this book is the promise that the author will provide templates and examples. This promise is worth zero. If you go to the companion website, there is a note from the author that says, essentially, "Ooops, so sorry. Got too busy." Just a tad unprofessional? I guess different people have different perspectives on such things.

Call me crazy, but one would think that the author would have had a whole stack of examples and templates BEFORE he wrote the book. How else would he know what documents are needed? Just a rhetorical question.....

The book itself is useful, don't get me wrong. I am just very disappointed in the lack of companion material. Other reviews very adequately cover the content.

In terms of practical help, AND downloadable templates, I vastly prefer Web ReDesign 2.0: Workflow that Works (2nd Edition) by Kelly Goto.

Kelly Goto's advice saved my tail when I was a newbie in the field (waaaaay back in the dark ages of the 20th century), and still has relevance for me today.

Web ReDesign 2.0: Workflow that Works (2nd Edition) (VOICES)

[...]

UPDATE: August 2008: nothing has changed on the companion website, [...] Quite frankly, it looks like it has been abandoned.

UPDATE: February 4, 2010: The author finally has updated the site. However, as of this date, there are still no templates or other downloads as far as I can tell. Looks like the author has turned it into a blog. You might want to check it out and see if any progress has been made. Since Amazon won't allow a web address to appear in a review, you can figure it out from the title of the book.

35 people found this helpful

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Weston Thompson

Good handbook for documentation

August 31, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I found this to be a good handbook for the type of documentation I often create on projects. I think I wanted more focus on the information design aspect of diagrams / tables, etc. - sort of Dan's take on Tufte. This is more of a comprehensive review of what content a particular document could or should include, how to inflect the doc to different audiences/purposes, and when (or if) to use it in a project. That is important stuff, and Dan does a good job of it. Dan also provides some nice commentary on the future of documentation.

8 people found this helpful

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Princessa

If you had to get a book successful web projects, rush to the bookstore and get this!

December 29, 2006

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I love this book! Brown definitely knows his stuff, which makes sense since he talks about deliverables and documentation, you'd think he would know how to write a book about communicating his ideas to an audience. Awesome job Mr. Brown. Thank you for coming up with this gem! It has templates galore to keep your project organized. I'm a librarian so I have read many, many books that talk about information organization, but this book stands out because the information and samples make you think of your particular project. The reader is prompted to consider details that most books overlook or assume the reader already knows. Can't wait for the next book by this author!

8 people found this helpful

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Andy Orrock

Nice reference book to have on your shelf.

June 30, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Dan M. Brown (no, not that Dan Brown) has written a very helpful and comprehensive guide to the family of documents that make up web design and planning. The book is divided into three sections: User Needs; Strategy; and, only then, Design. Brown's book is all about instilling a moderate, but never overbearing, amount of discipline into the process. It sees web design for what it is: requiring a fair amount of creativity and artistry, but also requiring a bit of tethering to ensure that core user needs are being served. It's a nice reference book to have on your shelf.

7 people found this helpful

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V. Matyi

Wheres the templates and reference material?

August 19, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT book for reference. Actually the best you can find of the type. No filler and I enjoy the authors style.

Only four stars because book offers no companion templates for reference. How could a book focusing on documentation offer no documents/templates for reference in this day and age? Lucky for Dan his writing and explanations are THAT good. Though, shame on both the author and publisher for not going the extra step here.

One person found this helpful

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Bill Hunt

Excellent Web Design, and Marketing Communication book

August 27, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I can't think of a better resource to refer to in developing the Discipline of communicating graphically. Also it is a verry fast read. An excellent tool set when combined with a refrence book like The Design of Sites: Patterns for Creating Winning Web Sites (2nd Edition)

3 people found this helpful

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Andrew Schechterman

Desktop reference . . . wisdom, inspiration, guidance

October 1, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Have read now twice. Sits on my desk as a reference, lots of dog-earred pages. Dense with experience, tips and nuances per the intangibles of the design process (Dan's already got the tangibles down cold). I've had a number of my clients (internal and external) read just the Introduction, and have made great progress. A unique volume, very practical. Kudos Dan! - Andrew Schechterman Ph.D. ([...])

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bekalekah

Wonderfully comprehensive book on IA/UX documetion

May 11, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

As a self-starting IA working on large-scale websites, this book has been indispensable. It offers a comprehensive overview of all relevant design documentation from personas and usability to inventories and wireframes. It is an intelligently written and highly readable must-have book for all IAs.

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