Best book on Web form design that I am aware of. Luke does a great job of giving proven and practical advice.
Overall I enjoyed this book. It is a pretty quick read.
It was not quite what I expected it would be. I thought it would be more commentary about the specific design rule and some ideas of breaking the rule. There is short introduction to the rule and the rest of the content is quotes from famous designers, past and present.
Although it was not what I expected, I still enjoyed the book and will keep it close by to thumb through from time to time.
http://www.whatmakesthemclick.net/2010/01/16/613/
When I first looked at this book I said “Wow!”. It’s a large book, hardcover, with thick paper and beautiful illustrations, as it should be, since it’s a book on visual design. But looking deeper, the reason that I like this book so much is that it covers the topic of visual design from a psychologist’s point of view, and let’s face it, I’m a pscyhologist and I see everything from a psychologist’s point of view!
The book talks about cognitive psychology principles such as grouping, schema and mental models and then shows how the elements of a visual design change the perception of the image. It’s very specific, and there are lots of examples.
I have to admit that I don’t think this book will make me a visual designer. I’m just ...
User personas is one way of making something more concrete. The authors share how Saddleback has a persona “Saddleback Sam.”
high-concept pitch
Speed was Die Hard on a bus, 13 Going on 30 was Big for girls, E.T. lost alien befriends lonely boy to get home, aliens was Jaws on a spaceship
simple=core+compact
compact and profound
proverbs - short sentences (compact) drawn from long experience (core)
don't try to do too much