UI is Communication: How to Design Intuitive, User-Centered Interfaces by Focusing on Effective Communication

User interface design is a challenging, multi-disciplinary activity that requires understanding a wide range of concepts and techniques that are often subjective and even conflicting. Imagine how much it would help if there were a single perspective that you could use to simplify these complex issues down to a small set of objective principles. In UI is Communication, Everett McKay explains how to design intuitive user interfaces by focusing on effective human communication. A user interface is ultimately a conversation between users and technology. Well-designed user interfaces use the language of UI to communicate to users efficiently and naturally. They also recognize that there is an emotional human being at the other end of the interaction, so good user interfaces strive to make an emotional connection. Applying what you learn from UI is Communication will remove much of the mystic, subjectiveness, and complexity from user interface design, and help you make better design decisions with confidence. It's the perfect introduction to user interface design.

• Approachable, practical communication-based guide to interaction and visual design that you can immediately apply to projects to make solid design decisions quickly and confidently
• Includes design makeovers so you can see the concepts in practice with real examples
• Communication-based design process ties everything from interaction to visual design together

About the Author

Everett McKay is Principal of UX Design Edge (uxdesignedge.com), a user experience design training and consulting company for mobile, web, and desktop applications based in Vermont. Everett's specialty is UX design training for software professionals who aren't experienced designers through onsite and public courses and workshops. He also runs AskAUXExpert.com, a web-based UX design consulting service.

Previously, Everett was a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft Corporation on the Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows Server teams. While there, he was responsible for the writing of and consulting on the Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines. While at Microsoft, he was also responsible for teaching their in-house introductory UI design course. Before joining Microsoft, Everett was a programmer, specializing in designing and developing Windows and Macintosh user interfaces. He holds master's and bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT.