When comparing About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design vs Designing Interactions, the Slant community recommends Designing Interactions for most people. In the question“What are the best books to read on user experience and design?” Designing Interactions is ranked 2nd while About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Designing Interactions is:
The most interesting aspect of the book is that it's filled with insights from designers and decision makers themselves. Moreover, the book comes with a DVD with segments from the actual interviews.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Well known book and author
The first edition of About Face was published in 1995, and has been referenced in a variety of work since then. It's in-depth coverage of of interaction design make it a well known reference book in the industry.
The author, Alan Cooper, is a pioneer of interaction design.
Pro Comprehensive guide
About Face takes an in-depth look at a breadth of topics relevant to interaction design. It covers everything from personal development and psychology to methods and further resources.
It's a large book at 720 pages for the fourth edition, and packed with information.
Pro Interviews with industry legends
The most interesting aspect of the book is that it's filled with insights from designers and decision makers themselves. Moreover, the book comes with a DVD with segments from the actual interviews.
Pro A history of interaction design
The book covers many of the most significant individuals and events in the history of interaction design, from an insider's lens, with the much of the reasoning behind the design decisions made described in detail.
Cons
Con Terrible binding
The fourth edition has had an issue with binding quality. There has been many reports of the book falling apart when opened or after a very short period of time.
Con Use of pseudo-terms
Con Not a lot of practical information/theories
This book is more about the history of interaction design rather than a book with easily applicable lessons.
There are takeaway lessons from the interviews with experts. However there are no theories with explanations laid out for you.
