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Add to SafariWhen comparing The Design of Everyday Things 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 The Design of Everyday Things is ranked 3rd. 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.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Transcendental principles
This book isn't focused on recent trends or properties specific to a certain field, and thus applies to all design. It provides a broad view and allows focusing on the fundamental goals of the user experience, rather than being limited in scope.
Pro Focused on the user
Whatever that's being designed, for whatever purpose, it always has the same goal of being used by someone. This book is focused on that interaction and on why users make mistakes. These principles still apply directly to web design, when design leads users to make mistakes, it will ultimately drive users away.
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 Quite dated
Examples are quite old, as are the illustrations.
Con A lot to read
It's quite a long read, there is a lot of material to be covered, if you compare it to similar but more concise books, like The Non-Designer's Design Book.
Con Not specifically for web design
This book challenges the reader to think about the design of all objects, and their user-friendliness/usability. It is not specifically targeted towards web designers, but will help web designers think in a way that benefits users.
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.
