Contextual design (Second edition.)

Contextual Design, Second Edition describes a worthwhile software engineering method, one that places the user (or customer) at the forefront of the software design process from beginning to end.

Contextual Design

begins with contextual inquiry, where software developers interview users and attempt to understand the way they work. Such "customer empathy" is central to the process and a total understanding of "work" within organizations is the mantra here. The book describes how, later in the process, software developers step back from the user data and do an "affinity," which is an overall analysis of hundreds (or even thousands) of individual facts. From there, this book then explains the additional steps required to build systems using this method, including building models for flow, sequence, and artifacts, and establishing the cultural and the physical environments for a system. After getting an overview, developers consolidate these initial models, get more user input, and then design user interfaces.

This completely updated and revised edition is written in a clear, informal style without excessive jargon - this is the must-have book for any UI Design library. You'll find that it contains coverage of mobile devices and an added focus on consumer product, provides all new examples and case studies, and includes agile call-outs with relation to a more rapid context.

• Learn how to gather detailed data about how people work and use systems
• Develop a coherent picture of a whole customer population
• Generate systems designs from a knowledge of customer work
• Diagram existing systems, showing their relationships, inconsistencies, redundancies, and omissions