Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design

Sketching User Experiences approaches design and design thinking as something distinct that needs to be better understood—by both designers and the people with whom they need to work—in order to achieve success with new products and systems. So while the focus is on design, the approach is holistic. The book speaks to designers, usability specialists, the HCI community, product managers, and business executives. It emphasizes balancing usability and engineering excellence (getting the design right) with upfront sketching and ideation (getting the right design). The objective is to foster informed design, shaping emerging technology to serve society and reflect its values.

Grounded in practice and scientific research, Bill Buxton's engaging work aims to inspire imagination and encourage new techniques, revitalizing user experience design. It covers sketching and early prototyping methods suitable for dynamic product capabilities like communication-enabled cell phones, embedded systems, smart appliances, and imaginative concepts. The book offers thorough coverage of the sketching method for building experience prototypes without heavy engineering effort, appealing to various designers including UI designers, industrial designers, software engineers, usability engineers, and product managers. It features case studies, examples, exercises, projects, and access to video clips demonstrating principles and methods.