REVIEW: Adobe Master Class: Web Site Redesigns. Makeovers from nine top design teams

Internet Business News, April 12, 2002

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

"Web Site Redesigns" will surprise the reader with its approach to redesigning web sites.

Although one could believe from the title that it is all about the latest technology and programming, this book actually shows how sites have been developed to suit the target audience. The sites presented in the book are all very different, ranging from BrainPOP.com, aimed at a young audience, to ChronicleBooks.com, an e-commerce site for a "boutique book publisher" and ibm.com, the website of a major computer company.

There are nine chapters which each present a different site that has been redesigned. There is information on how the sites were designed to suit the target audience as well as charts that were made to show the structure and navigation of the site. BrainPOP, for example, was created with more icons and graphics and the structure is more complicated because children are more eager to explore, but the idea is that a logical approach will help. In the case of IBM, numerous links that sent users in all directions were grouped in logical categories that help users to find what they need without getting lost.

This book is actually very interesting and although it may be intended for a semi-professional, anyone who intends to design or redesign a website of more than two pages will most likely get some useful ideas from it.

The balance between graphics and text in the book is also reasonably good and the colour illustrations make it easier to read. The 'before' and 'after' illustrations also show the changes, which can be either major ones or more subtle.

There is an index at the back, a slightly more extensive chapter list and an introduction at the front. Anything more would be overkill and this level of referencing is quite sufficient. Apart from the slightly high price the book is quite worthwhile.

CONCLUSION: I would recommend this book to a anyone who wants to see how others have approached the design process and who want to get some ideas. Worth a look!

Title: Adobe Master Class: Web Site Redesigns. Makeovers from nine top design teams Author: Darcy Dinucci Published by: Adobe Press (Peachpit Press) ISBN: 0-201-75864-4 Price: GBP29.99 Reviewer: Ann Sundqvist

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