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Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior | 
 enlarge | Author: Indi Young
Publisher: Rosenfeld Media
Category: Book
Buy New: $36.00
New (1) from $36.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 114101
Format: Color
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 299
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 1
ISBN: 1933820063
EAN: 9781933820064
ASIN: 1933820063
Publication Date: August 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new and individually shrink-wrapped. We are the publisher and exclusive provider of this book.
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Product Description
There is no single methodology for creating the perfect product--buy you can increase your odds. One of the best ways is to understand users' reasons for doing things. Mental Models gives you the tools to help you grasp, and design for, those reasons. Adaptive Path co-founder Indi Young has written a roll-up-your-sleeves book for designers, managers, and anyone else interested in making design strategic, and successful.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 What ? June 18, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
I am getting frustrated trying to understand what this book is all about.
A nice layout and structure makes a good book ?????????????????
Where is the substance ?
 Must Have Book for the UX Professional March 6, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Creating mental models has been at the core of my design practice for some time. I was really excited to hear that Indi Young was actually writing a book about this great technique. After thumbing my way through the book it looks awesome. It has a great balance of information with a strong focus on the doing.
The overall production of the book really shines. Amazingly enough there is a logical flow to the book, which other books in this realm sometimes seem to be lacking. There are ample examples and even exercises to get you into the right mind set. If you are looking for an extremely effective method to evaluate user research I would definitely add this book to your shelf. Kudos to both the author and the publisher!
Great user experience research method, and great book! March 4, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have been using this type of research in my user experience design/information architecture practice. It's nice to have everything written down in one place from the person who perfected the method.
This research method is a great way to qualitatively understand users and customers and how they go about using products or completing tasks. The book provides a thorough and in-depth process which can be easily followed. It is also helpful to know that there are ways to abbreviate some of the steps if they've already been done in your organization or if your budget is limited.
The other great thing about the book is how it is published. Rosenfeld Media is taking a new approach to publishing, combining what is good about traditional books with helpful aspects of web publishing. I know there is a pdf version of the book available (don't see it on Amazon, but I know its available from the publisher). The paperback book includes content that one might associate with web sites or digital help systems - there are Frequently Asked Questions, and brief instructions about how the book can be used. And, of course, there is a killer index in the back of the book. The best of both publishing worlds!
The book chapters cover the different steps to go through in order to create a mental model, but there are also chapters devoted to understanding when a mental model is the most appropriate method of user research to do. This is very helpful when needing to justify to those who control budgets in the organization! The ending chapters include how a mental model can be applied -- combined with a content audit it can be an invaluable tool for surveying what content should be created or archived for your web site. It can also drive decisions about product development.
The only thing missing from this book might be an accompanying teaching guide or online tutorial with extensive exercises. The consolation prize is that the web site that accompanies the book offers templates, examples, scripts and advice on how to do a mental model successfully. Pretty cool!
I highly recommend this book for its content and its publishing style.
Great Approach to Design, Not Just For The Web February 26, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Indi's mental model process is the best for creating a solid information architecture that: 1. Reflects the audiences' approach 2. Is streamlined 3. Is designed for future needs/opportunity. It's a great tool to help drive the creation of appropriate features and content that map to the real interests of users/consumers. And, it also helps identify the stuff you can get rid of (ROT). It is an EXCELLENT tool for selling through ideas internally - you will have a strong model based on research that is hard to debate.
I've used this method many times, not only for web design, but also for organizational change recommendations and product design.
While it's a bit of an investment up front, it's well worth it! You will save money and time down the line if you invest in this process up front, and you will have a stronger product as a result.
The book is well written and organized for those interested in approaching design this way! I'd highly recommend!
Already indispensible - a great resource! February 25, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Our team at work has using bits and pieces of Indi's mental modeling ideas for the past couple of years. Needless to say, I was very excited when her new book arrived in the mail last week. It hasn't disappointed.
The book is detailed and clear about mental modeling methods and practices, and strikes a nice balance between the thinking and doing aspects of creating a mental model. In particular, that research strategy sections are excellent and have already give our team some great new perspectives on how to approach our work.
There are no weak spots in this book. It covers everything you need to know and covers it well. Highly recommended for anyone in the information architecture, experience design or customer research fields who are looking to more effectively mesh the needs of businesses and consumers to drive creative output.
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