>Interesting discussion.... > >Can someone offer a definition of interaction design, and an explanation of >how it differs from interface design? > > --SET > I apologize in advance for the length of this message: Very abbreviated, short answer - I usually refer to interface design as the development of visual language systems to support the information architecture and interaction design. Whereas interaction design in collaboration with information architecture defines how the user interacts with the environment and how it is organized. More depth below: I've been reading this exchange and I've got to say that I am excited just to find a group of people who seem to be thinking and doing similar things. Defining some standard terms would be fantastic. I think it would be useful to describe the disciplines (i.e. Product design strategist, Information architect, Information designer, Interaction designer, Visual/interface designer, Usability Engineer) by what they define and the deliverables they create during a project. This, of course, will vary from company to company depending on their process. I'll take a stab at defining a few roles below (Product strategist, Information architect, Interaction designer, Visual designer). Please note: I believe it is far more important to define the process than the specific activities of each player. Edits and comments encouraged :) -------------------------------- Product strategist in collaboration with the Client, Information architect, Interaction designer and Visual designer define the following: -------------------------------- The users of the product/environment The goals for each of those users from the businesss' perspective The user's needs and intentions The content, features and functionality required to meet the goals They will create the following: A complete description and diagrams of the product features and functionality -- this would describe what the product is, who it serves, how it works and what it includes. -------------------------------- Interaction designer and Information architect jointly define the following: -------------------------------- The global organization of the environment The interactions each user-type will have with the environment The navigation system required to support use (browsing, searching, transacting) How interactions will be accomplished through organization of information per screen The messages required on each screen to encourage the user to complete transactions What widgets will be utilized to accomplish interactions The guidelines for creating interactive sequences (to accommodate expansion) The guidelines for organizing information (globally and per screen) (to accommodate expansion) They will create the following: - site maps (hierarchical representations of the site) - use cases (linear paths for each user's interactions with the site) - page schematics (to detail the messages, navigation, information, content and priority of elements on each screen) - prototypes - test plan -------------------------------- Visual /Interface designer will define the following: -------------------------------- The visual language system to be utilized throughout the site including typography, color palette, page layout, use of imagery. HTML styles to distinguish different types of content, data, information and priority (this involves close collaboration with the Information architect and Interaction designer) They will create/accomplish the following: - style guide to define visual language system and HTML styles - application of styles and visual language to page schematics ---------------------------------------------------------- Jen Cardello Gomez Advisors, Inc. 97 Lowell Road Concord, MA 01742 V 978.402.4299 F 978.287.0086 http://www.gomez.com http://www.gomezwire.com