headaches, getting a handle on the development process is essential. As technology columnist Jim Heid is quoted in the first chapter of this book, “Designers are utterly starved for guidance on workflow.” “Web Redesign 2.0” is just the guidance they need. And it’s not only for designers. Site producers, webmasters, and owners (and ultimately users) all benefit when there is a clear plan that gets the job done more efficiently and effectively.

Authors Kelly Goto and Emily Coter are both highly experienced and sought after professionals in web development circles. Kelly is the principal of a strategic consultancy specializing in user experience, usability, interaction design, and branding. Emily is the founder and director of a studio focused on site development and strategic maintenance for creative professionals, as well as being a regular contributor to industry periodicals. Backing them up is a team of skilled editors who have seen to it that the authors’ valuable insights are presented both attractively and clearly. Numerous “Expert Topics” (sidebars) add to this wealth of knowledge with offerings from such notables as: Eric Meyer, Jakob Nielsen, Stephan Spencer, Lynda Weinman, Christina Wodtke, Jeffrey Zeldman, and others. It’s hard to go wrong with a line up like this.

Rather than stepping readers through another collection of graphic “tips and tricks” or technical how-to’s, the emphasis here is on the production management side of the design process. The idea is to establish an environment that facilitates rather than frustrates creative problem solving – a “Workflow That Works”, as the title tells us. And although the text refers to the redesign of medium-size web sites, these practices apply equally to first time development and can be scaled up or down to any project. 

At the heart of the book is what the authors refer to as “The Core Process”, covering what you should do, what you can do, and what to avoid. The five phases of this process are: Define the Project, Develop Site Structure, Design Visual Interface, Build and Integrate, Launch and Beyond. Additionally they recommend two important processes – testing for usability and analyzing your competition. This edition has also added a chapter that covers working with complex functionality. 

All of these broad topics are broken down into interrelated tracks and individual steps. The material, while in-depth and complex, is expertly presented in a variety of ways - from charts and general overviews to specific instructions – which effectively aid in reader comprehension. Case studies at the end of each chapter further illustrate the application of the process. Included in the book are checklists, surveys, worksheets, and forms to help keep your project on track. These useful tools are also available online at www.web-redesign.com.

This is a beautiful book on many levels. The design is clean and easy on the eyes, creative in a way that encourages you to look without getting in the way of the content. The horizontal format utilizes an imaginative layout that presents the information in a natural flow and allows for easy hands free lay-down of the book itself. The writing is fresh and clear without being light on substance. For a thorough understanding of this important subject, I recommend you read more than one book. But if you only read one, you can’t go wrong with this.