Design Beyond Devices: Creating Multimodal, Cross-Device Experiences

by Cheryl Platz, Erika Hall (Foreword)

Your customer has five senses and a small universe of devices. Why aren't you designing for all of them? Go beyond screens, keyboards, and touchscreens by letting your customer's humanity drive the experience--not a specific device or input type. Learn the techniques you'll need to build fluid, adaptive experiences for multiple inputs, multiple outputs, and multiple devices.

Genres: Design, Technology

392 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Gabriela Véghová · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, I strongly recommend this book, not only for designers focusing on multimodal, cross-device experiences.

From the philosophical point of view, it's great for any designer, as Cheryl explains that you are most probably already designing multimodal experiences, even if you're not aware of it yet. She has great arguments why and how you should become aware of it, and make sure your already multimodal design is really inclusive. This topic of inclusivity runs throughout the whole book alongside other ethical questions. If you're reading the first chapter and you're wondering whether it gets to anything practical beyond the ethical questions—it will, note the book is longer compared to other Rosenfeld Media books.

From the practical point of view, the book describes how to design multimodal experiences in great detail, providing particular tools, and showing examples for the transitions between modes and devices, as well as for individual modes from sound to haptic and kinetic experiences. If you don't find an advice for the situation you're trying to solve, you'll definitely find what to think about, and where to find other sources. The only disadvantage of these very specific examples and advice is that they will become obsolete sooner or later. Nevertheless, you'll find the book to be useful not only when you're focusing on multimodal experiences, but also working with any kind of notifications, designing sound interfaces, or multichannel experiences.

[Arwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to this book as a layperson who doesn’t work in software, devices, or UI/UX development, but found the information in this book exceedingly accessible. Cheryl brings a humorous and approachable voice to the subject matter and provides enough structure early on for readers to quickly get up to speed with the common concepts and ideas explored.

This book has given me a deeper perspective on the relationship I have with my devices and an internal language to understand why I find certain aspects and interactions frustrating and what I might pay more attention to in the future when considering purchasing new devices or programs. The concepts explored also have long-reaching implications, such that I can see applying some of ideas to my daily work or even making my own home improvements. Reading this book orients you to be more aware of your environment and how you and other interact with it - and teaches you how to think to execute meaningful improvements.

I enjoyed the human-centered focus of the book immensely. Cheryl discusses inclusivity and designing with an eye to a wide range of accessibility thresholds in a way that doesn't simply argue for this because it is the altruistic thing to do - but that it is beneficial from a business perspective. In addition, she explores ethical areas the everyday customer may be concerned about, lifting up the rock and showing us inside the industry (at least from her perspective) and allowing us to see how the design and creation of these devices are done. It presents a wholly positive view of technology - reminding us of its agility to empower people and make life easier - but never hides or shies away from potential negative uses or implications.

If anyone wants a deeper understanding of how they interact with their world - especially with the technology in it - this book is a great read.

[Maggie Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you design products for people you need to read this book. Platz’s unique background and passion for geekery combine to create a must read manual for designers of today and the future. I say manual but Design Beyond Devices is far more than a how to guide - it is a philosophical argument for a revolution in how we design our world.

Humans are at the center of Platz’s approach to product design. We creators of things worry so much about how our creations will be received by customers while Platz eloquently (and delightfully) centers our focus on the human our product is foist upon. A self identified member of the disability community and an improvisational theatre artist her lens is profoundly unique. I found myself considering my work from an entirely new angle and fortunately for me Platz provides all the tools I need to drive my team towards a more accessible, device agnostic future.

10/10 will read again.

[TH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Platz lays out a solid overview of what to pay attention to when designing products and services for modern tech, where product design is less and less about single objects. That makes it useful to all manner of product designers, engineers, and UX folks. It's simple and accessible, starting from square one topics like "what is multimodal design", building up through bite-sized chapters and case studies. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants an overview of UX practice. I'd especially recommend it to folks working with networked systems which need different points of contact for different users.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own too many design books. This is one I expect to return to a lot. There's a lot of food for thought here in examples from all sorts of devices, and a lot of practical tables and charts that help organize information in ways that inspire me to do the same with projects I'm working on.