The "Bookshelf": they read in UsabilityLab

They read in successful IT-companies? As books help talented developers and managers? How do companies organize their libraries? This joint project Lifehacker.ru and publishing "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber" - "Bookshelf".

Today we look at the shelves of the main experts in usability Russia. We came to the company UsabilityLab.

UsabilityLab - one of the first companies, which is professionally engaged in user experience in our country. Here design, analyze and improve the interfaces of a variety of Internet projects, they know everything about the behavior of people in the network and trained in modern techniques of research.

We were met by Maria and Alexander and carried out in openspeys where sitting virtually all the company's employees. Do not be surprised emptiness office - many meetings and on business trips.

I noticed a couple of cabinets in the photo? Many books are there, closer to the professionals, who need them. But there is also the main bookshelf, to our arrival all publications gathered in it.

What to look for on the shelves of the major specialists UX? "Show us your bible usability" - we demand. But those little bibles, and they are all basically on the hands. We list "Do not Make Me Think"Steve Krug,"Mental hospital patients in the hands of"Alan Cooper,"The Design of Everyday Things"Donald Norman (about to be released updated edition in Russian). In the cabinet there are other works of these authors.

This book, from which any novice can begin his acquaintance with the usability.

Maria explains that the book is a bit of usability. As a rule, experts help books from related fields - in the library of the company have books on psychology, design, design and development. Of this sum, and usability.

Sure enough, one shelf divide "theory of psychotherapy" and "Designing Profitable Websites», «thinking Psychology»And« Microsoft Design Guide architectural applications. "

"Half of the company's employees - psychologists," - explains Maria a large number of specialized books. There are publications in the junction area. For example, psychology and engineering. Let's say this "Directory"Woodson - textbook work ergonomics.

Silaev Dmitry, commercial director, explains: "We should not read books on psychology without preparation. It will be either bored or doctor Kurpatov. It is impossible to read a book and understand everything about psychology. But about the methods - possible. Yuzabilistov should be just all that relates to the methods: psychodiagnostics, matstatistika, experimental psychology. "

Here is one of the most important books on the methods:

Hmm... And for what experts book?

"This is our relic - Masha laughs. - Nobody knows where it came from. Often joke about it. "

Another section of the company's library - books on the visual display of information.

Masha: "yuzabilistov - not designers, but we need to know the basics: principles of composition, color compatibility. Still, we're working with visual information and care to be beautiful. Understand this help books like "Design for nedizaynerov”».

Very popular book about presentations. The company has three "bible" on the subject. The first (no wonder!) Slide: ology Nancy Duarte. We met this book almost all the companies in which there were. second - Presentation Zen. The third - "Kamasutra for speaker"Radislav Gandapas. For it is already a lot of Russian specialists have learned not to be afraid of public speaking, and getting pleasure from them.

Mary explains that UsabilityLab employees often work with presentations: for presentations at conferences, meeting with clients for training and webinars. Besides, who, if not yuzabilistov, we must be able to display the data graphically.

Moving to another field of knowledge. They read in the company of creating websites?

It was nice to find on the shelves of two books of our series about Internet marketing "Increase Conversion Website"And"Add to cart».

A below - their "sister" of the series: the classic work on the optimization of landing pages Landing Page Optimization, or "Increasing the effectiveness of online advertising». This is a book with profound knowledge on internet marketing as they intersect with usability?

Mary explains: "We often requires knowledge of the plan. For example, you need to give the customer advice on the placement of advertising in the interface of the site by its appearance. We are working with in the field of e-commerce projects, advertising systems, it is important to understand how this world. "

It is interesting that on the shelf and there are books about contextual advertising, and about writing texts for the web.

Maria tells how replenished library: "Something bring employees, buy something for yourself, something comes to us from the conferences. It often happens that someone wrote a total newsletter: "Oh, there is such a book, let's order a!" "

No control over the delivery of the books there, they wander from hand to hand, tables and shelves. Some books are read out to the holes, they are rarely possible to "catch" in the closet. Masha tells what happened to her the volume of the book "Say It With Charts"Gene Zelazny - it always someone reads.

Fiction lived with a professional in one cabinet.

In the middle of the office, right next to the cabinet, increasing the lawn UsabilityLab. Fake, but evergreen. It is possible to arrange a break from a book. Sasha demonstrates how to:

But the cabinet, which is divided by psychologists and developers. So there "Developing Web Sites" and Rational XDE for Visual Studio. NET side by side with the "oculomotor structures of perception" and the two volumes of "General Psychology".

Opposite the rack sits angry bird - watches.

We thank the girls for their hospitality and interesting story, head to the exit. In the corridor we met yet another known game characters - it seems like they are not less than the useful books.

Photos of Christina Yatkovsky

We announce a contest!

Winner - 20 books publishing "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber" to choose from for the New Year!

Many readers of our column is in the library of the office, and some have asked us how to talk about it. We decided to hold a contest: write interesting, and most importantly - useful stuff on your office bookshelf. Be sure to illustrate his photographs and send us on [email protected].

Worthy materials we publish in the blog publishing. Each week, the most exciting post will be right here, in our project, "Bookshelf"!

We will choose the winner from the three materials that have received the greatest response from the audience.

Just before the New Year the best bookshelf country filled up already 20yu brand new books of publishing house "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber"! The owners will receive praise and recognition. Blog, website, FaceBook, Twitter and Contact publishing house "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber" Blow your company all over the country!