North Shore Web Geek Meetup: April 17th at the Grog

April 29th, 2008

Designing for the Social Web: the Book

Has it really been nine months?

Last August, when I decided to go out on my own and start Bokardo Design, I also began writing a book on a new aspect of design that I called “social design”. Social design was the term I used when thinking about and designing for the social interactions between people using software. It was clear to me that web sites and applications were “going social”, meaning that they were realizing that improving the interactions between their audience was key to their ongoing success, not just having conversations with the audience themselves. I decided to write a book about this area, with a focus on tying social psychology research with actual design practice.

Designing for the Social Web

The result is Designing for the Social Web, now available from New Riders and other merchants such as Amazon. The book is 200 pages long, chock-full of screenshots of interfaces, and peppered with social psychology tidbits.

Here’s the chapter outline:

The Rise of the Social Web
A Framework for Social Web Design
Authentic Conversations
Design for Sign-up
Design for Ongoing Participation
Design for Collective Intelligence
Design for Sharing
The Funnel Analysis

In the coming days I’ll be exploring the book in-depth, going through the most important factors in social design, giving away free chapters, and publishing bits that I wrote after the book which could have easily been included in it.

I see this book as just the beginning of the conversation. The fields of design and psychology are so vast, we can’t possibly imagine the infinite ways they’ll inform each other going forward.

In the meantime, enjoy the book!

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Comments ( 36 Responses so far )

1. Marc Amos on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Awesome, I’ll be placing my pre-order momentarily. Congratulations on this huge achievement, Josh!

2. Luke on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congrats Joshua, it’ll be great to have a little slice of Bokardo on my bookshelf.

3. Cesar H Castro Jr on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Friggin Awesome, Can’t wait to crack it open and pick it apart.

4. Brian Christiansen on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Can’t wait to have my own personal copy!

5. Goos on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Same here, I am looking forward reading your book. Congrats!

6. Peter R. Wood on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congratulations!

7. Almar van der Krogt on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congratulations. I already found so much useful information on your weblog(s); I can’t wait to get my hands on your book!

8. Michelle Riggen-Ransom on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congratulations, Josh! Quite an accomplishment - can’t wait to check it out.

9. Paul Kelley on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Can’t wait to read it. Congratulations Josh!

10. Liv Labate on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congratulations!

11. Amitabh Handa on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congrats, Josh! This is a big accomplishment, way to go for seeing it all the way through. Can’t wait to check it out.

12. Jason Robb on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Wow, awesome news, Josh. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! Congratulations!

13. billhd on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

I am brimming with enthusiasm! (and a little bit of pride, I must admit).

14. Arne on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Sounds really interesting! I’m buying it

15. Heidi on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congratulations! =)

16. Tony on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

This book will be my must-read of 2008! If I read this I might be able to get rid of my expensive interface designer and do it all myself!

17. Josh on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!

18. Bryce on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Awesome news Josh! A creepy German witch and 2 feral cats couldn’t keep me from pre-ordering…

(Off to do that now!)

19. Christine Perfetti on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

What a *huge* accomplishment. Congratulations, Josh! I bought my copy today.

20. Joshua Ledwell on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Another congratulations on your book!

21. Adam Darowski on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Just pre-ordered!

22. Josh Bernoff on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

Welcome to the exclusive fraternity of Massachusetts authors of social Web books published in the last month . . . and named Josh.

/josh bernoff, co-author of Groundswell.

23. Scott McQuigg on April 29th, 2008 (Comment) #

I find so many useful insights on this blog, i’m sure I’ll get as much value out of the book as well. pre-ordered two copies to share at the office. congrats!

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24. BMD-Media.com on April 30th, 2008 (Comment) #

That is very admirable! Great job Joshua, we wish you the best with your book!

~ Fellow Web Designer
BMD-Media.com Website Design

25. Jeff Bridgforth on April 30th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congratulations Josh. I’m sure it is a great book. I have enjoyed the insights you have shared in this blog and times that I have heard you speak.

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26. Manuel on May 5th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congratulations! Will the book be available in PDF format? I’m a globe-trotter and I really like ebooks.

27. Yan Pritzker on May 5th, 2008 (Comment) #

I just got my copy delivered (had it on preorder). I’ve been following your blog for a long time and though I’m only halfway through the book I must say it is very well written and well illustrated. Great effort and congrats!

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28. Andre on May 7th, 2008 (Comment) #

Congrats from germany!
Btw: I´d like to have a pdf-version, too…

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29. Markus on May 7th, 2008 (Comment) #

+1 for a PDF version

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30. Grant on May 13th, 2008 (Comment) #

My tech team saw it on my desk and now they all want one. Thanks for the inspiration.