Book Review: The Art & Science Of Web Design

With the overwhelming supply of How-to books available for web developers and designers, Jeffery Veen's The Art and Science of Web Design stands out as something pleasantly different. It explores the methods of web design and programming, and highlights which methods work and why they work.

For example, throughout the book, Veen talks about Cascading Style Sheets. Instead of giving the readers a reference guide on Cascading Style Sheets, he gives us an explanation of what Cascading Style Sheets do, why someone would use them and in what way they would be used.

It's the old cliché: Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, feed him for life. Instead of going through the steps of building a mock website, Veen teaches us how to think like a good designer. Instead of leaving his readers with the simple knowledge of how to design one certain kind of website, Veen leaves for us the mind of a good designer. We'll be able to find solutions on our own, instead of relying on a limited amount of information in a book.

The Art and Science of Web Design isn't just for web designers. Veen's practical advice is beneficial for anyone that does any kind of work on the web. Veen supplies a rich knowledge of the history of the web and the many aspects of it. He also devotes an entire chapter to browsers, giving a great explanation on how we (especially designers and developers) should consider browsers in our work.

Overall, Veen has done an extraordinary job in pointing out the key aspects of being a good designer. While the book isn't your average How-to book, it does compliment them. Once you've learned how to do a specific task, Veen's book helps you understand why you are doing that specific task.

In conclusion, Veen shows us more than just how to design a website effectively. He shows us how we can get a real understanding of the Web, in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

But The Book