By Emily Takagi

Carroll, John M. Designing for User Engagement: Aesthetic and Attractive User Interfaces. Penn State University. 17-25. Morgan & Claypool, 2010.

In this book, Dr. John M. Carroll discusses the design process of websites that enhance usability and utility in the modern web. He looks at different corporate websites and gives an analysis on some the aspects that promote interest and good experiences that lead to better site traffic and sales. Carroll explains these aesthetics using studies in the viewpoint of cognitive psychology to see what particular types of designs enhance the user experience and make certain pages more pleasing to view than others. In the section of the design process, Carroll provides detailed explanation on the step by step method to the best designed websites. These websites are formed in the way of storytelling, where there are settings, characters, plot, movement, and mood that the creator has to take into consideration when creating a website for the interactive world. He concludes by noting that attention should be geared towards the goal of the website and what it is supposed to accomplish.