Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology by David Evans details the core psychological principles that can dictate the difference between successful and unsuccessful digital experiences of all kinds (websites, apps, games, hardware). Evans highlights the key elements that will prevent a user from discovering, understanding, connecting with, or remembering a digital experience. By understanding these bottlenecks, UX designers and researchers as well as entrepreneurs and creators at all levels can learn how to overcome user challenges and set themselves up for success.
While this book may be most valuable to those who create and analyze various types of digital experiences, the many case studies, visual examples, and approachable tone, make it a book for everyone interested in the intersection of technology and psychology. Evans also provides tools so readers can better understand how they might personally react to different experiences and be better prepared to defend their limited time and money.
In Bottlenecks, Evans presents an excellent overview of prominent psychological works and how they are relevant for UX design today. Having a refresher or introduction to studies by Cialdini, Skinner, Maslow, and others is an added benefit of this book.
As people are increasingly exposed to a multitude of messages and digital experiences, it is important to understand how they become aware of and process information. Bottlenecks will help readers explore how the brain and sensory systems work to curate this overwhelming content into knowledge and enjoyment.