This book explains how social psychology; sociology and anthropology can provide valuable techniques for investigating the relationship between people and design. Written not only by designers and applied theorists; but also by specialists working at the front line in the consumer product industries; the book discusses the existing realities and the benefits that an interdisciplinary approach could bring to research; practice and education. It also identifies and defines possible directions for interdisciplinary work connecting design and the social sciences. Design and the Social Sciences provides methods that will result in products that are functional and ergonomically sound.
#4235997 in eBooks 2007-04-16 2007-04-16File Name: B000PLXELG
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. If youre a Madonna fan you need this book!By BlackUrsaI was very pleased with this book. Ms. OBrien was in-depth and thorough in her research on Madonna. She is a fan; and that showed in her work. I now know Madonna better than I did before.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A critical but sympathetic biographyBy Jason FerrellGiven the length and breadth of her career a simple chronological recounting of the facts of Madonnas time spent in the public eye could easily reach daunting proportions; so an attempt at both the facts combined with a bit of analysis on their possible deeper meaning must necessarily be somewhat abbreviated. Being that at various points throughout her long career Madonna has been a highly polarizing figure you may find the books generally sympathetic point of view either a nice change or entirely too saccharine. Generally its a good overview that avoids the type of unfounded assumptions many writers seem to make when discussing the Material Girl. Generally. For some reason OBrien spends a great deal of time making the point that a photo shoot done in 2005 at Madonnas then estate in the English countryside was somehow indicative of a deeper desire on her subjects part to become a de facto English Lady of the Manor. Whats strange about this is that the author discusses many of Madonnas other famous photo projects throughout the book but never makes the sort of leap she does here. For example; she discusses a 2006 photo shoot with Steven Klein in which Madonna appeared in full equestrian regalia but doesnt then argue this was a desperate attempt to make herself over in "real" life. The author generally does a good job collecting interviews from various co-workers from throughout Madonnas career to add to the conversation; but there are two glaring omissions. First; Madonna had the same manager; Freddy DeMann; from her 1983 debut up until roughly 1997 but he is barely mentioned here; and second OBrien has nothing to say about Madonnas relationship with her longtime record label Warner Bros. Particularly given that Madonna was with the label from 1982 up until 2008 and the number of label heads that came and went throughout that time it seems like it would be a fertile area to investigate. Finally; the author generally gets her basic facts straight; but there are a number of simple errors. The caption of a photo depicting Madonnas MTV Pajama Party states it was in 1995 to launch the "Bedtime Stories" album; when in fact the album was released on October 1994 and this event was held to premiere the video of the title track. Then she states that "The Beast Within"; a video projection which opened up 2004s Reinvention Tour; was directed by Chris Cunningham when it was Steven Klein. I mention this because if OBrien mucks up details which are easily verifiable; this could call into question the veracity of her other original research. So; if youre a fan and want to dig a little deeper without totally destroying the myth; this is for you. If youre resolutely NOT a fan and are looking for further rationalization to hate; go elsewhere.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The book is good to know how Madonna become the artist that she ...By HMYThis biography should have gotten Madonna seal of approval. 70% of the book is detailing every song of Madonna and how it was conceived. The rest about madonna personal life. Even when the author tried to cover the personal life of Madonna;she was not digging for dirt or trying to showcase any dark side of the artist. The book is good to know how Madonna become the artist that she is today.