Keeping the design theme running from last month ... this month we hear from Brendan Dawes on interaction design with his book "Analog In, Digital Out". Who is Brendan Dawes? Well, he is Creative Director with interactive agency Magnetic North, based in the UK. His portfolio includes work for Fox Kids, Disney, Coca-Cola and Kelloggs. So, what we're looking at here is a book on interaction design from an expert in the field. And, Mr Dawes offers an honest insight into his own personal design process. Something we lowly fledgling designers wouldn't usually be privy to.

The introduction of this book "Running With Scissors" is often funny and very insightful and has spatterings of visual imagery and is very very cool ... and asks the question "Why Does it have to be like that?" ... which becomes the running philosophy of the book and something all designers need to think about.

Mr Dawes talks about travelling to work everyday on a train and forcing himself to "look up", well not literally up but to open his eyes and take in his surroundings and wonder and think and design. He draws on personal experiences throughout the book and uses odd sized text, nostaglic imagery and an eclectic collection of bits and bobs to emphasize his point.

The Chapter titles add to the eclectica, with titles like:

• Play-Doh as Interface
• Recycling the Past
• Nightmare at 30,000 feet
• Strangers on a Train
• Don't think
• Designing for my Mum
• Mash-Up at the Movies
• Comfortably Numb

Now didn't I tell you this was a cool book.

In short, for designers this is an unusual and special little book with a whole host of knowledge. A thoroughly enjoyable read and visual experience which leaves you thinking ... thinking ... and thinking. And, to quote Mr Dawes again, "in regard to the design process, comfort is a very nasty word" ... I give this thoroughly uncomfortable little book on design a double thumbs up.