In UNTETHERED: How Visionaries Think about the Mobile-First Future, author Shawn Borsky offers a compelling framework for understanding what “mobile” truly means in today’s interconnected world. This concise, no-nonsense strategic guide challenges readers to move beyond seeing mobile as more than simply a “phone,” and instead embrace a more nuanced understanding of how users interact with technology across multiple touchpoints.
The book opens with Borsky making his case for fundamentally rethinking how we conceptualize mobile technology, arguing that the “untethered, mobile-first future is as different from the early, desktop-bound internet as a Tesla is from a Model T.” He structures his argument around eight key attributes that are “more philosophy than a how-to.” With a conversational writing style that’s as informative as it is engaging, Borsky strikes an effective balance between theoretical and practical application—making complex topics digestible without oversimplifying them.
While the foundational arguments surrounding mobile’s dominance may feel like well-trodden ground—after all, the importance of mobile has been evident for over a decade—the broad strokes of Borsky’s mobile-first design remain compelling. Drawing from his experience at companies like Blizzard Entertainment, Borsky effectively uses case studies of both successes and failures to illustrate his points. For instance, the contrast between Blackberry’s inability to adapt and companies like Tesla and Spotify, who have fully embraced the untethered mindset, provides some pretty powerful evidence.
Borsky’s emphasis on empathy and user-centric design principles resonates throughout, especially in his discussion of how “delight” can emerge from truly understanding user needs. Sure, the idea that “delight is an emotional reaction to exceeded expectation” may seem a bit obvious, but Borsky’s exploration of this concept yields some impressive insight that virtually every business leader could learn from. Borsky also includes examples from traditional industries like food service, home improvement, and consumer electronics, but the book’s most detailed case studies understandably skew toward tech giants.
The concise format makes for a quick, accessible read. Unfortunately, it also limits the depth of exploration into key concepts and practical implementation strategies. While Borsky’s desire to focus on overarching, evergreen concepts is understandable, crucial topics like data privacy and security could certainly benefit from further coverage. As it stands, UNTETHERED is essentially a thoughtful, well-structured primer for navigating the increasingly complex landscape of mobile-first design.
As a forward-thinking guide from a mobile design veteran, Shawn Borsky’s UNTETHERED: How Visionaries Think about the Mobile-First Future ultimately succeeds in providing a fresh perspective on its subject that will resonate with business leaders, designers, and anyone interested in how technology shapes user behavior.
~James Weiskittel for IndieReader