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The following list includes some of my favorite design books. Each book includes a description on why I enjoyed the book and what you’ll learn. I only add resources to this list that I have read myself and that I highly recommend to friends, students, and colleagues. Please enjoy!
BREAKING IN: Over 100 Product Designers Reveal How to Build a Portfolio That Will Get You Hired
This a very powerful book if you’re looking to take your design portfolio to the next level. Learn what professionals are looking for.
A Project Guide to UX Design: For user experience designers in the field or in the making (2nd Edition) (Voices That Matter)
This a great book for those looking to break into the field of UX Design. I learned a lot about the UX research process in this book.
The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition
This book by Don Norman is one of the most popular books in the design industry. The book discusses the usability and psychology behind some of the world’s most coveted “everyday” products.
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
This book by Nir Eyal and Ryan Hoover is a must read if you’re looking to become a great digital designer. This book covers a model that many tech companies use “hook” users into returning to their product.
Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams
This book by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden is a must read for digital designers. This book examines how designers can streamline the research and design process to get faster results!
Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems
This book by Steve Krug is a great book if you are looking to learn the basics of Usability testing. It covers many core usability principles that I used for this site!
Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (3rd Edition) (Voices That Matter)
This book by Steve Krug is a best selling usability book. It’s a super easy read that does a great job of explaining things. I reference it all the time when conducting usability tests.
Visual Miscellaneum: The Bestselling Classic, Revised and Updated: A Colorful Guide to the World’s Most Consequential Trivia
This book by David McCandless is a great book for graphic or visual (UI) designers. I look at it all the time for visual inspiration.
Thinking with Type, 2nd revised and expanded edition: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students
This book is a bestselling typography book. I highly recommend this book for those looking to learn the foundations of great typography.
The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America’s Leading Design Firm
This book by Tom Kelly is a great behind the scenes look at IDEO. I recommend this book to designers and students looking to challenge how they research design problems.
The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice
This book by Tod Henry is a great resource for learning how to “think outside the box” in a short amount of time. I recommend this book to anyone looking to enhance their current design process.
Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All
This book by Tom Kelly and David Kelly is a great resource for those who don’t call themselves a “creative.” I recommend getting this book for that friend or co-worker that is holding their creativity back!