A lot happens inside a user’s mind when they interact with your design. For example, your users might have a prejudice or bias you’re not aware of. In other cases, using your designs might be scary for first-time users.
In fact, as of lately, it is getting to new heights with the newly realized importance of the user experience. Writing is Designing is not necessarily an intro to UX writing book, but it is quite easy to read. Then the authors move onto real-life situations, strategizing in a project environment and best practices on other aspects of writing for UX. Originally published in 2011, the book has an easy-to-follow format, putting a wide range of knowledge into a great introduction to the psychology of UX design. Going over all the design basic and complex principles of usability with a witty sense of humor and comics every few pages, this all-time classic is a must-read for any serious UX designer-to-be.
Best UX Books for Beginners
There’s an easy way of reading some of my recommended books on UX for free. It can be of great help since getting a lot of books can still be an investment close to that of a UX course. User experience design is the discipline of creating a useful and usable web site or application.
It’s a practical resource, particularly beneficial for those beginning their UI design journey. “Creative Confidence” debunks the “creativity myth”—that people are born creative. It empowers readers to tap into their inherent potential to create change. The authors share inspiring stories from their work at IDEO and teach you how to leverage everyday annoyances as design opportunities. Send me the ebook and sign me up for other offers and content on transitioning to a career in UX design. There is some overlap between the books, and I don’t suggest you should read them all.
Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All, by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
This classic by Steve Krug was first published in 2000, and has inspired hundreds of thousands of designers and developers in the years since. It covers principles of intuitive navigation and information design. Witty, commonsensical, and eminently practical, it’s one of the best-loved and most recommended books on the subject. I know, I know, there are plenty of articles and videos on how to prepare and hack the product design interview, why bother and spend money on a book, when you can google it?
Once you’re done with these first two, continue with the following beginner-friendly UX design books. The first two books are also part of my essential UX booklist, as discussed above. However, keep in mind that the book is primarily aimed at UX design for the web.
Refactoring UI by Adam Wathan and Steve Schoger
They stress that as we become more reliant on technology, understanding these hidden design rules is not just fascinating, but crucial. “UX for Beginners” is a comprehensive yet entertaining guide for anyone interested in user experience (UX) design. This book covers the fundamentals of UX across 100 self-contained, engaging lessons. Nevertheless, the book is full of practical advice and very useful tips for UX designers regardless of their level of experience or a company they are working at. Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug is a classic book on usability.
If you are wondering why you are still scrolling on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, well this book has the answers. An external trigger — like an email or notification or ad that brings the user back. Our emotions often drive our behaviour, and each emotion is mapped to a set of products we could use to “scratch the itch”, as Eyar calls it, of whatever we are feeling. It’s really a must-read if you want to understand the psychology behind what drives our behaviour in a world where there are so many services competing for our attention. Whether you’re a product manager or a UX designer, this book covers UX writing principles and human behavior impacting buyer decisions. The authors guide readers through before-and-after examples, illustrating how small, intentional changes significantly enhance a user interface’s visual appeal and usability.
Find any other useful UX design books?
And on top of all that, a UX designer needs to know their way around in the business world. Moreover, the book deals with all sorts of design, meaning it can relatively enlarge any designer’s perspective inside and outside their own field of expertise while also being an inspiration. If you are looking for a book that can optimize your UX design strategy or hone your basic design skills, here are some wonderful suggestions.
- Our emotions often drive our behaviour, and each emotion is mapped to a set of products we could use to “scratch the itch”, as Eyar calls it, of whatever we are feeling.
- This book guides readers through the practical aspects of user testing.
- Even if you’re an experienced designer, there are valuable insights about the future of user experience design.
- However, lean UX will give you the tools you need to work together with Agile-minded teams and clients efficiently and productively.
- And despite being written over a decade ago, the content is still miraculously relevant.
Laws of UX explores ten key principles based on user behavioral economics studies and UX research, with clear examples and best practices from each. The book covers the entire interview process, from planning and preparation to conducting interviews and data analysis. User experience designers should learn about the human psychology of interviews, the importance of empathy and active listening, and create a comfortable environment for participants. It provides insights into current design trends and showcases examples of superior designs. Furthermore, it encourages readers to contemplate the future trajectory of UX design.
User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design are Changing the Way We Live, Work and Play by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant
Web design is more than just creating clean codes and sharp graphics. A website that really works fulfills your strategic objectives while meeting the needs of your users. Even though creating the user experience can seem overwhelmingly complex, it can seem as if the only way to build a successful site is to spend a fortune on specialists who understand all the details.
The authors weave a historical narrative and chart the evolution of user-experience design from a niche concept to a universal reality in our digital age. They reveal the hidden impact of design on societal shifts, from major historical events to the dawn of the digital era. Designing excellent interfaces for websites, softwares, and applications isn’t easy now that companies and businesses need to create compelling, seamless experiences for the users. It becomes even harder when there’s an exploding number of channels, screens, and contexts. New to the digital product design and don’t know exactly where to start? This book explains the collaborative process which designers use by not only taking into account what is technically possible but what is feasible.
How to Improve Your UI Design Skills
When designing websites, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that people will actually be using your published work. After 8+ years of crafting the next generation’s web design tools, UI Kits, Admin Dashboards, and Mobile App Templates, Creative Tim decided to write this UI/UX book guide based on their experience. Turns out we know very little about the brain and can’t decipher our most basic ui ux design books human motivation levers and decision-making models most of the time. Strangers to Ourselves was written by Social Psychology Professor, Timothy D. Wilson, and explores the idea of the unconscious and the role it plays in human behavior. Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug was published in 2009 and is a friendly and useful guide to identifying and fixing common web usability issues.
