Essential Reads for UX Designers: 40 Must-Have Books
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Chapter 1: Introduction to UX Design Literature
It's been a while since I last shared my thoughts on Medium. My writing comes in waves, but I'm excited to return. The duration of my stay remains uncertain as I'm currently immersed in my role as a solo designer at a startup. Additionally, I'm thoroughly enjoying my side project, which highlights the journeys of Australian founders at Founderoo.
To be frank, I haven't yet delved into every book on this list. Many have received glowing recommendations, while others resonate with my personal preferences. Feel free to select what interests you and dive into these reads to further your understanding of user experience.
Note: Purchasing through the Amazon links will support me, so thank you!
Section 1.1: Recommended Books
- Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
- The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman
- 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People by Susan Weinschenk
- Strategic Writing for UX: Drive Engagement, Conversion, and Retention with Every Word by Torrey Podmajersky
- Lean UX: Applying Lean Principles to Improve User Experience by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden
- The Inmates are Running the Asylum by Alan Cooper
- A Project Guide to UX Design by Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler
- The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond by Jesse James Garrett
- The Shape of Design by Frank Chimero
- The Design of Future Things by Donald Norman
Subsection 1.1.1: Books for Practical Application
- UX for Lean Startups by Laura Klein
- The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley
- Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things by Donald Norman
- Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton
- The Non-Designer’s Design Book by Robin Williams
- The Design of Business: Why Design Thinking is the Next Competitive Advantage by Roger Martin
- About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, and David Cronin
- Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems by Steve Krug
- The Design of Understanding: How Conversations Transform Organizations and Communities by David Sibbet
- The User Experience Revolution by Terry Sullivan
Section 1.2: Advanced Concepts in UX Design
- Universal Principles of Design by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler
- A Practical Guide to Information Architecture by Donna Spencer
- Designing for Emotion by Aarron Walter
- Content Strategy for the Web by Kristina Halvorson
- The Elements of Content Strategy by Erin Kissane
- Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt
- Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction by Preece, Rogers, and Sharp
- User Story Mapping: Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product by Jeff Patton
- The Myth of the Paperless Office by Abigail J. Sellen and Richard H. R. Harper
- The Design Thinking Playbook: Mindful Digital Transformation of Teams, Products, Services, Businesses and Ecosystems by Michael Lewrick, Patrick Link, and Lars Angermann
Chapter 2: Accessibility and Documentation in UX
- A Web for Everyone: Designing Accessible User Experiences by Sarah Horton and Whitney Quesenbery
- The Guide to UX Design Process & Documentation by Jerry Cao, Kamil Zi?ba, and Matt Ellis
- The User Is Always Right: A Practical Guide to Creating and Using Personas for the Web by Steven Hoober
- Designing Gestural Interfaces: Touchscreens and Interactive Devices by Dan Saffer
- The UX Careers Handbook by Cory Lebson
- Designing the Obvious: A Common Sense Approach to Web & Mobile Application Design by Robert Hoekman Jr.
- The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers & Learn if Your Business is a Good Idea When Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick
- The UX Book: Process and Guidelines for Ensuring a Quality User Experience by Rex Hartson and Pardha Pyla
- Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz
- The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition by Donald Norman
Big thanks for taking the time to read this! If you enjoyed this article, a round of applause would be much appreciated.
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Explore the vital books that every Product and UX designer should consider.
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