A curated collection of books, articles, and resources that inspire my design thinking and professional growth.

Design & UX Favorites

“Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug

The classic guide to web usability that every designer should read.

Steve Krug’s “Don’t Make Me Think” is perhaps the most accessible introduction to web usability. Written in a conversational, practical style, it covers the fundamental principles of creating intuitive web experiences.

Key insights:

  • Users don’t read web pages—they scan them
  • Every question mark in a user’s mind is a cognitive load
  • Usability testing doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated
  • Good navigation answers the questions: “Where am I?” and “Where can I go?”

This book is perfect for designers just starting their UX journey, as well as experienced practitioners who need a refresher on usability fundamentals.

“The Elements of User Experience” by Jesse James Garrett

A comprehensive framework for understanding and implementing user experience design.

Garrett’s book provides a clear framework for thinking about user experience across different layers—from strategy and scope to structure, skeleton, and surface. It’s particularly valuable for understanding how different aspects of UX work together.

The five planes of UX:

  1. Strategy: User needs and business objectives
  2. Scope: Functional and content requirements
  3. Structure: Information architecture and interaction design
  4. Skeleton: Interface, navigation, and information design
  5. Surface: Visual design

This framework helps designers understand how their work fits into the broader product development process and communicate more effectively with stakeholders.

“About Face” by Alan Cooper

Essential reading for interaction design and user-centered design methodologies.

Alan Cooper’s “About Face” is a comprehensive guide to interaction design that emphasizes the importance of understanding users and designing for their goals and behaviors. The book covers everything from user research to interface design.

Key concepts:

  • Goal-directed design methodology
  • Personas as design tools
  • The importance of context in interaction design
  • Designing for different user types and scenarios

This book is essential for anyone serious about creating user-centered digital products.

“Hooked” by Nir Eyal

Understanding how to build products that create lasting user engagement.

Nir Eyal’s “Hooked” explores the psychology behind habit-forming products and provides a framework for creating engaging user experiences. While focused on product strategy, it has important implications for UX design.

The Hook Model:

  1. Trigger: What prompts users to take action
  2. Action: The behavior users perform in anticipation of a reward
  3. Variable Reward: The reward that satisfies users’ needs
  4. Investment: What users put into the product that increases likelihood of returning

This framework helps designers understand how to create experiences that users want to return to, while maintaining ethical design practices.

Business & Strategy

“Good to Great” by Jim Collins

What makes companies transition from good to great performance.

While not specifically about design, Collins’s research into what makes companies successful has important implications for design teams and processes. The book emphasizes the importance of disciplined people, disciplined thought, and disciplined action.

Design applications:

  • Building the right team with the right people in the right roles
  • Confronting brutal facts while maintaining faith in success
  • Developing a clear, simple concept that guides all decisions
  • Creating a culture of discipline and continuous improvement

“Crossing the Chasm” by Geoffrey Moore

Marketing and selling disruptive products to mainstream customers.

Moore’s book about technology adoption has important insights for designers working on innovative products. Understanding how different user segments adopt new products can inform design decisions and user research strategies.

Key concepts:

  • The technology adoption lifecycle
  • The chasm between early adopters and mainstream customers
  • The importance of whole product thinking
  • Targeting specific market segments rather than trying to appeal to everyone

“The Innovator’s Dilemma” by Clayton Christensen

Understanding disruptive innovation and its impact on established companies.

Christensen’s work on disruptive innovation helps designers understand how new technologies and approaches can transform entire industries. This perspective is valuable for designers working on products that challenge existing paradigms.

Design implications:

  • Understanding how user needs evolve over time
  • Recognizing when existing solutions become over-engineered
  • Designing for simplicity and accessibility
  • Anticipating how new technologies might change user expectations

Psychology & Human Behavior

“Influence” by Robert Cialdini

The psychology of persuasion and how it applies to design and user experience.

Cialdini’s research into the psychology of influence provides valuable insights for designers who need to guide user behavior and decision-making. The book covers six key principles of influence and their applications.

The six principles:

  1. Reciprocation: People feel obliged to return favors
  2. Commitment and Consistency: People want to appear consistent with their commitments
  3. Social Proof: People look to others to determine appropriate behavior
  4. Authority: People defer to credible, knowledgeable experts
  5. Liking: People prefer to say yes to those they like
  6. Scarcity: People assign more value to things that are less available

“Predictably Irrational” by Dan Ariely

Understanding the hidden forces that shape our decisions.

Ariely’s research into behavioral economics reveals how irrational human behavior actually follows predictable patterns. This understanding is crucial for designers who need to account for how people actually behave, not how they think they should behave.

Key insights for designers:

  • The importance of context in decision-making
  • How framing affects user choices
  • The role of emotions in rational decision-making
  • Why users often make decisions that seem illogical

“Nudge” by Richard Thaler

How small changes in choice architecture can lead to better decisions.

Thaler’s concept of “nudging” has become influential in design, particularly in areas like public policy and user interface design. The book explores how small changes in how choices are presented can significantly influence behavior.

Design applications:

  • Using defaults to guide user behavior
  • Simplifying complex choices
  • Providing clear feedback on user actions
  • Making better choices easier to make

Why These Books Matter

Building a Foundation

These books provide the theoretical foundation that informs practical design decisions. Understanding the psychology of human behavior, the principles of good design, and the frameworks for creating effective products helps designers make better decisions.

Continuous Learning

The field of UX design is constantly evolving, but the fundamental principles of human behavior and good design remain constant. These books provide timeless insights that continue to be relevant as technology changes.

Cross-Disciplinary Thinking

Great UX design requires understanding not just design principles, but also psychology, business strategy, and human behavior. These books help designers develop a more holistic understanding of their work.

The Bottom Line

Reading widely across different disciplines helps designers develop a more comprehensive understanding of their craft. These books provide insights from psychology, business, and design that can inform better user experiences.

The key is not just to read these books, but to apply their insights to your design work. Each book offers practical frameworks and principles that can be implemented in real design projects.

Remember: great designers are great learners. These books are just the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and growth in the field of user experience design.

Which of these books have you read? What other design books would you add to this list? I’d love to hear your recommendations and continue the conversation.