Great UX/UI designers have one thing in common: They want to read books and apply new ideas in practice.
If you want to become one of the best UX/UI designers in your niche, you must equip yourself with knowledge (there isn’t a shortcut).
Don’t get us wrong – reading online blog articles on design is always great. But reading a book will allow you to see the topic from a deeper, intimate perspective.
We selected 7 essential books every UX/UI designer should read.
Trust us – after reading these books, you will see the design world from a new lens. Why not give it a try?
7 books for UX/UI design you should read
1. Work for Money, Design for Love by David Alrey
- How to find new clients?
- How much should you charge for your design work?
- When should you say no to a project?
- How should you handle demanding clients?
These are some of the questions this book will answer. It is a straight-talking advice guide that will answer every question you may have about launching and running your own design businesses.
2. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
If you enjoy short and motivating books, “Show your work” will be an excellent fit for you.
This is a guide on how to stop feeling insecure about your work. It will motivate you to stop polishing your design work until it’s perfect, get out there, and show it to the world.
3. The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
This book will show you that good, usable design is not an impossible mission.
It will provide you with the main rules to guide the user effortlessly to the right action, at the right time, such as:
- Make things visible.
- Exploit natural relationships that couples function and control.
- Make intelligent use of constraints.
4. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal
If you have ever wondered why certain apps and tools are so addictive and others get barely noticed, this book will give you the answer.
You will dive deep into a 4-step hook model to shape and predict customer habits. This book will come in handy if you plan to design a digital product or experience.
5. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
This book gives you permission to copy your heroes’ work and use it as a springboard to find your own unique style.
It highlights that:
- You should create the right work environment for your art.
- Remember to have fun while working.
- Never let criticism drive you off track.
6. Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
Building a great website isn’t only about technology or design. It’s more about understanding human psychology.
This book will give you valuable principles and guidelines for designing unique, usable websites.
This book is a must-read for web designers, developers, and anyone who wants to understand people’s behavior and create valuable products/services.
7. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People by Susan Weinschenk
Designing without understanding what makes people act is like exploring a new city without a map: results can be random, confusing, and weak.
This guide combines real science and research with practical examples to help you design more intuitive and engaging work that will match the way people think, work, and play.
