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14 Comments

What is the best book on design you've read?

Looking for a great book (or course) on basic design principles that make a huge difference. Specifically looking to implement it in UX and UI.

  1. 3

    For UI, Refactoring UI.
    Design in general, design of everyday things.

    1. 1

      Yes! Came across refactoring UI and even their articles are already awesome. Definitely considering the book. And Design of Everyday Things has been ordered! Everybody recommends this one.

      Thanks for your recommendations!

      1. 2

        As soon as I read the title of this post I thought about mentioning "Refactoring UI" by @adamwathan and @steveschoger. Glad to find it on the top comment. It's amazing and worth every penny, go for it.

  2. 2

    "The Non-Designer's Design Book" has been extremely useful in regards to understanding design for me.

    While it's focused a bit more on older print design, the fundamentals are explained very well in this book. Even just building a design vocabulary is helpful in understanding where and why there are tensions in the work.

    https://amzn.to/2YHPDUl

    1. 1

      I'll check it out. Thanks for sharing!

  3. 2

    "Design of Everyday Things" by Donald Normal. Not a day goes by that I don't reference something from that book.

      1. 1

        Let me know what you think! The examples are dated which, I think, is the charm of the book. UX is universal and timeless.

        1. 1

          It's freaking excellent. Have the updated version for 2013 with new examples I believe. But it's super, super good. Already applying its principles where I can.

          Thanks for the recommendation!

    1. 1

      Ordered! Seems to be a consensus amazing book.

  4. 2

    I like "Design for hackers" by David Kadavy.

    1. 1

      I'll check that one out. Thanks!

  5. 1

    Besides "Design of Everyday Things" which is a must, I would add two more:

    1. Just Enough Research by Erika Hall – A guide on how to make a proper research. When it comes to UX, there's more science than art. It has plenty of examples.
    2. Mental Models by Indi Young – This one is more like an overview of the entire process. Anyway, it will help you to positively identify patterns. If you are on a rush, skip to that chapter.
  6. 1

    +1 for the design of every day things

    The laws of simplicity
    Understanding comics

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