Books & Further Reading
These are the books and resources that shaped the field — and continue to inform good practice. Start with the essentials, then branch out based on your interests.
Reading Path Recommendations
Section titled “Reading Path Recommendations”For Beginners
Section titled “For Beginners”Start here to build a solid foundation:
- Don’t Make Me Think — Krug (1 afternoon)
- The Design of Everyday Things — Norman (1 week)
- 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know — Weinschenk (reference)
For Developers
Section titled “For Developers”Code-focused resources that bridge design and implementation:
- Inclusive Design Patterns — Pickering
- Web Form Design — Wroblewski
- Refactoring UI — Wathan, Schoger
For Researchers
Section titled “For Researchers”Deep methodology and evidence-based practice:
- Observing the User Experience — Goodman et al.
- Interviewing Users — Portigal
- Quantifying the User Experience — Sauro, Lewis
For Product Managers
Section titled “For Product Managers”Strategic and organizational perspectives:
- About Face — Cooper
- Lean UX — Gothelf, Seiden
- Sprint — Knapp
Foundational Books
Section titled “Foundational Books”The Design of Everyday Things — Don Norman
Section titled “The Design of Everyday Things — Don Norman”The classic introduction to human-centered design. Explains affordances, signifiers, and why doors are hard. Read this first if you’re new to the field.
Key concepts:
- Affordances and signifiers
- Conceptual models
- Feedback and constraints
- Human error and design
Best for: Everyone — essential reading
- Link: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262525671/the-design-of-everyday-things/
- Edition: Revised and Expanded (2013)
Don’t Make Me Think — Steve Krug
Section titled “Don’t Make Me Think — Steve Krug”Practical, conversational guide to web usability. Short, opinionated, and immediately actionable. Great for developers and designers alike.
Key concepts:
- Self-evident design
- Satisficing behavior
- The trunk test
- Home page design
Best for: Web designers, developers, anyone building interfaces
- Link: https://www.sensible.com/dmmt.html
- Edition: 3rd Edition (2014)
Rocket Surgery Made Easy — Steve Krug
Section titled “Rocket Surgery Made Easy — Steve Krug”The companion to Don’t Make Me Think. Shows how to run guerrilla usability tests with minimal budget and time.
Key concepts:
- DIY usability testing
- One-morning-a-month testing
- Finding and fixing problems
- Getting stakeholder buy-in
Best for: Teams without dedicated UX researchers
About Face — Alan Cooper et al.
Section titled “About Face — Alan Cooper et al.”Comprehensive interaction design guide. Covers personas, goal-directed design, and interface patterns. More detailed than Norman or Krug.
Key concepts:
- Goal-directed design
- Personas and scenarios
- Interaction design patterns
- Design principles
Best for: Interaction designers, product managers
- Link: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/About+Face%3A+The+Essentials+of+Interaction+Design%2C+4th+Edition-p-9781118766576
- Edition: 4th Edition (2014)
Universal Principles of Design — Lidwell, Holden, Butler
Section titled “Universal Principles of Design — Lidwell, Holden, Butler”Encyclopedia-style reference of 125 design principles. Great for browsing and discovering concepts you didn’t know had names.
Sample principles:
- Aesthetic-Usability Effect
- Chunking
- Fitts’s Law
- Progressive Disclosure
Best for: Quick reference, expanding vocabulary
- Link: https://www.rockportpublishers.com/books/9780760375167
- Edition: 3rd Edition (2023)
Web Form Design — Luke Wroblewski
Section titled “Web Form Design — Luke Wroblewski”The definitive guide to form design. Covers everything from label placement to inline validation, backed by research and real-world examples.
Key topics:
- Form organization
- Label placement
- Input types and validation
- Mobile forms
Best for: Anyone building forms
Accessibility
Section titled “Accessibility”A Web for Everyone — Sarah Horton, Whitney Quesenbery
Section titled “A Web for Everyone — Sarah Horton, Whitney Quesenbery”Practical accessibility guidance with personas and scenarios. Bridges theory and implementation.
Key topics:
- Accessibility personas
- Design considerations
- Content strategy
- Testing approaches
Best for: Teams starting accessibility work
Inclusive Design Patterns — Heydon Pickering
Section titled “Inclusive Design Patterns — Heydon Pickering”Code-focused accessibility patterns. Shows how to build common components accessibly.
Components covered:
- Navigation
- Forms
- Dialogs
- Data tables
Best for: Developers implementing accessible components
Accessibility for Everyone — Laura Kalbag
Section titled “Accessibility for Everyone — Laura Kalbag”Approachable introduction to web accessibility for non-specialists.
Key topics:
- Why accessibility matters
- Planning for accessibility
- Content and design
- Accessibility testing
Best for: General audience, teams new to accessibility
Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design — Kat Holmes
Section titled “Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design — Kat Holmes”Explores the broader philosophy of inclusive design beyond compliance.
Key concepts:
- Exclusion habits
- Inclusive design methodology
- Disability as design driver
- Universal solutions
Best for: Strategic thinking about inclusion
Research Methods
Section titled “Research Methods”Observing the User Experience — Elizabeth Goodman et al.
Section titled “Observing the User Experience — Elizabeth Goodman et al.”Comprehensive guide to user research methods. Covers interviews, surveys, usability testing, and analytics.
Methods covered:
- Field studies
- Usability testing
- Surveys
- Analytics
- Competitive research
Best for: Research practitioners
- Link: https://www.elsevier.com/books/observing-the-user-experience/goodman/978-0-12-384869-7
- Edition: 2nd Edition (2012)
Interviewing Users — Steve Portigal
Section titled “Interviewing Users — Steve Portigal”Deep dive into user interview techniques. How to ask good questions and listen actively.
Key topics:
- Interview preparation
- Question types
- Rapport building
- Analysis and synthesis
Best for: Anyone conducting user interviews
- Link: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/interviewing-users/
- Edition: 2nd Edition (2024)
Quantifying the User Experience — Jeff Sauro, James Lewis
Section titled “Quantifying the User Experience — Jeff Sauro, James Lewis”Statistics and practical quantitative methods for UX research.
Key topics:
- Sample sizes
- Confidence intervals
- A/B testing statistics
- Survey design
Best for: Researchers doing quantitative work
- Link: https://www.elsevier.com/books/quantifying-the-user-experience/sauro/978-0-12-802308-2
- Edition: 2nd Edition (2016)
Just Enough Research — Erika Hall
Section titled “Just Enough Research — Erika Hall”Pragmatic guide to doing research that actually informs decisions.
Key concepts:
- Research questions
- Method selection
- Stakeholder buy-in
- Communicating findings
Best for: Time-constrained practitioners
- Link: https://abookapart.com/products/just-enough-research
- Edition: 2nd Edition (2019)
Cognitive Psychology
Section titled “Cognitive Psychology”Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman
Section titled “Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman”Nobel laureate’s exploration of dual-process theory — how we think and decide.
Key concepts:
- System 1 and System 2
- Cognitive biases
- Heuristics
- Decision-making
Best for: Understanding user behavior at a deep level
100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People — Susan Weinschenk
Section titled “100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People — Susan Weinschenk”Psychology principles applied to design, organized for easy reference.
Topics include:
- How people see
- How people think
- How people decide
- What motivates people
Best for: Quick psychology reference
The Paradox of Choice — Barry Schwartz
Section titled “The Paradox of Choice — Barry Schwartz”Why more choices can lead to worse outcomes and decision paralysis.
Key concepts:
- Choice overload
- Satisficing vs. maximizing
- Regret and choice
- Design implications
Best for: Understanding decision architecture
Visual and Interface Design
Section titled “Visual and Interface Design”Refactoring UI — Adam Wathan, Steve Schoger
Section titled “Refactoring UI — Adam Wathan, Steve Schoger”Practical visual design advice for developers. Full of before/after examples.
Topics include:
- Hierarchy and spacing
- Typography
- Color
- Component design
Best for: Developers improving their visual design skills
The Non-Designer’s Design Book — Robin Williams
Section titled “The Non-Designer’s Design Book — Robin Williams”Fundamental visual design principles (contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity).
Key principles:
- CRAP (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity)
- Typography basics
- Color fundamentals
Best for: Non-designers who need to design
Layout Essentials — Beth Tondreau
Section titled “Layout Essentials — Beth Tondreau”100 design principles for using grids and layout systems.
Best for: Print and web layout fundamentals
Information Architecture
Section titled “Information Architecture”Information Architecture — Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville, Jorge Arango
Section titled “Information Architecture — Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville, Jorge Arango”The foundational text on organizing information for findability and understanding.
Key concepts:
- Organization systems
- Labeling systems
- Navigation systems
- Search systems
Best for: Information architects, content strategists
- Link: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/information-architecture-4th/9781491913529/
- Edition: 4th Edition (2015)
How to Make Sense of Any Mess — Abby Covert
Section titled “How to Make Sense of Any Mess — Abby Covert”Accessible introduction to information architecture as a practice.
Key concepts:
- Defining the mess
- Language and labels
- Structure and flow
- Testing understanding
Best for: Anyone organizing complex information
Content and Writing
Section titled “Content and Writing”Nicely Said — Nicole Fenton, Kate Kiefer Lee
Section titled “Nicely Said — Nicole Fenton, Kate Kiefer Lee”Writing style guide for web content with heart.
Key topics:
- Voice and tone
- Clear writing
- Sensitive content
- Style guides
Best for: Content strategists, writers
Conversational Design — Erika Hall
Section titled “Conversational Design — Erika Hall”Writing for conversational interfaces and human-like interactions.
Best for: Chatbot designers, voice UI designers
Content Design — Sarah Winters (Richards)
Section titled “Content Design — Sarah Winters (Richards)”Evidence-based approach to creating useful, usable content.
Best for: Content designers, UX writers
Product and Strategy
Section titled “Product and Strategy”Lean UX — Jeff Gothelf, Josh Seiden
Section titled “Lean UX — Jeff Gothelf, Josh Seiden”Integrating UX with agile development processes.
Key concepts:
- Outcomes over outputs
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Minimum viable products
- Continuous learning
Best for: Teams integrating UX with agile
- Link: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/lean-ux-3rd/9781098116293/
- Edition: 3rd Edition (2021)
Sprint — Jake Knapp
Section titled “Sprint — Jake Knapp”Google Ventures’ five-day process for solving problems and testing ideas.
Key concepts:
- Time-boxed design
- Prototyping
- User testing
- Decision-making
Best for: Teams wanting structured design sprints
Hooked — Nir Eyal
Section titled “Hooked — Nir Eyal”How products create habits (and ethical considerations).
Key concepts:
- Trigger → Action → Variable Reward → Investment
- Habit formation
- Ethical design considerations
Best for: Product managers, with critical reading
Ongoing Resources
Section titled “Ongoing Resources”Nielsen Norman Group
Section titled “Nielsen Norman Group”Prolific source of usability research and guidelines. Free articles; paid reports and training.
Highlights:
-
10 Usability Heuristics
-
UX research methods
-
Industry benchmarks
-
Link: https://www.nngroup.com/
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
Section titled “W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)”Official source for WCAG guidelines and accessibility tutorials.
Highlights:
-
WCAG Guidelines
-
ARIA Authoring Practices
-
Accessibility tutorials
-
Link: https://www.w3.org/WAI/
GOV.UK Design System
Section titled “GOV.UK Design System”Production-tested patterns and components. Excellent examples of plain language and accessibility.
Highlights:
-
Component library
-
Design patterns
-
Content style guide
A List Apart
Section titled “A List Apart”Long-running web design publication. Thoughtful articles on design, development, and content.
- Link: https://alistapart.com/
Smashing Magazine
Section titled “Smashing Magazine”Practical articles on web design and development. Active community and regular book releases.
LukeW Ideation + Design — Luke Wroblewski
Section titled “LukeW Ideation + Design — Luke Wroblewski”Decades of insights on mobile design, form design, and product strategy. Luke’s articles and presentations have shaped industry best practices around mobile-first design, input design, and conversion optimization.
Baymard Institute
Section titled “Baymard Institute”E-commerce UX research and benchmarks. Free articles; paid reports.
- Link: https://baymard.com/
MeasuringU
Section titled “MeasuringU”Quantitative UX research and statistics. Free articles on metrics and methods.
- Link: https://measuringu.com/
Reading by Topic
Section titled “Reading by Topic”Cognitive Load
Section titled “Cognitive Load”- The Design of Everyday Things — Norman
- Thinking, Fast and Slow — Kahneman
- 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know — Weinschenk
Forms and Input
Section titled “Forms and Input”- Web Form Design — Wroblewski
- Inclusive Design Patterns — Pickering
- LukeW articles on forms
Mobile Design
Section titled “Mobile Design”- Mobile First — Wroblewski (A Book Apart)
- Responsive Design — Marcotte (A Book Apart)
- Designing Mobile Interfaces — Hoober, Berkman
Accessibility
Section titled “Accessibility”- A Web for Everyone — Horton, Quesenbery
- Inclusive Design Patterns — Pickering
- Mismatch — Holmes
User Research
Section titled “User Research”- Interviewing Users — Portigal
- Just Enough Research — Hall
- Observing the User Experience — Goodman et al.
Visual Design
Section titled “Visual Design”- Refactoring UI — Wathan, Schoger
- The Non-Designer’s Design Book — Williams
- Universal Principles of Design — Lidwell et al.
References
Section titled “References”- Nielsen Norman Group — https://www.nngroup.com/
- A Book Apart — https://abookapart.com/
- Rosenfeld Media — https://rosenfeldmedia.com/
- Smashing Magazine Books — https://www.smashingmagazine.com/printed-books/
See Also
Section titled “See Also”- Academic Research — Peer-reviewed sources
- Standards & Guidelines — Official specifications
- Key Principles & Laws — Design principles