I finally started a blog, and I thought it might be useful to share my thoughts on some user experience and design books I’ve enjoyed reading.

The Ethical Design Handbook

Trine Falbe, Martin Michael Frederiksen and Kim Andersen.

Currently on the bookshelf and waiting to be read. I’m looking forward to reading this one!

Design for Real Life

Eric Meyer and Sara Wachter-Boettcher

A really insightful read, whether you’re new to UX, or a seasoned practitioner looking to brush up on best-practice. The book highlights common shortcomings found within products and websites that create negative experiences and even distress to users. It gives practical examples of how to rethink problems, looking at ‘stress-cases’ rather than ‘edge-cases’, taking into account a user’s emotional state in certain scenarios. A great guide on creating more compassionate designs through rounded and human experiences based on real life scenarios.

The User Experience Revolution

Paul Boag

Currently reading… review coming soon.

Product Design Process: The manual for Digital Product Design and Product Management

Tiago Franco and Beatriz Costa

Product Design Process is an easy book to get on with. From the start it clearly and concisely sets out the whole end-to-end design process, from taking an idea for a digital product into a first version release. It's primarily aimed at product and UX designers, but because it explains the steps so clearly, I'd recommend it to anyone involved in designing, managing or owning digital products. You can literally use it as a step-by-step guide to designing an app or website, or just keep it nearby when you need a handy reminder or sense checker.

Atomic design

Brad Frost

The author is widely credited for coining the phrase ‘Atomic Design’ – a practice of designing and building websites and digital products using components, rather than page templates. It’s an approach that’s been widely adopted by companies around the world now – it’s main advantages being reduced build time, as well as a more consistent design for users. The book itself is excellent in breaking down the methodology, and giving practical advice and examples, both for front-end code as well as design.

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

Nir Eyal

This book describes the ‘Hook Model’ – a four-step process designed to encourage users to repeatedly engage with your product. In basic terms, it shows how to get users addicted. Think about why you constantly check for likes on Instagram, endlessly scroll on Twitter, or can’t stop playing Candy Crush. They’ve all been consciously designed to keep you engaged and wanting more. Recently however, with the rise of more ethical design practices, and concerns over technology that may do harm, questions have been raised over some of the techniques described in this book.

Org Design for Design Orgs

Peter Merholz and Kristin Skinner

If you’re responsible for hiring, growing or managing design teams, this is a book I’d highly recommend. It gives practical insights and advice into how to deploy a design team for maximum effect within any sized business, as well as how to effectively add different roles as you grow. It’s the sort of advice you wished you’d had years ago.

Knowledge is Beautiful

David McCandless

A good reference book for data visualisation design. It can be a little abstract in some of its examples, so if you’re expecting instances to take direct ‘inspiration’ from it for your web and app screens, you may be disappointed. But it is a great source for ideas on how to creatively present complex information. The author has literally taken previously dull data slides and re-imagined them as works of art worthy of any gallery.

Sprint: How To Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days

Jake Knapp

If you work within digital products, you’ll have heard of the Google Design Sprint – a methodology of condensing previously months of research work into just five days, through group participation. Some organisations have further adapted this into three days! This book is a day-by-day guide to running a sprint, with every detail included right down to the number of coffee breaks and exact clock to be used. As well as detailed guidance, it also gives real world scenarios where the sprint approach was used. Design Sprint has attracted its critics, as well as a legion of diehard fans – so much so that some have based their careers on it. You’ll have to read it to decide what you think.

The Design of Everyday Things

Donald A. Norman

Basically the bible modern of user-centred thinking. It’s a big read, but well worth it. You’ll learn the key role cognitive science and psychology play within design; principles you’ll remember and refer back to throughout your UX career. This should be on everyone’s list of must-read books if you’re looking to work within UX.

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

Steve Krug

An update on an old classic, it’s a great book for any digital designer looking for a simple introduction into user-centred thinking. It’s one of these books that gives practical design examples and techniques, and you’ll wonder why everyone isn’t using them today, when the original book was written in 2000! (Revisited: 2014). It’s a really easy read, and definitely a book you’ll keep handy when you need a refresh, or to reference a best-practice quote to maintain the integrity of your design.