Guide

December 5, 2022

10 must-read books for mastering UX research and design

10 must-read books for mastering UX research and design

Sebastian Sas

If you're looking to learn more about user experience research and design, there are many great books available. From classics on usability and interaction design to more recent works on lean and continuous discovery, these books offer valuable insights and practical guidance for anyone working in the field. Here are ten of the best books on UX research and design that you should consider reading:

  1. "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug: A classic book on web usability that covers the fundamental principles of user-centered design. It presents a clear, concise and easy-to-understand approach to web design.
  2. "About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design" by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, and Christopher Noessel: A comprehensive guide to the principles and practices of interaction design, it covers everything from understanding user needs to creating interfaces and evaluating their effectiveness.
  3. "Seductive Interaction Design: Creating Playful, Fun, and Effective User Experiences" by Stephen Anderson: This book explores how to create engaging and effective user experiences through the use of game design principles. It is a great resource for designers looking to create more interactive and fun experiences for their users.
  4. "Designing Interfaces" by Jenifer Tidwell: A guide to the design of interfaces for software and web applications, it provides a practical and visual approach to interface design, with a focus on common design patterns and strategies.
  5. "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman: A book that explores the principles of good design and explains how and why some products are easy to use while others are not. It covers both physical and digital products and is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding user-centered design.
  1. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries: This book provides a framework for developing new products and services through a focus on continuous experimentation and learning. It is a must-read for product managers and entrepreneurs looking to create successful products and startups.
  2. "Continuous Discovery Habits" by Teresa Torres: This book provides a comprehensive guide to continuous discovery, a lean approach to user research and product development. It covers everything from how to plan and conduct research, to how to use research insights to make informed product decisions.
  3. "Designing Interactions" by Bill Moggridge: This book provides a comprehensive overview of the field of interaction design, covering the history, theory, and practice of designing interactive products and services.
  4. "The UX Book: Process and Guidelines for Ensuring a Quality User Experience" by Rex Hartson and Pardha Pyla: This book provides a comprehensive guide to the user-centered design process, covering everything from user research to design and evaluation.
  5. "Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability" by Steve Krug: The updated edition of the classic book on web usability, it provides updated examples, new information on mobile and touch devices, and a new chapter on HTML5 and CSS3.