8 books on UX/UI design that you can't miss

UI UX design services are about solving problems and improving lives by making things easier for users through an intuitive and appropriate design. In this post aimed at designers we want to give you five tools that will become important allies when you lack inspiration. Five gems that will make you think and that will teach you the essentials in a practical and simple way. Are you ready? Well, aim well!

1. Don't make me think

You are looking at an incredible guide to understand how users think. Translated into more than 20 languages, the key to its success lies in the multitude of tips on functionality it brings together, but also on design and interactivity.

Starting from the idea that we all try to do the necessary things with as little effort as possible, Steve Krug tries to demonstrate that the functionality of websites and applications is a key aspect in design. He also talks about how to apply it on your own and includes numerous practical examples.

With simple, enjoyable and addictive language, this is a highly recommended book for both beginners and professionals. Do not miss it!

2. Understanding Industrial Design: Principles for UX and Interaction Design

Good design has the power to redefine the way we interact with the world. Written by two directors of the international design and innovation firm IDEO , this book uses examples based on the authors' experience.

Industrial design is a deep source of inspiration for UX designers. Those who work directly on digital products may find in this publication an opportunity to see their projects from new perspectives, something essential when carrying out creative work.

This is a great book on how to create unforgettable and innovative products. You should know that design is not just beauty, but significant results that gain relevance in the market. Design has become a competitive differentiator whose power you will learn to use with this reading.

An essential book for those designers who, in addition to working with digital products, have a certain fondness for physical products and industrial design.

3. The laws of simplicity

This book will teach you how to get more with less. John Maeda reveals 10 laws of simplicity with which to achieve a balance between the simple and the complex. The key message from it is that we should not distract users with unnecessary features.

Products like the iPod or YouTube revolutionized the market with their simplicity of use, conquering millions of people around the world without requiring more than a couple of clicks from people. Why not make simplicity a basic characteristic of all the processes we carry out?

Life, technology, business and even design depend on the ability to find harmony between simplicity and complexity or, in other words, enjoyment and effort. A simple and enjoyable book that we would complement with the very interesting TED talk that Maeda gave about it a few years ago.

4. Usable Usability: Simple steps for making stuff better

The CEO of the international design agency FatDUX is one of the UI UX design services gurus. In this title, Reiss tells the secrets to detect and solve many of the common web design problems. Full of practical examples that show typical day-to-day functionality failures, it is especially quick to read.

In the first part, the author delves into ease of use, while in the second he focuses on the importance of elegance and clarity in design. A great guide to make users happy and help them stop feeling lost, promoting the achievement of better results in your work.

5. Lean UX: Designing great products with agile teams

Gothelf and Seiden use Lean methodology to teach principles and techniques to experiment with validated design ideas with real users and adjust the design based on learning.

The Lean method is known worldwide when developing business projects as an alternative to the traditionally adapted linear development process. Applying this method we must seek constant experimentation that leads us to continuous innovation.

The book explains three fundamental concepts for Lean: Design Thinking , Lean Startup , and Agile Development . The reading includes, in addition to theory, practical advice and case studies. It should be on your shelf!

6. Sprint

Here we have Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky and Braden Kowitz, three partners at Google Ventures. Frankly, it is difficult for what is inside and what they tell us to go wrong. What is Sprint and why should you read it? Sprint is “a unique, foolproof 5-day method for solving complicated business problems and getting a project to work quickly.” Sprint was applied in startups like Slack, Medium, Uber and Hubspot, and it is a brutal method to save time at times when optimization is vital. In it you will find references to Agile/Lean-Startup tools, the importance of teamwork (knowing how to choose a good one) and individual work, and the value of time. All of this was resolved in five days of work and with a lot of examples involved.

7. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People

The book has a structure of 10 blocks: How people see, How people read, How people remember... which allows you to travel through all its topics in a very agile way, allowing you to directly consult the area that interests you most depending on the moment. . Each of these blocks always has conclusions that help you settle each of the readings and close each chapter with the feeling of having thoroughly chewed all the information. Why should you read it? It is full of examples, references, sources and many other studies; which makes it a multi-reader. And most importantly, as a designer, it helps you understand the psychology of your audience and their deepest motivations.

8. Grid systems in graphic design

In itself it is a visual communication manual for graphic designers, typographers and 3D designers. Why did I read it? Because I am not a designer and I had some serious problems organizing, in a logical and coherent way, the graphic elements and information. Why should you read it? Because it gives you instructions to use all grid systems correctly, always accompanying them with examples that help you understand and imagine them. After investigating, I discovered that this book is a classic in the life of designers and that almost everyone has it in their personal library, and the truth is that if I'm honest, it helped me appreciate the beauty of a grid.

With this list of best sellers we assure you a lot of knowledge from the hands of great teachers. And if you have any questions, we are here to help you!