
Books provide you with a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. They will help you to learn about the latest trends, techniques, and best practices in UI/UX design, and to gain insights into the user psychology and behaviour that underpins effective design. By reading books, you can also gain new ideas and inspiration to help you push your work’s boundaries.
Here is a list of books you can get started with:
- The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
- Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
- Smashing UX Design by Jesmond Allen and James Chudley
- Hooked by Nir Eyal
- Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
- Bottlenecks by David C Evans
- Sprint by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky and Braden Kowitz
- Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
1. The Design of Everyday Things, by Don Norman
The book explores design principles and their application to everyday objects and experiences, highlighting how good design can make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable. In contrast, poor design can lead to frustration and even accidents.
The book covers a wide range of topics, including the psychology of perception and cognition, the importance of feedback and affordances in design, the role of mental models in understanding how things work, and the impact of cultural and social factors on design. Through numerous examples and case studies, Norman illustrates how good design can make a difference in people’s lives, from simple everyday objects like door handles and light switches to complex systems like medical equipment and computer interfaces.

Norman also emphasizes the need for designers to focus on user-centred design, which involves understanding the needs, abilities, and limitations of the people using the product or service. He advocates for an iterative design process that involves prototyping, testing, and feedback from users, as a way to create products that are not only functional but also enjoyable and easy to use.
Overall, “The Design of Everyday Things” is a thought-provoking and insightful book that challenges readers to think more critically about the objects and experiences that surround them, and to recognize the importance of good design in shaping our daily lives.
2. Dont make me think, by Steve Krug
“Don’t Make Me Think” is a popular book written by Steve Krug, a user experience expert and usability consultant. The book explores the principles of web design and their application to creating user-friendly websites and interfaces, emphasizing the importance of simplicity, clarity, and usability.
Krug’s central message is that users should be able to navigate a website without having to think too hard about what they are doing. He argues that good web design should be intuitive and self-explanatory, allowing users to quickly find what they are looking for and accomplish their goals without unnecessary friction.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including the importance of visual design and layout, the role of navigation and information architecture in website usability, and the need for clear and concise content. Krug also emphasizes the importance of user testing and feedback in the design process, arguing that designers should involve users in the testing and refinement of their designs to ensure that they are meeting their needs.
Throughout the book, Krug uses numerous examples and case studies to illustrate his points, offering practical advice and tips for improving website usability. He also provides several useful resources and tools for designers and developers, such as checklists and templates for conducting usability tests.
Overall, “Don’t Make Me Think” is a concise and practical guide to creating user-friendly websites and interfaces. Krug’s engaging writing style and humorous anecdotes make the book an enjoyable read, while his insights and advice make it a valuable resource for anyone involved in web design or development.
3. Smashing UX Design by Jesmond Allen and James Chudley
“Smashing UX Design” is a comprehensive book written by Jesmond Allen and James Chudley, two experienced user experience (UX) designers. The book offers practical insights, tips, and techniques for creating effective and engaging digital experiences that meet users’ needs and expectations.
The book covers a wide range of topics, including the importance of understanding user needs and behaviours, the principles of visual design and layout, the role of information architecture and navigation in website usability, and the importance of usability testing and feedback in the design process. The authors also explore emerging trends and technologies in UX design, such as responsive design, mobile-first design, and design for accessibility.

Throughout the book, Allen and Chudley use a variety of examples and case studies to illustrate their points, drawing on their own experiences as well as those of other UX designers and researchers. They offer practical advice and tips for improving the user experience, such as how to design effective forms and surveys, how to create clear and concise content, and how to design for emotional engagement.
The book also includes several useful resources and tools for designers and developers, such as templates for user research and personas, as well as checklists and guidelines for conducting usability testing and evaluating the effectiveness of designs.
Overall, “Smashing UX Design” is a valuable resource for anyone involved in creating digital experiences, from UX designers and developers to project managers and business owners. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of UX design, as well as practical advice and tips for improving the user experience and creating engaging and effective designs.
4. Hooked by Nir Eyal
“Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” is a book written by Nir Eyal, a behaviour designer and entrepreneur. The book explores the psychology behind why certain products and services become habit-forming and provides a framework for designing products that can create long-term customer engagement.
The book is divided into four main sections, each focusing on a different aspect of the “hooked” model: trigger, action, variable reward, and investment. Eyal argues that successful habit-forming products start with a trigger that prompts the user to take action, followed by a reward that provides immediate gratification. Over time, the user becomes invested in the product, leading to a cycle of continued use and habit formation.

Throughout the book, Eyal provides numerous examples and case studies to illustrate his points, drawing on his own experiences as well as those of other successful entrepreneurs and product designers. He also provides practical advice and tips for implementing the “hooked” model in product design, such as how to identify user needs and preferences, how to design effective triggers and rewards, and how to test and iterate on product designs to optimize for habit formation.
Eyal also addresses the ethical implications of designing habit-forming products, arguing that designers have a responsibility to use their skills and knowledge for positive ends and to avoid exploiting users’ vulnerabilities or addictive tendencies.
Overall, “Hooked” is a thought-provoking and practical guide to designing habit-forming products that can create long-term customer engagement. Eyal’s insights and frameworks offer valuable tools for entrepreneurs, product designers, and anyone interested in understanding the psychology behind product design and user behaviour.
5. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
“Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative” is a book written by Austin Kleon, a writer and artist. The book explores the creative process and offers practical advice for anyone looking to cultivate their creativity and pursue their artistic passions.
Kleon’s central message is that creativity is not about the originality or coming up with completely new ideas, but rather about building on the work of others and making connections between seemingly disparate ideas. He encourages readers to embrace influences from a wide range of sources, to experiment and play, and to share their work with others to get feedback and inspiration.

The book is divided into ten chapters, each exploring a different aspect of the creative process, such as “Steal like an artist,” “Write the book you want to read,” and “Share something small every day.” Throughout the book, Kleon uses a variety of illustrations, quotes, and anecdotes to illustrate his points and to inspire readers to pursue their creative projects.
Kleon’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in creativity and art. He also provides practical tips and exercises for readers to apply the concepts in the book to their creative pursuits.
Overall, “Steal Like an Artist” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to cultivate their creativity and pursue their artistic passions. Kleon’s message is empowering, encouraging readers to embrace their influences and build on the work of others to create something new and unique.
6. Bottlenecks by David C Evans
“Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology” is a book written by David C. Evans, a user experience consultant and researcher. The book explores the psychological barriers that can prevent users from engaging with digital products and provides a framework for designing user experiences that overcome these bottlenecks.
The book is divided into two main sections. The first section examines the psychological barriers that can impede user engagement, such as cognitive overload, decision paralysis, and information overload. Evans draws on a wide range of research from psychology, neuroscience, and human-computer interaction to explore these bottlenecks in depth and to provide practical advice for overcoming them.

The second section of the book focuses on the practical application of the bottlenecks framework in UX design. Evans provides a step-by-step guide for identifying bottlenecks in user experiences and for designing solutions that address these bottlenecks. He also offers a range of tools and techniques for testing and validating design solutions, such as usability testing and A/B testing.
Throughout the book, Evans uses real-world examples and case studies to illustrate his points and to demonstrate how the bottlenecks framework can be applied in practice. He also provides practical tips and advice for UX designers, such as how to prioritize design decisions based on user needs and how to work effectively with stakeholders and development teams.
Overall, “Bottlenecks” is a valuable resource for UX designers, product managers, and anyone involved in creating digital products. The book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and overcoming the psychological barriers that can impede user engagement, as well as practical advice and tips for applying this framework in UX design.
7. Sprint by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky and Braden Kowitz
“Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days” is a book written by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz, three design partners at Google Ventures. The book outlines a step-by-step process for teams to solve big problems, test new ideas, and prototype solutions in just five days, using a design sprint methodology.
The book is divided into five main sections, each outlining a day of the sprint process. Day one involves identifying the problem and defining a long-term goal. Day two involves sketching solutions and selecting the best one. Day three involves prototyping the selected solution. Day four involves testing the prototype with users, and day five involves refining the solution based on user feedback.

Throughout the book, the authors provide practical advice and tips for each step of the process, as well as real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the methodology in action. They also provide advice for working effectively as a team, such as how to facilitate discussions and make decisions efficiently.
The design sprint methodology outlined in the book is designed to help teams make progress quickly, test assumptions and ideas early, and avoid wasting time and resources on ineffective solutions. The authors argue that by following the sprint process, teams can achieve more in five days than they might otherwise achieve in months or even years.
Overall, “Sprint” is a valuable resource for anyone involved in product development or innovation. The book provides a clear and actionable methodology for solving big problems and testing new ideas quickly and effectively, and the practical advice and tips make it accessible for teams of all sizes and experience levels.
8. Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
“Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered” is a book written by Austin Kleon, an artist and writer. The book encourages creatives to share their work with others, and provides practical advice on how to do so effectively in order to build an audience, establish a personal brand, and get noticed by potential clients or collaborators.
The book is divided into ten chapters, each exploring a different aspect of sharing creative work. Kleon encourages readers to embrace the idea of “working in public,” or sharing their process and progress with others rather than waiting until a project is complete. He also emphasizes the importance of using social media and other online platforms to build a following, and provides tips for creating engaging content and connecting with others in the creative community.

Throughout the book, Kleon uses a variety of examples and case studies to illustrate his points and to demonstrate how sharing one’s work can lead to new opportunities and collaborations. He also provides practical advice on a range of topics, such as building a personal brand, networking effectively, and dealing with criticism.
Kleon’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in creativity and self-promotion. He also provides plenty of practical exercises and prompts for readers to apply the concepts in the book to their own creative practice.
Overall, “Show Your Work!” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to build a following and share their creative work with the world. Kleon’s message is empowering, encouraging readers to embrace the idea of working in public and to use the tools at their disposal to build a platform and connect with others in the creative community.
We hope you will find these books amazing to read. As Dr Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” and we cannot agree more.
Do tell us what was your favorite read for this month. 😁