I'm looking for a book that explains the basics of user interfaces and user experiences. I read Beautiful Visualization and Designing Interfaces from O'Reilly and I think they are very good. Can you recommend another one? Why?
Tell me more
×
User Experience Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for
user experience researchers and experts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
|
closed as not constructive by JohnGB, Benny Skogberg, JonW♦ Apr 5 at 20:07
As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or specific expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, see the FAQ for guidance.
|
I read all the books mentioned above and would like to add two books about cognitive psychology. Why? Because it's fundament on which UI design is based: Also I think there should be some books about typographics in ui designer's must read list. |
||||
|
|
|
Wow, surprised the Cooper Book hasn't made the list yet: Designing for the digital age. I can't recommend it enough! |
||||
|
|
|
Designing for the digital age by Kim Goodwin is truly excellent. |
||||
|
|
|
The Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines, also known as the Microsoft UX guide. Available in PDF. (you can find in on web layout too here) You don't need to read it, but it's a must reference for Windows user interface design. It contains all thing you need to know. |
||||
|
|
|
Nobody mentioned outstanding book by Jacques Bertin - Semiology of Graphics: Diagrams, Networks, Maps. It is a really MUST READ book for any designed who works with information. Tufte took many ideas from Bertin in fact.
|
||||
|
|
|
My favourite, and easy to read book, has got to be: Simple and Usable: web, mobile and interaction design This book is wonderful in how it covers a lot of great examples and stories on the authors experience in creating products. The way he explains his strategies to achieve simplicity is what grabbed me. The book itself has a beautiful design with photos communicating the message even stronger. There's also a fantastic example he goes through in using 4 strategies to create simplicity by applying and showing the strategies on a tv remote control.
Some quotes from the book:
UX Booth did a great review on it here Author's Website: http://www.simpleandusable.com/ |
||||
|
|
|
These are some of my personal favorites. If I have time I'll come back and mention a few more later on: - Interface and interaction design: Designing Visual Interfaces: Communication Oriented Techniques Dont be put off by how old it is. It has rock solid advice and extremely well organized. The Essential Guide to Interface Design Very synthetic. Great compendium of design principles, human psychological traits, design patterns, etc. Awesome reference when you need to find something fast in order to stimulate your thinking about a specific topic. About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design This is THE book for design principles. I have yet to find a principle in any other book that is not present in this one. Also has very a comprehensive design pattern library with great explanations that help you think for yourself. For getting "the big picture": Designing for the digital age Covers all the typical steps in a UX project with very detailed explanations on how to structure the work, how to organize the team, how to deal with stakeholders, what questions to ask, what techniques to use to find great solutiones, etc. Subject To Change: Creating Great Products & Services for an Uncertain World: Adaptive Path on Design A must-read about design strategy and culture. This will help you question company paradigms and deal with business people. The Elements of User Experience To help you understand how different disciplines can fit together / complement each other in order to create great experiences. |
||||
|
|
|
Usability Engineering by Jakob Nielsen This is the staple for any UX designer, I believe there is no point trying to learn a specific area of design until you digest this |
||||
|
|
|
UX Basics - (Additionally which is not in the list) Elements of User Experience - James Garett Research based Web design and Usability Guidelines Undercover User experience - Bowles and James Box Designing with Mind in Mind - Jeff Johnson Usability for the Web - Tom Brinck and others Web Application Design Patterns - Pawan Vora Never miss these books, since these are RAW and PURE elementary level books. |
||||
|
|
|
It is hard to recommend single book, we have some of most useful ones (for my crew) listed here so it might be useful for you to go through this UX reading list - http://uxpassion.com/blog/various/user-experience-ux-reading-list |
||||
|
|
|
Next to the GUI Bloopers mentioned above, I would strongly recommend Designing with the Mind in Mind, written by the same author, Jeff Johnson. This book really explains the 'why' of the rules that you can see elsewhere, with respect to how people read, recall, recognized, think, react, visualize, etc. and the related process in their brain. It may sound technical but it is definitely very easy to read. |
||||
|
|
|
Aza Raskin recommends The Resonant Interface. |
||||
|
|
