I'm a java developer and in the last few years I've been doing more and more gui coding and design with Ajax toolkits. I've seen a real need to improve my skills with CSS and javascript in wanting to get to expert level in this area, so I've focused on that of late.
However, I've got this nagging feeling that I need more studies with UI and UX design, as well, even though it hasn't been a requirement for any jobs that I've applied for.
So as far as a business concern, do I just read up on things from articles I find on the internet or buy some books on the subject (for study and a reference) and really take some time to focus on this subject as a developer wanting to make meaningful improvements on his skills?
The reason I ask is I've read book reviews on UX design and it seems I keep hearing that UX is just "common sense stuff" and you don't need books for it.
I don't like to make blanket assumptions like that because it seems to come back and haunt you. For example, I used to have the attitude that javascript wasn't a real full blown programming language for developers. I've since totally reversed my views on this as a result of my work with Ajax.