It is said that learning never stops. As we learn, we grow, we evolve, and thus we spread our knowledge to make others wise. In this journey of learning, books help us a lot, just like a friend, philosopher, and guide.
Product design requires extensive knowledge to build the design. The field of product design and development needs a large skill set. To make you learn about the A to Z of product design, we have brought to you some amazing product design books that every product designer should read to build the essential skills if they are preparing to start the career as a product designer.
1. The Design of Everyday Things
Author: Don Norman
The book is an eye-opener to anyone who has a keen interest in designing or intends to design, anything: from physical objects to computer programs or conceptual tools. This is a must-read for every designer and stands unique in the row of product design books collection.
The book holds the power to change your perspective of the surrounding as you will begin to see everything with a new aspect. To add a more level of attraction, the book includes photographs and illustrations between pages.
2. Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
Author: Steve Krug
Since the book was published, it has helped thousands of web designers and web developers to help them understand and learn the basics of intuitive navigation. It is more like a guidebook for information design.
This short and profound book is beautifully illustrated; written in a witty and light writing style. That's why it stands strong in the queue of product design books.
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3. The Laws of Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life
Author: John Maeda
This book is short and profound but stands most different from the entire row of product design books for its straightforward approach and unique presentation style. The book consists of ten laws along with three key properties aimed at designing simple systems.
The Laws of Simplicity is a book where the author who is a renowned designer himself, offers ten laws that are solely aimed at balancing simplicity along with providing insights into the complexity in business, technology, as well as design.
4. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
Author: Nir Eyal
In this book, the author explains the Hook Model. It is a four-step process that is embedded into the products of many large and successful companies in order to encourage customer behavior.
The book is a gem for professionals like product managers, marketers, designers, start-up founders, and anyone who learns to understand the strategies behind products influence.
5. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People
Author: Susan M. Weinschenk
This book combines two important fields together: real science and research. They are offered some practical examples, delivered as a guide to every designer to make them able to design with more intuitive and engaging strategies. This book helps to work for print, websites or applications and all the products that match the way we think, work, and play.
6. Universal Principles of Design: 100 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach Through Design
Author: William Lidwell
This book is referred to as the first cross-disciplinary guidebook of design. It is richly illustrated and easy to navigate. The book draws clear explanations of the concepts of design, featured with visual examples of the mentioned concepts applied in practice.
The author has defined hundred design concepts with profound illustrations inside. This book is a unique collection from the row of product design books and a real gem for designers if they wish to expand their knowledge.
7. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Author: Simon Sinek
It all starts with why: based on this common yet we'll know the fact that every great invention began with this simple question, the author has written this great book that is a must-read product design book.
After studying the leaders who are considered among the greatest minds of the world, the author discovered that they all have a common link between their thought process and also the way they act and communicate. This great discovery is referred to as The Golden Circle by the author.
8. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
Author: Eric Ries
This book inscribes a unique approach called The Lean Startup that fosters companies to become more efficient and leverage creativity more effectively. The book draws inspiration from lessons based on lean manufacturing and relies on validated learning. It offers entrepreneurs a way to examine their vision and to adapt to new challenges with a focus on a scientific approach to building successful startups.
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9. Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days
Author: Jake Knapp
This book is a brainchild of three design partners at Google Ventures. It involves a unique five-day process aimed with the purpose of solving tough problems with the use of design, prototyping, and some brilliant testing ideas with customers.
The book is a practical guide to answering some vital questions in business and a must-read for all design entrepreneurs: from small startups to Fortune 100s.
10. The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm
Author: Tom Kelley
In this book, the author who is a general manager of the world-renowned design firm IDEO offers readers some insights into the company. It tells many things from behind the scenes of this world-famous company to reveal the strategies and secrets, referred to as 'the deep drive' to its readers. The book has several anecdotes of successful ventures and also some joyful failures. All of them offer a delightful read to the readers and gives an opportunity to learn from real-life experience. These unique features make the book stand strong in the row of product design books.
Closing Thoughts
These books are delicately designed by famous authors and expert designers to gift budding designers a learning experience in the field. Every designer should give these books a read before starting their journey towards the field of design.