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c="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*pLA_hrIittZiugR6Qzw-kA.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h1 id="46df">3. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products</h1><p id="ba5d">by Nir Eyal</p><p id="34f1">Why do we get so attached to some products? Nir Eyal reveals the secret sauce to creating habit-forming products that users can’t put down.</p><p id="60ee">He presents a four-step process for creating compelling products that keep users coming back. He also offers insights into the psychology of user engagement without reliance on advertising. Spoiler: It is fascinating to read!</p><p id="d339" type="7">“Hooked changed my life. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to better understand their actions and habits.” (Steven Bartlett, investor, BBC Dragon and host of The Diary of a CEO podcast)</p><h2 id="3ed2">What I loved</h2><p id="5d37">Nir Eyal provides also insights into the psychology of user engagement and how to not rely on advertising. Spoiler: It is fascinating to read!</p><figure id="6fde"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*l1LKzcrfOwm-2yDhZuqEJw.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h1 id="7f57">4. Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making</h1><p id="6876">by Tony Fadell</p><p id="11cb">Have you ever dreamt of picking the brain of the genius behind the iPod and iPhone? Tony Fadell’s book is your chance! It is like having a mentor guide you through the thrilling (and sometimes brutal) world of product design and innovation.</p><p id="e840">Drawing from his experience leading teams at Apple and Google, Tony Fadell shares invaluable lessons on design, leadership and innovation in this mentorship-driven book.</p><p id="f3e6" type="7">“This is the most fun — and the most fascinating — memoir of curiosity and invention that I’ve ever read.” (Malcolm Gladwell, Host of the Revisionist History podcast, Author of Outliers and Talking to Strangers)</p><h2 id="da63">What I loved</h2><p id="3b68">Tony Fadell’s mix of personal anecdotes and professional advice offers a raw glimpse into the world of innovation.</p><figure id="e2ed"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*CeCjZtx3hoq4Y1KP1I1ojw.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h1 id="2a9b">5. Change By Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation</h1><p id="2978">by Tim Brown</p><p id="a324">Dive into the world of design thinking with Tim Brown — CEO of IDEO — and discover how this approach can revolutionize not just products but entire organizations. It is all about getting creative and putting people first.</p><p id="7c03">He introduces design thinking and its power to drive innovation in products and organizations.</p><p id="5e5a" type="7">Change by Design is not a book by designers for designers — it is a book for creative leaders seeking to infuse design thinking into every level of an organization, product or service to drive new alternatives for business and society.</p><h2 id="b9d7">What I loved</h2><p id="bf02">His dive into design thinking shows how empathy and creativity can solve not just design but business challenges. It was im

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pressive to read how he applied design thinking to a user feedback loop, which then significantly improved a product's market fit by aligning it more closely with user needs.</p><figure id="3047"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*XK_1WEFKX1HZdeEUnNPCEQ.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h1 id="e385">6. Lean UX: Designing Great Products With Agile Teams</h1><p id="c336">by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden</p><p id="c5cb">Imagine mixing the power of UX with the agility of Lean and Agile methodologies. This book shows you how to make that blend work to create products that not only look good but also meet user needs flawlessly.</p><p id="f615">This book shows how to focus on creating exceptional product experiences through collaboration and iterative design.</p><p id="1d0d" type="7">“For the past eight years, Lean UX has been my go-to recommendation for teams learning how to work together to design great experiences. This latest version goes above and beyond, solidifying the teachings in an easy-to-follow format and examples of this working in practice. this is required reading for any modern product development team.” (Melissa Perri, CEO Produx Labs, Senior lecturer Harvard Business School)</p><h2 id="18a6">What I loved</h2><p id="d51f">It is very hands-on how the book emphasizes on iterative design and feedback loops and offers a practical framework for rapid and effective product development. It is particularly useful during the design and usability testing phases for a lean, focused approach to UX/UI development.</p><figure id="0418"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*nI0-Fv75cnqGsEudUAIB7g.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h1 id="e6c7">7. Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems</h1><p id="4fee">by Steve Krug</p><p id="2ce8">Usability testing sounds a bit daunting, right? Steve Krug says otherwise. This book is your DIY guide to finding and fixing problems that users might face. It is practical, straightforward and fun!</p><p id="8e4b">This practical guide to usability testing offers a straightforward approach to identifying and solving usability issues by making it accessible to anyone involved in digital product development.</p><h2 id="c8f0">What I loved</h2><p id="795e">This book is a must-have for the usability testing phase. It makes usability testing approachable and actionable for teams of any size. Steve Krug makes it seem super simple and non-negotiable during the design phase.</p><figure id="2a91"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*Pl_hRWhvY4KqRy8e1qn2Sw.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="832b">Remember that the most important thing of great design lies in understanding and solving for the user.</p><p id="6fe3">These seven books give your a great theoretical base with also practical insights, to become an even more empathetic and effective designer.</p><p id="fc5e">These books will help build you build your foundation, inspire innovation and improve your approach of creating memorable and meaningful user experiences. Happy reading!</p></article></body>

All books you need to read as UX designer in 2024

7 books that help you the most when starting your career

There are so many books out there that are marked as essentials to read as UX/UI designer.

Let me tell you, you don't need to read all of them.

Especially, when you are starting your career, you don’t need to go crazy and buy all the books possible.

The most important is, to pick the right ones and really work with them.

To start with, focus on the following 10 books to build your foundation in understanding UX principles and their application in the real world.

1. The Design of Everyday Things

by Don Norman

Ever wondered why some products make you smile while others make you want to throw them out the window? Don Norman breaks it down in a way that is both eye-opening and fun. It is a classic for a reason!

One of the world’s great designers shares his vision of “the fundamental principles of great and meaningful design”, that’s “even more relevant today than it was when first published.” (Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO)

What I loved

Don Norman’s guidelines ensure that from the very first start, products need to be intuitive and user-friendly. He shows that good and usable design is possible with following some simple rules:

make things easy to see and visible
smartly limit the options
guide users smoothly to what they need to do.

2. Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

by Steve Krug

This book is like a wise friend who tells you exactly how things are. Steve Krug makes the complex world of web usability simple and engaging. His influential work teaches the principles of intuitive navigation and information design with some practical pieces of advice. This book is not only for designers but also for developers.

”After reading it over a couple of hours and putting its ideas to work for the past five years, I can say it has done more to improve my abilities as a Web designer than any other book.” (Jeffrey Zeldman, author of Designing with Web Standards)

What I loved

Steve Krugs book is a favorite for many reasons. First, it is short. You can finish it quickly but still learn a lot. The book is full of pictures, making it easy and fun to read. Almost every page has a helpful tip or idea.

Many people — including me — found this book a great introduction to UX design. It is not like other tech books — it is enjoyable and easy to understand. And his sense of humor makes the book even more engaging.

3. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

by Nir Eyal

Why do we get so attached to some products? Nir Eyal reveals the secret sauce to creating habit-forming products that users can’t put down.

He presents a four-step process for creating compelling products that keep users coming back. He also offers insights into the psychology of user engagement without reliance on advertising. Spoiler: It is fascinating to read!

“Hooked changed my life. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to better understand their actions and habits.” (Steven Bartlett, investor, BBC Dragon and host of The Diary of a CEO podcast)

What I loved

Nir Eyal provides also insights into the psychology of user engagement and how to not rely on advertising. Spoiler: It is fascinating to read!

4. Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making

by Tony Fadell

Have you ever dreamt of picking the brain of the genius behind the iPod and iPhone? Tony Fadell’s book is your chance! It is like having a mentor guide you through the thrilling (and sometimes brutal) world of product design and innovation.

Drawing from his experience leading teams at Apple and Google, Tony Fadell shares invaluable lessons on design, leadership and innovation in this mentorship-driven book.

“This is the most fun — and the most fascinating — memoir of curiosity and invention that I’ve ever read.” (Malcolm Gladwell, Host of the Revisionist History podcast, Author of Outliers and Talking to Strangers)

What I loved

Tony Fadell’s mix of personal anecdotes and professional advice offers a raw glimpse into the world of innovation.

5. Change By Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation

by Tim Brown

Dive into the world of design thinking with Tim Brown — CEO of IDEO — and discover how this approach can revolutionize not just products but entire organizations. It is all about getting creative and putting people first.

He introduces design thinking and its power to drive innovation in products and organizations.

Change by Design is not a book by designers for designers — it is a book for creative leaders seeking to infuse design thinking into every level of an organization, product or service to drive new alternatives for business and society.

What I loved

His dive into design thinking shows how empathy and creativity can solve not just design but business challenges. It was impressive to read how he applied design thinking to a user feedback loop, which then significantly improved a product's market fit by aligning it more closely with user needs.

6. Lean UX: Designing Great Products With Agile Teams

by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden

Imagine mixing the power of UX with the agility of Lean and Agile methodologies. This book shows you how to make that blend work to create products that not only look good but also meet user needs flawlessly.

This book shows how to focus on creating exceptional product experiences through collaboration and iterative design.

“For the past eight years, Lean UX has been my go-to recommendation for teams learning how to work together to design great experiences. This latest version goes above and beyond, solidifying the teachings in an easy-to-follow format and examples of this working in practice. this is required reading for any modern product development team.” (Melissa Perri, CEO Produx Labs, Senior lecturer Harvard Business School)

What I loved

It is very hands-on how the book emphasizes on iterative design and feedback loops and offers a practical framework for rapid and effective product development. It is particularly useful during the design and usability testing phases for a lean, focused approach to UX/UI development.

7. Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems

by Steve Krug

Usability testing sounds a bit daunting, right? Steve Krug says otherwise. This book is your DIY guide to finding and fixing problems that users might face. It is practical, straightforward and fun!

This practical guide to usability testing offers a straightforward approach to identifying and solving usability issues by making it accessible to anyone involved in digital product development.

What I loved

This book is a must-have for the usability testing phase. It makes usability testing approachable and actionable for teams of any size. Steve Krug makes it seem super simple and non-negotiable during the design phase.

Remember that the most important thing of great design lies in understanding and solving for the user.

These seven books give your a great theoretical base with also practical insights, to become an even more empathetic and effective designer.

These books will help build you build your foundation, inspire innovation and improve your approach of creating memorable and meaningful user experiences. Happy reading!