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11 UX research books to streamline your process & improve your skills

UX research and design is a fast-moving industry—keep up with the latest developments and further your UX knowledge with these 11 hand-picked UX books.

Aug 9, 2022

Ella Webber

Improving and developing your product requires that you also continuously improve and develop your own knowledge and skills. With the right resources, you’re always learning— about your product, your users, and how to synthesize both.

UX research looks into how users interact with your product, and how you can improve the experience from start to finish. Good UX research uncovers issues before they arise, and enables you to make informed decisions to provide the best user experience possible.

Continually learning and broadening your research horizons is an absolute must for improving your UX research skills and developing as a UX designer.

These 11 books—plus four bonus reads—provide key insights into UX research, and highlight the ways you can approach design for your product. Let’s take a look at your reading list:

• The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide | Leah Buley
• Just Enough Research | Erika Hall
• Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy | David Travis & Philip Hodgson
• Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology | David C. Evans
• User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research | Stephanie Marsh
• Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests | Jeffrey Rubin and Dana Chisnell
• Quantifying the User Experience: Practical Statistics for User Research | Jeff Sauro and James R. Lewis
• Interviewing Users: Uncover Compelling Insights | Steve Portigal
• Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior | Indi Young
• Usable Usability: Simple Steps for Making Stuff Better | Eric Reiss
• 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan Weinschenk

11 Best UX research books to improve your researching skills

1. the user experience team of one: a research and design survival guide | leah buley.

The User Experience Team of One | Leah Buley

Leah Buley’s User Experience Team of One focuses on conducting UX research with fewer resources and less time than a traditional UX team. It’s the go-to book for practical UX research tips and techniques on a budget.

In this book, Buley shares her knowledge from many years in the experience design industry, during which she worked in key user experience roles at Publicis Sapient, InVision, and Intuit. Her professional career has consisted of researching and analyzing what makes design teams successful, and design’s overall role in a business.

The book guides readers from the very start of the design process—getting everyone onboard—to the very end—testing and validation methods. The book also includes a chapter on evangelism methods—for advocating for design and inspiring others—as well as next steps following your research.

Published 2013 | Buy the book | $39.39

2. Just Enough Research | Erika Hall

Next up is Erika Hall’s Just Enough Research —the guide to asking better questions and thinking critically about the responses. It’s one of two books written by Erika Hall, who shares her 20+ years of knowledge as Co-Founder of Mule Design Studios. In Just Enough Research, Erika shares the tried and tested UX research methods you can implement right away, no matter your team size or budget.

Just Enough Research covers the basics and the process, as well as topics like organizational research, user and customer research, evaluative research, surveys, and more. The book aims to help you uncover your own blind spots and biases, while understanding and harnessing your findings in order to do better research, faster.

Published 2013 | Buy the book | $29

🎧 Find out more about Erika and her thoughts on the relationship between design and business on The Optimal Path Podcast .

3. Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy | David Travis & Philip Hodgson

Think Like a UX Researcher | David Travis & Philip Hodgson

Think Like a UX Researcher is a dive-in-anywhere book that looks to challenge the preconceptions you have about UX research. It looks at how you can plan and conduct UX research, analyze data, persuade teams to take action, and ultimately build a career in UX.

It includes some stand-out features, including thought triggers and exercises to test your UX knowledge, workshop ideas to strengthen your team’s UX muscles, and stories from experienced researchers detailing how you can implement UX research methods in your organization.

With over 50 years of UX research experience between them, Travis and Hodgson know a thing or two about investigating the user experience. It’s an insightful read for finding tools, inspiration and ideas to rejuvenate your thinking, inspire your team, and improve your craft.

Published 2019 | Buy the book | $45.56

4. Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology | David C. Evans

Bottlenecks | David C. Evans

David Evans’ Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology connects cognitive psychology to explain the dos and don’ts of UX design. The book analyzes key concepts—such as perception and attention—on a psychological level before linking it back to UX design to uncover the best design for users.

Evans holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and currently works as a Senior Manager of Customer Research at Microsoft. In Bottlenecks , Evans shares the psychological processes impacting design success, before and after examples of pages enhanced by psychological alignments, and hypotheses for research to help better meet user needs.

The book promises to help designers, usability and user researchers, marketers and entrepreneurs with strategies for marketing and product development in the age of behavioral targeting. It’s essential reading for UX researchers and designers interested in learning more about the relationship between psychology and user experience design.

Published 2017 | Buy the book | $27.46

5. User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research | Stephanie Marsh

User Research | Stephanie Marsh

Stephanie Marsh’s User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research is key reading for marketing and product leaders looking to implement UX research in their organization. It looks at key UX research methods—such as user testing, card sorting, surveys, A/B testing, and more—as well as how to interpret and analyze obtained data.

Marsh is an experienced UX researcher who’s dived into the user experience at a number of different organizations, including User Experience Manager at HSBC and User Experience Lead at the UK Ministry of Defence. They’re now UX Research Operations Lead at Springer Nature Group.

The book consists of 30 chapters separated into three main sections: the fundamentals, selecting and using user research methods, and analyzing and presenting your data. User Research is a practical guide that walks readers through the wide array of user research methods and how to use them.

Published 2022 | Buy the book | $40.27

6. Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests | Jeffrey Rubin and Dana Chisnell

Handbook of Usability Testing | Jeffrey Rubin and Dana Chisnell

The Handbook of Usability Testing is a great intro into the tools and techniques necessary to create effective usability tests. It’s a practical guide for usability testing beginners, and a useful resource for teams looking to take UX research to the next level.

Both Rubin and Chisnell have ample experience in the UX research space, with a specific focus on usability testing. Rubin’s experience comes from 30 years as a human factors and usability research consultant and lecturer, and Chisnell’s from a career as a usability, user interface design, and technical communications consultant since 1982.

This UX research book dives deep into usability testing, including a rigorous step-by-step approach, common pitfalls to avoid, real-life examples and case histories, and usable templates, models, tables, and more.

Published 2008 | Buy the book | $20.79

7. Quantifying the User Experience: Practical Statistics for User Research | Jeff Sauro and James R. Lewis

Quantifying the User Experience | Jeff Sauro & James R. Lewis

Quantifying the User Experience is the ideal book for UX researchers looking to further their UX research know-how. It’s a practical guide for using statistics to solve quantitative problems in user research.

Both Sauro and Lewis are internationally recognized in the user research field. Sauro is a pioneer in quantifying the user experience, and is the founding principal of MeasuringU—a company providing statistics and usability consulting to Fortune 1000 companies. Lewis is a Senior Human Factors Engineer at IBM, where he primarily focuses on the design and evaluation of user interfaces.

In their book, Sauro and Lewis discuss ways to quantify user research, summarize data and calculate margins of error, select appropriate sample sizes, and more. Each chapter includes a final summary of key points and references, as well as a set of problems and answers to test your knowledge.

Published 2012 | Buy the book | $56.32

8. Interviewing Users: Uncover Compelling Insights | Steve Portigal

Interviewing Users | Steve Portugal

Interviewing Users is a staple read for any marketers, product people, or UX researchers looking to improve their user interviewing skills. The book provides invaluable interviewing techniques and tools that enable readers to conduct informative interviews with anyone.

Portigal has over 20 years of experience building user experience practices and interviewing a wide variety of people. In 2001, he founded Portigal Consulting, where he helps organizations bring insights about their users into their design and development processes.

Interviewing Users aims to turn your interviews from simply gathering information, into uncovering powerful insights about people. It includes tips on embracing how others see the world and building rapport during interviews, as well as templates, samples, and presentations.

Published 2013 | Buy the book | $36.48

9. Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior | Indi Young

Mental Models | Indi Young

Indi Young’s Mental Models is a UX design book that highlights how understanding people’s reasons for doing things can help you build better experiences. The book is informed by Indi’s 30 years of experience in the design field, during which she co-founded the pioneering UX agency Adaptive Minds in 2001.

Mental Models shares Indi’s 29+ years of research experience, and how great research limits the risk further along in the design process. The book starts with a brief guide on how to use the book, before outlining three main sections: What, Why, When, and Who?, The Method, and Applications.

In these sections, Young delves into the importance of understanding your research reasons and audience, and how to go about conducting comprehensive user research.

It’s a roll-up-your-sleeves book for designers, managers, and anyone else interested in making strategic and successful designs. It helps UX designers and researchers better understand the importance of human psychology in design, and enables you to deepen your understanding of what makes designs outstanding.

Published 2008 | Buy the book | $43.89

10. Usable Usability: Simple Steps for Making Stuff Better | Eric Reiss

Usable Usability | Eric Reiss

UX guru Eric Reiss shares his decades of experience making products usable for everyone. Reiss’ experience as an information architecture specialist led him to his current role as CEO and Chairman of The FatDUX Group—DUX being an abbreviation for Designers of User Experience.

Usable Usability equips designers with guidelines and checklists for evaluating and improving products, highlights essential aspects for building the user experience, and addresses considerations for product clarity.

The book separates usability into 10 chapters that cover key considerations for UX design:

• Understandable
• Predictable

The 11th chapter then focuses on next steps, such as guerilla-style usability and formalized think-aloud tests. While not explicitly a UX research book, it’s a great reminder to UX designers of the basic design principles to keep in mind—and how to apply those in everyday UX design.

Published 2012 | Buy the book | $26.63

11. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan Weinschenk

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan M. Weinschenk

Last up is Susan Weinschenk’s 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People.

Designers create with actions in mind—actions they want users to take upon interacting with the design. This book arms UX researchers and designers with insights and knowledge that enable them to build intuitive designs that consider human behavior and encourage users to take action.

Since 1985, Susan Weinschenk has been using her Ph.D. in psychology to contribute to the field of design and user experience. Weinshenk has published a total of five books relating to design, and currently works as Chief Behavioral Scientist and CEO at The Team W, Inc.

The book covers key considerations for designers and researchers alike, such as what keeps someone’s attention, what makes memories stick, how to predict the type of errors humans will make, and much more.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know connects human nature to UX to enable researchers to understand users with little guesswork. It’s about what makes people tick, and why it should matter to you.

Published 2011 | Buy the book | $25.98

12. Bonus Mention: The Ultimate Guide to UX Research | Maze

• The Ultimate Guide to UX Research | Maze

Our bonus mention—and a go-to resource for UX designers and developers—is The Ultimate Guide to UX Research . Of course we’re biased, but it’s a must-read for all teams looking to conduct user research—whether that’s product or marketing.

The guide is a great resource for those looking to better understand anything and everything about UX research. It simplifies the process for non-UX researchers and enables anyone to learn what it takes to conduct effective UX research.

The guide includes:

• How to create a research plan
• Generative research: Definition, methods, and examples
• Evaluative research: Definition, methods, and types
• Qualitative and quantitative research
• UX Research methods
• UX Research tools

It’s the perfect resource for turning a research idea into a research reality—regardless of your and your team’s experience.

Read The Ultimate Guide to UX Research online

4 More books to help you on your UX journey

If you consider the above 11 books your mandatory reading, consider this list your optional—but highly recommended—reading list. They’re not solely about UX design and research, but they’re packed full of strategies to help you sharpen your UX design tools.

1. The Lean Product Playbook | Dan Olsen

The Lean Product Playbook | Dan Olsen

The Lean Product Playbook is a how-to guide for creating products that people love. Dan Olsen writes from his experience working with a variety of organizations, from small, early-stage startups to large public companies.

Many product managers, CEOs, and founders cite The Lean Product Playbook as a key resource when starting their journeys to building useful and successful products. It’s a practical, step-by-step process for implementing lean techniques from the get-go.

The book is split into three parts:

• Core concepts
• The lean product process

It’s a can’t-miss book for designing products that people love.

Published 2015 | Buy the book | $35

2. Thinking, Fast and Slow | Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow | Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow is a staple for anyone looking to better their understanding of how humans work, and how the human brain is susceptible to making the same mistakes over and over.

Kahneman explains the two systems in our brain that impact decision-making: system one is fast and automatic, whereas system two is conscious, aware, and considerate. Kahneman details how each system makes decisions, and how they often lead us to incorrect answers.

It’s an insightful read for understanding people, including yourself. It enables you to get a better understanding of the human psyche, and how you can take advantage of fast thinking in your product design.

Published 2011 | Buy the book | $12

3. A Beginner’s Guide to Usability Testing | Maze

A Beginner's Guide to Usability Testing | Maze

The ultimate guidebook to usability testing, this ebook runs readers through the usability testing process, as well as the different types of usability testing available for UX research and the best tools to use.

Exploring methods like remote testing and guerilla usability testing, the guide also includes details on analyzing and presenting usability metrics, plus an inside look at some real-life usability testing examples.

Read A Beginner’s Guide to Usability Testing online

4. Writing Is Designing: Words and the User Experience | Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle

Writing is Designing | Michael J. Metts & Andy Welfle

Writing is Designing covers the importance and usefulness of words in UX design. Authors Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle use their combined experience as product designers to share their insights on how words can create useful, usable experiences.

Some of the most notable chapters include:

• Creating clarity: know what you’re designing
• Inclusivity and accessibility: writing that works for everyone
• Tone: meeting people where they are

Overall, it’s an eye-opening read for UX designers unfamiliar with the impact of the words around designs, and a great opportunity to expand your UX knowledge of ways that words can improve your designs.

Published 2020 | Buy the book | $44.06

Hungry for more? Take a look at our top 17 greatest graphic design books to take your visuals to the next level.

Improving UX research is a process

When it comes to UX research, one thing’s for sure—you’re not alone. Thousands of businesses—both large and small—are searching for the best way to conduct user research and improve the user experience.

Reading up on UX research developments and best practices is a great place to start, and these 11 books make it easy. Take your pick, find a relaxing reading spot, and get stuck in to a new perspective on UX research and design.

If you’re looking for additional resources, check out our library of UX, research and design guides and collections , as well as our UX research templates . You can also head over to The Optimal Path podcast , where we chat to different product people each episode and delve into the stories, ideas, and approaches that drive product decision-making.

Frequently asked questions about UX research books

What should I study for UX research?

There’s no set reading list for conducting useful UX research, but some books we’d recommend include:

• Bottlenecks: Aligning UX with User Psychology | David C. Evans

The exact books you should be reading depend on your expertise—are you a beginner, an expert, or somewhere in between? Consider your existing knowledge and aim for a book you find challenging and engaging.

How do I practice UX research?

There are a variety of methods that you can use throughout your research process. You’ve likely heard the saying: practice makes perfect—and that applies to UX.

Continuous self-improvement and learning are key to becoming a UX research expert. Staying on top of industry trends and developments, reading the latest UX literature, and following the top UX industry experts will help you develop your skills and UX network.

Is UX research difficult?

There are parts of UX research that are tough—but those parts depend on your skills and experience. UX research is a lot easier when you’ve got the required UX research methods and resources for making it happen.

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The Top UX Design Books You Need to Read in 2024: Beginner to Expert

In the digital landscape, user experience (UX) design holds a pivotal role. Every pixel, every interaction, and every piece of visual communication online is an element of UX design. 

UX design shapes the user experience and determines the success of businesses in this connected era.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an aspiring designer, it is essential to stay up-to-date with industry best practices.  UX design is constantly evolving and demands constant learning. One of the most efficient ways to acquire this knowledge is through reading. Books written by experts in the field can: 

Provide a solid foundation.

Equip you with fresh ideas.

Challenge you to think in new ways.

We've curated a list of the most influential UI/UX design books to read in 2024. We structured our UX design book recommendations to accommodate different levels of expertise. We’ll start with beginners and gradually escalate to advanced UX design books. We've also made sure to encompass different areas of UX, from design and research to strategy.

So, let’s get started!

The Best UX Design Books for Beginners

Starting your UX design journey may seem intimidating, but these carefully selected beginner UX books will guide you from novice to skilled beginner in no time.

UX for Beginners: A Crash Course in 100 Short Lessons by Joel Marsh

© Joel Marsh, Fair Use

"UX for Beginners" is a comprehensive yet entertaining guide for anyone interested in user experience (UX) design. This book covers the fundamentals of UX across 100 self-contained, engaging lessons. 

It strays from dry, technical material and, instead, adopts Marsh's unique snarky humor to teach UX in a simple and practical manner. So, we highly recommend this book. It's an excellent resource for non-designers aspiring to become designers, managers teaching UX, and professionals from other fields seeking to understand UX design better.

Key Take Away 

A key takeaway from this book is recognizing the diversity in user behavior and the importance of designing for these variations, akin to addressing differing behaviors in real life. Marsh’s practical, humor-infused approach makes this a quick and enjoyable read, perfect to consume in one sitting.

“Everything has a user experience. Your job is not to create the user experience. Your job is to make it good.” ― Joel Marsh

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

© Don Norman, Fair Use

Don Norman ’s seminal work will fundamentally change your perspective on the world around you. Through examining everything from doors to software, Norman reveals the power of good design and the frustration of poor design.

While the term “UX design” may have been recently coined, the underlying principles date back thousands of years.

© Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

Don Norman's "The Design of Everyday Things" underscores the importance of user-centered design – a concept he helped popularize. He emphasizes that design should primarily focus on user needs rather than secondary factors like aesthetics . He illustrates the outcomes of adhering to or straying from this user-focused approach through detailed examples.

“Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible.” — Don Norman

In this video, Don Norman explains why design is “hot”!

• Transcript loading…

User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design are Changing the Way We Live, Work and Play by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant

© Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant, Fair Use

"User Friendly" by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant explores how design principles subtly shape our daily lives and the world around us. The authors weave a historical narrative and chart the evolution of user-experience design from a niche concept to a universal reality in our digital age. They reveal the hidden impact of design on societal shifts, from major historical events to the dawn of the digital era.

Key Take Away

This book sheds light on the often unnoticed role of user-experience design in our interactions with technology. Kuang and Fabricant underline the importance of design in making technology intuitive and user-friendly and its influence on molding our behaviors, habits, and, ultimately, our lifestyle. They stress that as we become more reliant on technology, understanding these hidden design rules is not just fascinating, but crucial.

“You have to know why people behave as they do—and design around their foibles and limitations, rather than some ideal.” ― Cliff Kuang,

Don’t Make Me Think (Revisited) by Steve Krug

© Steve Krug, Fair Use

Steve Krug presents a common-sense approach to mobile and web usability with his engaging writing style. He focuses on functional aspects of design rather than form, offering concrete examples to improve usability and enhance the user experience.

Steve Krug's "Don't Make Me Think" underscores the power of simplicity and consistency in web design . He advocates for intuitive, skim-friendly interfaces and emphasizes the importance of user testing . Krug suggests that, while creativity is important, it shouldn't compromise the expected consistency unless it enhances the user experience.

“Usability is about people and how they understand and use things, not about technology.” — Steve Krug

Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug

Regarded as the companion to "Don't Make Me Think," Krug's book provides a practical guide to usability testing . He emphasizes the importance of early and frequent testing, making problem identification and resolution a seamless part of your design process.

This book guides readers through the practical aspects of user testing. It highlights the importance of choosing the right participants, crafting effective tasks, and maintaining neutrality during the process. It also uncovers compelling insights from users. Krug offers a comprehensive roadmap to conduct effective user research .

“ You’re not interested in what it takes to uncover most of the problems; you only care about what it takes to uncover as many problems as you can fix .” ― Steve Krug, Rocket Surgery Made Easy

HCI expert Prof. Alan Dix talks about the three guidelines of usability:

Top UX Books for Professionals 

UX design demands a profound understanding of design principles and an analytical mindset. Here are the best UX books that will offer experienced professionals fresh perspectives, deeper insights, and the tools to drive impactful change.

Lean UX: Applying Lean Principles to Improve User Experience by Jeff Gothelf with Josh Seiden

© Jeff Gothelf with Josh Seiden, Fair Use

"Lean UX"  covers principles, tactics and techniques to incorporate design into Agile teams. It underscores the importance of collaborative projects focusing on solving user problems instead of merely adding new features. Gothelf's work encourages you to reflect on your role within the organization and the overall UX strategy.

This book dives into lean and agile principles in UX design. It promotes teamwork in product development, urging frequent feedback and short design cycles. "Lean UX" focuses on crafting an excellent user experience and shifting the focus from merely producing deliverables. Thus, it fosters a beneficial shift in the design process.

“Our goal is not to create a delivery, it's to change something in the world – to create an outcome.” — Jeff Gothelf with Josh Seiden

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz

© Barry Schwartz, Fair Use

Through "The Paradox of Choice," Schwartz contends that while the abundance of choice may appear beneficial, it often leads to frustration and dissatisfaction. This book challenges the conventional wisdom that more is better. It argues for limiting choices to increase user satisfaction. If you understand how people think, you can make your designs better by focusing on what users need, not just what they want.

This book conveys that an abundance of options can lead to decision paralysis and lower user satisfaction. It suggests that "good enough" often trumps the "absolute best." "The Paradox of Choice" urges you to create experiences that satisfy users' needs rather than overwhelm them with excessive choices. This can enhance decision-making ease and user contentment.

“People choose not on the basis of what’s most important, but on what’s easiest to evaluate.” — Barry Schwartz

UX Magic by Daniel Rosenberg

“ UX Magic ” by Daniel Rosenberg introduces the Semantic IxD method, which is laser-focused on transforming product requirements into experiences guaranteed to result in the minimum cognitive load with the smallest number of screens and the fewest flow steps possible. It provides an antidote to the expensive and endless A/B trials resulting in suboptimal products propagated by the proponents of design Darwinism and explains how to mitigate the excessive hours wasted in opinion and personality-oriented UX debates during product development meetings.

This breakthrough book builds upon an HCI conceptual model foundation leveraging human natural language understanding and extends it into the GUI layers of design pattern visualization, UX flow and applied game theory to create optimal user experiences that also align well with business objectives.

Build Better Products: A Modern Approach to Building Successful User-Centered Products by Laura Klein 

© Laura Klein, Fair Use

"Build Better Products" offers a comprehensive guide for all aspects of product development . It is valuable for product managers and anyone involved in creating a new product. Klein's step-by-step approach considers every potential scenario in the product development journey and even includes advice on team building. Her approach ensures that readers understand user experience design and product engineering in-depth.

The book provides a holistic framework for product management that is both practical and extensive. It encourages readers to step out of their comfort zone as it provides insights into various aspects of product development that they might not have explored before. Klein's advice on team building is particularly valuable as it recognizes the vital role of a well-coordinated team in the successful development and launch of a product.

“Trying new things constantly and then abandoning them without further study or work is not iterating. That’s flailing.” ― Laura Klein

Creative Confidence by Tom and David Kelley

© Tom Kelly and David Kelly, Fair Use

"Creative Confidence" debunks the "creativity myth"—that people are born creative. It empowers readers to tap into their inherent potential to create change. The authors share inspiring stories from their work at IDEO and teach you how to leverage everyday annoyances as design opportunities.

The book emphasizes the value of practice, empathy , curiosity, an abundance of ideas, and resilience in fostering creativity. It encourages the reader to view the world with fresh eyes and adopt an "abundance mentality." You must treat creativity as a flexible muscle that benefits from regular exercise and teamwork.

“That combination of thought and action defines creative confidence: the ability to come up with new ideas and the courage to try them out.” ― Tom Kelley

100 Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People by Susan M. Weinschenk, Ph.D

© Susan M. Weinschenk, Fair Use

Serving as a comprehensive reference guide, "100 Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People" delves into the basics of how people see, think, read, and what motivates them. It provides valuable insights and tactics from cognitive, social, and perceptual psychology research for creating successful UX designs.

The book teaches that effective design stems from understanding human behavior and motivations. It applies psychology and neuroscience research to user-centric design. Thus, it offers practical advice on creating intuitive, accessible digital and physical products for varied audiences. You’ll also find techniques to create compelling user experiences and get higher conversion rates.

“To design a product or Web site that persuades people to take a certain action, you need to know the unconscious motivations of your target audience.” ― Susan M. Weinschenk

Essential UI Design Books

UI design is an integral part of product development. It requires both artistic creativity and technical understanding. Here are some prominent books that will serve as useful resources for your UI design journey:

UI is Communication by Everett N. McKay

© Everett McKay, Fair Use

"UI is Communication" is a practical guide that focuses on UI design as an objective communication tool rather than aesthetics. The book draws a parallel between user interfaces and conversations, providing useful methods for real-world design challenges.

This book stands out for its rich, varied examples, easily digestible layout with bolded keywords, and inclusion of humor through comics. It goes beyond UI, discussing user-centered design and UX techniques. Suitable for diverse roles, it remains current, even exploring mobile conventions.

“If your product solves real problems, has a simple, intuitive interaction and an appealing, easy-to-read visual design , yet people aren’t using it, chances are your product is failing to communicate at a human level.” ― Everett N. McKay

Designing with the Mind in Mind by Jeff Johnson

© Jeff Johnson, Fair Use

"Designing with the Mind in Mind" explores perceptual and cognitive psychology and how it can inform effective UI design. It provides insights into human decision-making, hand-eye coordination, color perception, and memory, offering a strong foundation for user-centric design.

The book imparts essential perceptual and cognitive psychology insights to UI designers. It enables them to understand and intuitively apply design rules rather than blindly follow them. The book helps designers make informed decisions, even in challenging situations like trade-offs, time limits, or resource constraints.

“Engineering does not replace art in a design, it makes it possible.” ― Jeff Johnson

Evil by Design by Chris Nodder

© Chris Nodder, Fair Use

Nodder's work unravels the psychological aspects used in persuasive design techniques. The book dissects real website examples and displays how companies (and designers)  leverage UI design patterns and human psychology to trick people for commercial advantages.

The book uncovers the dark side of design. It reveals how some designers exploit users' vulnerabilities to enhance conversion rates. "Evil by Design" will help you  become aware of, and resist manipulative strategies. 

“It’s ok to deceive people if it’s in their best interests or if they’ve given implicit consent to be deceived as part of a persuasive strategy.”  — Chris Nodder

Simple and Usable Web, Mobile, and Interaction Design by Giles Colborne

© Giles Colborne, Fair Use

As the title suggests, "Simple and Usable Web, Mobile, and Interaction Design " is a practical guide to achieving simplicity in UI design. It focuses on removing, organizing, concealing, and displacing features and UI elements to enhance the user experience.

Simplicity and usability are crucial to a product's success. Giles Colborne presents four strategies (remove, hide, organize and displace) to achieve this simplicity. The book emphasizes that products that are the simplest to use often win customers.

“The better and longer way is to describe the experience I want the users to have. That means describing the users’ world and how my design fits in.” ― Giles Colborne

Designing Interfaces by Jenifer Tidwell, Charles Brewer and Aynne Valencia

© Jenifer Tidwell, Charles Brewer and Aynne Valencia, Fair Use

"Designing Interfaces" is essentially a comprehensive catalog of various UI patterns . It documents the best practices for each pattern's usage. It's a practical resource, particularly beneficial for those beginning their UI design journey.

This book  compiles common interaction design patterns used across web and desktop environments. The book adeptly navigates between generic and specific advice. It serves as a valuable reference for designers keen on creating effective user-facing software. “Good design can’t be reduced to a recipe.” – Jenifer Tidwell

Here’s UX designer and co-founder of HYPE 4, Michal Malewicz with more on the importance of UI design.

UX Research and Strategy Books

UX research plays a crucial role in understanding users' needs, behaviors, and motivations. For experienced professionals seeking to delve deeper, here are five noteworthy books on UX research:

The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley

© Leah Buley, Fair Use

"The User Experience Team of One" is perfect for those seeking effective UX research with fewer UX design resources. Buley drew from her experiences at notable firms such as Publicis Sapient and InVision to write this book. She provides practical tips and techniques to guide readers through the entire design process and help quantify the user experience. 

Buley offers a valuable breakdown of different design phases. These design phases include planning, researching, designing, testing, and evangelism. The emphasis on outputs, inviting review, and fostering collaboration is particularly insightful. This book provides clear direction and suggests a focus point at the end of each chapter: If you can only do one of these, do X.

“Design is the act of creating new solutions under constrained circumstances, whether those constraints are aesthetic, technological, or resource-driven. That may sound like a restriction, but actually it’s a gift. Constraints, in the end, are a designer’s friend.” — Leah Buley

Just Enough Research by Erika Hall

© Erika Hall, Fair Use

Co-founder of Mule Design Studios , Erika Hall, shares her wealth of knowledge in "Just Enough Research." It aims to improve questioning and critical thinking in research. Hall covers a wide range of topics and offers useful methods for better and faster research.

This book is an exhaustive yet approachable introduction to the multifaceted world of design research. This practical guide, peppered with humor and valuable tips, covers a wide range of topics beyond traditional user interviews and usability testing . Despite being short and concise, it prompts thoughtful reflections and questions about design research methodologies.

“You can optimize everything and still fail, because you have to optimize for the right things. That's where reflection and qualitative approaches come in. By asking why, we can see the opportunity for something better beyond the bounds of the current best. Even math has its limits.” ― Erika Hall

Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy by David Travis and Philip Hodgson

© David Travis and Philip Hodgson, Fair Use

With a combined 50 years of UX research experience, Travis and Hodgson provide invaluable insights into UX research planning, data analysis, and team persuasion. The book includes thought-provoking exercises and stories from experienced researchers.

This book offers a solid overview of UX principles. It reinforces best practices and introduces new tools you can apply to future projects. Its unique feature is the summary of each topic with brief questions and exercises, such as the SCAMPER example. These exercises prompt critical thinking and remind readers that UX approaches should be adaptable and tailored to individual projects. It's an informative read that encourages questioning and flexibility in UX design.

“Companies say they value great design. But they assume that to do great design they need a rock star designer. But great design doesn’t live inside designers. It lives inside your users’ heads. You get inside your users heads by doing good UX research: research that provides actionable and testable insights into users’ needs.” ― David Travis

In this video, CEO of Experience Dynamics, Frank Spillers urges designers to “get out of the building” before designing anything.

Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology by David C. Evans

© David C. Evans, Fair Use

In this book, Evans links cognitive psychology with UX design principles. He explores the psychological processes that influence design success and shares hypotheses for research to meet user needs more effectively.

The key takeaway from this book is that understanding human psychological constraints is crucial for effective UX design. This book explains how to align digital designs with inherent bottlenecks in human nature. It provides case studies and strategies for marketing and product development in the social media age. Also, it highlights the vital role of behaviorism, development, personality, and social psychology in UX design.

“Bottlenecks brings together two very important aspects of user experience design: understanding users and translating this into business impact. A must-read for anyone who wants to learn both.”  – Josh Lamar, Sr. UX Lead, Microsoft Outlook

User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research by Stephanie Marsh

© Stephanie Marsh, Fair Use

Marsh, a seasoned UX researcher, offers insights into implementing UX research effectively within an organization. The book provides practical advice on the most up-to-date  user research methods and data interpretation techniques.

This book provides a detailed, hands-on approach to user research. Marsh discusses the optimal timing for research implementation and showcases how a deep understanding of users can improve product and service design .

“ This book offers a comprehensive overview of how to be a great user researcher and explains exactly how to plan, run and debrief impactful user research. This new edition is right up to date with modern research needs for ethical data handling, and operationalising research. An essential handbook for new and experienced researchers to keep by their side!” — Steve Bromley, Principal User Researcher at Reach PLC

UX Design Ebooks and Online Resources

We understand that your time is precious, and flipping through lengthy books may not always be feasible. So, we've got you covered! Here are five ebooks and online resources that provide excellent UX advice and insights:

The Basics of User Experience Design

The Interaction Design Foundation's comprehensive guide covers the fundamental aspects of UX design. Over nine chapters, readers can learn about conducting user interviews, design thinking , interaction design, mobile UX design , usability, UX research, and more. Get this free ebook here . 

This e-book will help you understand the user-centered design process. It’ll provide practical knowledge of various UX methods and techniques, and insights into modern UX design trends.

Bright Ideas for User Experience Designers

© Userfocus, Fair Use

Userfocus’s e-book offers a friendly and memorable approach to UX design concepts. From improving usability to mastering prototypes, the eBook illuminates key aspects of UX design with real-world examples. It also shares essential tips for writing support material, error communication, and even creating a compelling UX vision. 

This e-book delivers valuable insights into various aspects of user experience design. It helps you learn practical strategies for improving usability, efficient prototyping to create a user experience vision, and enhanced communication of errors. It also provides useful tips for writing user manuals and understanding the significance of "alt" text.

UX Design Trends Bundle

© UXPin, Fair Use

Compiled by UXPin, this bundle contains three e-books covering web and mobile UI design trends. This resource provides a comprehensive analysis of over 300 designs and is a great way to stay updated with the latest trends. You can download the ebooks from the UXPin website.

This e-book talks about key aspects of UX design. It provides insights into current design trends and showcases examples of superior designs. Furthermore, it encourages readers to contemplate the future trajectory of UX design. Its lessons prepare you to innovate, adapt, and create exceptional user experiences.

UX Storytellers: Connecting the Dots

© UX Storytellers, Fair Use

This e-book , published in 2009, offers timeless insights into the world of UX design. It contains anecdotes and advice from 42 UX professionals and provides a holistic view of the field. 

This e-book talks about common UX hurdles and shares practical ways to navigate them. It also highlights the crucial role of storytelling in design. It sheds light on the power of storytelling to create engaging and captivating user experiences.

GET INTO UX: A Foolproof Guide to Getting Your First User Experience Job

© Vy Alechnavicius, Fair Use

"Get Into UX" by Vytautas Alechnavicius is an illuminating guide aimed at equipping both aspiring and experienced designers with the necessary tools to secure their first UX job. Given the booming UX field and the influx of new talent, the book addresses the challenges that young designers face when trying to find jobs and offers a foolproof roadmap to breaking into the UX field. It comprehensively tackles various facets of UX, from understanding the fundamentals to building a strong portfolio, and provides actionable strategies to set up a successful UX career.

This e-book emphasizes the importance of truly understanding UX beyond the surface level. It sets up your UX career with a long-term perspective and practical tools to ace portfolios, resumes, and interviews. The book also underscores the significance of continuous learning and practice in navigating the evolving UX landscape. 

Learn from Great Design

© Tom Kenny, Fair use

This e-book by web designer Tom Kenny provides an in-depth analysis of high-quality web designs. Although only a portion of it is available for free, the e-book provides valuable insights into what makes a design effective. 

The book primarily teaches the essentials of top-notch web design. It offers practical examples for better understanding and prompts self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement in your own work.

These e-books and UX resources are a wealth of knowledge for both new and experienced UX designers , offering a range of insights into the ever-evolving field of user experience design.

Honorable Mentions: More Noteworthy UX Design Books

Universal principles of design by william lidwell, kritina holden and jill butler.

© William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler, Fair Use

"Universal Principles of Design" by William Lidwell is a comprehensive UX design textbook. With Lidwell's extensive research background, the book underlines the science of design, providing well-curated data to aid the understanding of design principles. It covers every facet of the design spectrum, from usability to human behavior.

Key takeaways from the book are its solid grounding in UX design principles, which can be revisited anytime for insight. Furthermore, the book explores all design aspects to broaden a designer's perspective in their field and across various design disciplines. This broad-based approach makes it a rich source of inspiration for designers, regardless of their expertise.

A Project Guide to UX Design: For user experience designers in the field or in the making by Russ Unger & Carolyn Chandler

© Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler, Fair Use

"A Project Guide to UX Design" by Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler is an invaluable handbook for UX designers handling the complexity of design projects. It covers various skills, from understanding stakeholders ' roles to conducting user research to SEO and persona creation.

This book imparts wisdom without prescribing a specific framework. It's a guide that gives you a firm grasp of what you need to know and what you should be cautious about in UX design. It's gained considerable popularity for being a reliable companion in challenging times for UX designers.

Writing Is Designing: Words and the User Experience by Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle

© Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle, Fair use

"Writing Is Designing" advocates for UX writers' critical yet often overlooked role in a product's development. Initially, the book emphasizes the importance of acknowledging UX writers in the design team. It then addresses practical challenges such as strategizing in a project setting and implementing best practices for UX writing.

This book serves as an essential guide for those already versed in UX design and looking to integrate UX writing effectively into their workflows. It not only underlines the significance of UX writing but also provides practical insights to navigate the complexities of UX writing in the design process.

About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design

© Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, and Christopher Noessel, Fair Use

"About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design" by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, and Christopher Noessel is an esteemed text in the realm of interaction design. Revered as a UX bible, the book extensively explores creating intuitive and user-friendly designs. Cooper, known as the "Father of Visual Basic," introduces his goal-directed design method in the book. It emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and behaviors to construct a design that genuinely serves those needs.

This book provides a deeper understanding of the three Ps (principles, patterns, and processes) and the invaluable addition of the fourth P – practice. Cooper's insights into team dynamics and the unique roles of "generators" and "synthesizers" in design teams offer readers valuable guidance on creating and managing successful UX design teams. Also, the book presents Cooper's strategy for hiring designers to provide a comprehensive view of interaction design from conception to execution.

The Take Away

Staying on top of the latest UX and UI design tools is key to thriving in the fast-paced digital world. From grasping the fundamentals of stellar web design to identifying room for improvement in your own work, the insights shared in this piece can significantly enhance your skills.

This piece serves as an evergreen resource designed to support your continuous growth in UX and UI design. As trends evolve and the best books to learn UI UX design change, we'll be updating the content to ensure it remains relevant and valuable for your learning journey.

For those just beginning their journey or seasoned professionals looking to refine their skills, our range of courses caters to all levels. Embark on your learning adventure with our beginner UX courses today.

And if you're ready to excel in your current role or preparing for the next, consider enrolling in our intermediate courses . It's time to upskill, stay competitive, and propel your career to new heights! Start today and shape the digital experiences of tomorrow.

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New to UX Design? We're Giving You a Free eBook!

Download our free ebook “ The Basics of User Experience Design ” to learn about core concepts of UX design.

In 9 chapters, we’ll cover: conducting user interviews, design thinking, interaction design, mobile UX design, usability, UX research, and many more!

• January 5, 2024

Top 26 books anyone in UX should read in 2024 (designers, writers, and researchers)

Want to expand your knowledge of UX writing, content design, and research? We’ve got a complete list of books for you right here.

Shortcuts: Jump Straight To

The rise of ux.

User experience design, research, and writing are all children of the digital revolution. Today there’s an app for everything, and there is massive, growing demand for people who can create great digital experiences .

UX researchers learn about people’s behavior and collect relevant data, UX writers and content designers use that data to create content for digital products and interfaces, and designers visualize the content and data in a user-friendly and intuitive way.

Why it’s worth reading about UX

Alongside the rise of UX, there has been a steady rise of books on the subject. In fact, there are so many that we’ll probably never get to the bottom of the pile.

I know; books can be overwhelming.  Is there anything more stressful than a growing number of books waiting to be read? The thing is, we all know that books are good for us. They give us in-depth knowledge in a way articles never will and keep our minds active. And if you’re an aspiring UX writer, reading more will do wonders for your writing skills.

If you find it hard to get going with books, you’ll find some reading tips at the end of this article. But first, check out the recommendations from me and other members of the UX Writing Hub crew!

UX writing books | Books for UX writers

Strategic writing for ux by torrey podmajersky.

Torrey Podmajersky used to work on the copy of Xbox and now works at Google. In her latest book (released in July 2019), she shares the strategic wisdom she’s picked up during the years.

Content design by Sarah Winters (was Richards)

Clear, concise, and useful from start to finish, with tons of insights for UX writers. Plus, it gets top marks for presenting everything in a way that makes it easy to digest . Written by Sarah Winters, who led the team that created the content style guide for the UK government.

I had a chat with her about her process of finding her way as a content designer in the Writers in Tech podcast .

Microcopy: The Complete Guide by Kinneret Yifrah

This book is called “the bible of microcopy ” for a reason. If you want to become a UX writer and plan to read just one single book, make it this one. As it includes lots of examples, it’s also great as a reference book when it comes to creating different microcopy scenarios.

The Business of UX Writing by Yael Ben-David

As UX writers, we learn to focus on user needs and pain points, and rightly so. But working only on user goals and forgetting about the business goals may affect business results. And without decent business results, the product could eventually go bust .

That’s why it’s better to aim for the sweet spot where user needs meet business goals . Yael Ben-David explains everything we need to know in her book The Business of UX Writing . Besides a complete framework, she gives us plenty of concrete examples of how UX writing is good for business. These examples will come in handy every time we need to show the value of UX writing and the effect it can have on ROI (return on investment).

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

Every chapter of this book is a gem with insights from the traditional writing world. You’ll get lots of practical tips you can implement in any piece of content you create. My favorite takeaway is the section about working with great editors and how they can change your life. The same goes for great UX writers who edit the copy in your product interface!

Nicely Said by Nicole Fenton

Top writing tips with a strategic edge for all kinds of web editors . This is one of the first books I recall that talked about writing for the web and digital interfaces, a topic that had been overlooked for years. Beautiful illustrations throughout the book make it an easy read.

The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker

Cognitive psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker takes a science-based approach to writing and sheds new light on many old, outdated concepts . A must-read for anyone writing in the English language.

Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch

While language is always changing, the internet has accelerated the process like never before. From SMS and emails to blogs and social media, online communication tools have affected how we use language on every level.

Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch explains how emojis, memes and different kinds of LOLS barged into our conversations, and why it’s a good thing.

If this sounds interesting, definitely check out the You Are Not So Smart podcast episode with Gretchen too.

Conversations with Things: UX Design for Chat and Voice by Diana Deibel and Rebecca Evanhoe

Chatbots and voice user interfaces have made tremendous progress in the last few years. And still, many of them offer a mediocre user experience at best. Why? One reason is that constructing a human conversation with a machine is easier said than done.

Diana Deibel and Rebecca Evanhoe share invaluable insights for everyone interested in conversation design , with practical tips on how to improve the UX of voice UIs .

UX design books | Books for UX designers

Universal principles of design by william lidwell, kritina holden and jill butler.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People (Voices That Matter) by Susan Weinschenk

This classic from 2011 is still mega useful both for designers and for writers who want to develop their design thinking .

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

If you’re guilty of procrastination , you’re not alone. This book will help you get over it.

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

Another classic that’s still relevant for *everyone* who works with the web in any shape or form.

Solving Product Design Exercises: Questions & Answers by Artiom Dashinsky

This little gem of a book helps you to get ready for your next design interview. It breaks down the process step by step and shows you exactly how to prepare for that dreaded interview exercise .

Next up on my UX design reading list is this one, released in November 2019:

User Friendly by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant

UX research books | Books for researchers

Just enough research by erika hall.

Erika Hall’s book is the cornerstone not just for UX researchers, but for anyone in a product team (including stakeholders). People need to care more about data- and research-driven design, and this guide tells you exactly how to do it. I also had a fantastic conversation with Erika about how to plan your design research on the Writers in tech podcast .

More UX research books on my reading list:

Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal

The User’s Journey: Storymapping Products That People Love by Donna Lichaw

Other UX-related books | Books for all content and product people

Mismatch by kat holmes.

Wish you were more aware of inclusive design? Mismatch is a great place to start. This book explains why we should stop thinking of accessibility as something to fix for the benefit of a minority. After all, disabilities affect everyone, sooner or later – whether it is for a short period or permanently.

Cross-cultural design by Senongo Akeem

Great read if you’re involved with multilingual or multicultural products . Get lots of insights on how to approach cultural differences and learn what questions you need to ask before launching language versions.

World Wide Waste  by Gerry McGovern

It’s easy to assume that digital communications and e-commerce are better for the environment than physical meetings and traditional trade.

As Gerry McGovern shows in his book World Wide Waste, we need to think again. Every time we publish something or interact online, servers around the world consume energy. Not to mention the fuel needed to store the messages in our full inboxes. This book is a great start for everyone who wants to become more aware of how our computers create pollution.

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

I read this one when I was in high school (13 years ago!). Dan Ariely’s research on human behavior blew my mind, and it still does. Totally inspiring and way ahead of its time. If you know Dan, please tell him I would love to interview him for my Writers in Tech podcast 🙂

Nudge by Richard H. Thaler

This gem explains how to encourage people to take action, whether you’re working on a new app or writing a note for the tip jar in a bar. It’s an inspiring book that will help you to understand what influences people to make a decision.

Measure What Matters by John Doerr

As a data-driven person, I design, write, and create only things that I can measure.

This book helped me understand my OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and the actions I need to take to reach them. You’ll find out how companies like Google and Intuit measure their success and optimize their results in an ever-changing world.

Everyday Information Architecture by Lisa Maria Martin

As a UX professional, you will come across information architecture sooner if not later. Brace yourself by reading this excellent book on how to organize content for digital interfaces .

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown 

In a world where digital products fight for our attention, focus has become an important commodity . In this book, you’ll learn how to cut through the clutter and decide what you need to focus on versus what is not that essential.

Ruined by Design by Mike Monteiro

My top tip about ethical design, published in 2019. It’s a huge wake-up call for the design industry and how UX people can help design a world we all want to live in.

Check out my chat with Mike Monteiro on Writers in Tech , too!

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal

The first hard copy of a UX book I ever had is a bestselling game-changer about how to create addictive products without pushy content and expensive advertising .

How does that fit in with ethical design? Listen to my talk with Nir Eyal on the Writers in Tech podcast , where we talk about ethics and much more.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR  by David Meerman Scott

It can also come in handy for UX writers who find themselves battling with the marketing department, as it gives plenty of arguments for a user-focused approach in marketing too.

Reading tips to get going with books

That’s it for now! Overwhelmed? Here are a few tips on how to get going:

• First of all, you may think that you don’t have time for books, but you do. Set aside a little bit of time to read: 30 minutes in the morning, for example. Or whenever works for you. Stick to it for a week and see how it goes!
• Tackle one book at a time. Pick one that catches your attention and forget about all the others for a while.
• Thanks to technology, there are numerous ways to read. It doesn’t have to be a regular hardcopy book – try a Kindle or other ebook reader, or listen to books on Audible. Go on, give it a go and see what you think 🙂
• There are also lots of helpful reading apps. For example, if you use Kindle Cloud Reader and Google Chrome, you can install the speed-reading extension Kreeder.

Final thoughts

Understanding and implementing insights from the books on this list doesn’t just make work more fun, it has also made me a better professional in my day-to-day work. Make time for reading, and nail your next UX project or task!

Have you read a book that should be on this list? Shoot an email to [email protected] and let me know about it.

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This article was co-written with Anja Wedberg

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07 Oct 2024

UX research books

Discover the 15 must-read ux research books recommended by the lyssna community to design better user experiences and gain a deeper understanding of your users..

Meagan Philpot

Whether you go back to the foundational basics or keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry, continuously improving your UX research knowledge and expertise is crucial to enhancing and advancing your product.

By utilizing the appropriate resources, you can apply better concepts of UX research, design better user experiences, and understand users better.

With this in mind, we asked the Lyssna community to share their recommendations for UX research books that are a must-read to succeed in this space.

The 15 UX research books to add to your reading list

Whether you’re starting in UX research or looking to refresh your knowledge, we’ve compiled a list of 15 highly recommended books. These will help you build a solid foundation in user-centered design and research methodologies, as well as provide you with an invaluable resource for gaining insights into UX research and exploring other approaches to designing for your product.

1. Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability , 3rd Edition| Steve Krug

In the latest edition of his best-selling book, Don't Make Me Think, usability expert Steve Krug offers a fresh perspective on the fundamentals of web and mobile design in terms of user-friendly navigation and information design. Krug's years of expertise as a usability consultant make his take on intuitive design principles far more authentic.

Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited, is now updated with new examples and principles, plus a section on mobile usability. However, as articulated by the author, “the basic principles are the same even if the landscape has changed because usability is about people and how they understand and use things, not about technology. And while technology often changes quickly, people change very slowly.”

Recommended by Endia Spencer, Freelance UX Designer, because “it gives you a deep understanding of UX design.” 

“Usability is about people and how they understand and use things, not about the technology” - Steve Krug

Published 2013 | Buy this book

2. The Design of Everyday Things | Don Norman

As one of the most recommended books by our Lyssna panel, Don Norman’s book is a must-read for anyone with UX in their job title. 

The Design of Everyday Things focuses on the role of design as a means of communication between the user and the object, providing insights on how to enhance this connection to ensure an enjoyable user experience. One of the key takeaways from reading this book is that users shouldn’t be held responsible when things malfunction – the fault often lies with inadequate intuitive guidance within the design itself.

Lyssna panelist, Bunyamin Kidir, recommended this book as it “broadened my horizon in terms of the design of everyday objects and human beings' perception. It is a valuable book for understanding the importance of user experience”.

 “It's an accessible, informative primer on design principles and why they matter.” - Molly Hillstrom, UX Consultant .

Published 2013 | Buy this book 

3. Just Enough Research | Erika Hall

Recommended by Python Certified Developer, Prapula Madala, Just Enough Research is “a nice introduction to different methods of user research, from the basics to process, competitive research, evaluative research, etc. She also added a chapter on surveys in the second edition.”

Prapula continues, “like most A Book Apart books, a lot of information is packed in this one. You will want to keep it close to your desk for future reference.” Just Enough Research offers practical methods that can be easily implemented by teams of any size and budget. For example, you’ll find valuable insights on identifying competitive advantages, recognizing blind spots and biases, interpreting and utilizing research findings, and the pitfalls of using focus groups. After reading this guidebook, you’ll be able to quickly master effective research techniques and start conducting quality research without delay.

2013 | Buy this book

4. The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide | Leah Buley

Leah Buley's book, The User Experience Team of One, provides readers with valuable tools and insights, equipping them to do more with less while succeeding in UX endeavors. 

Prapula Madala also found this book to have great insights: “the book is split into two parts: philosophy (building principles, attitude, perspective) and practice (methods, techniques, tips, and tricks). The first part concentrates on helping you sell UX to the company. The second one presents different UX methods and tools to help you build user-centric products. Both parts are equally useful depending on where you work and where you are in your career.”  

2013 | Buy this book 

5. Inclusive Design for a Digital World: Designing with Accessibility in Mind | Regine Gilbert

This book highlights the importance of designing digital products to be accessible to as many different users as possible. A user experience design professor, Regine Gilbert covers a wide range of accessibility issues faced by people with disabilities and provides step-by-step solutions for creating inclusive designs. 

Senior UX Designer of Expedia Group, Dani Perez, recommended this book. “It's the last book I've read and we had her in a workshop recently at work. I pick this one because every designer should always have an inclusive mindset when working on a digital product; solving problems for all users without exceptions will make the experience richer, stronger, and timeless,” he shared. 

The book addresses the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 requirements, emerging technologies like VR and AR, best practices for web development, and more. The author stresses by prioritizing accessibility and usability, designers can ensure that their digital products are inclusive and accessible to all.

2019 | Buy this book

6. Measuring the User Experience : Collecting, Analyzing, and Presenting Usability Metrics | Thomas Tullis and William Albert

According to UX Researcher Prince Seyram, Measuring the User Experience “explains in-depth about quantifying the user experience. Various innovative metrics are discussed in this book. It also presents the best form of ideas on collecting, analyzing and presenting the data.”

This book has proved to be an essential resource for usability and user experience professionals wanting to make a business case to stakeholders based on quantitative analysis. 

In this second edition release, Tullis and Albert provide new material on how recent technologies have made it easier and more effective to collect a broader range of data about the user experience. 

The book emphasizes the need for UX and web professionals to use solid, reliable data to justify their design decisions. It covers new metrics such as emotional engagement, personas, keystroke analysis, and net promoter score, as well as examining how new technologies from neuro-marketing and online market research can refine user experience measurement.  ‍ 2013 | Buy this book 

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7. Sprint : How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days | Jake Knapp 

This book is your practical guide for answering critical business questions, helping the reader use UX research and structure it in a real work setting.

Author Jake Knapp created a five-day design sprint process during his time at Google, which has since been used successfully by companies in various sectors, including mobile, e-commerce, finance, and healthcare. 

According to Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup, “ Sprint offers a transformative formula for testing ideas that works whether you’re at a startup or a large organization. Within five days, you’ll move from idea to prototype to decision, saving you and your team countless hours and countless dollars. A must read for entrepreneurs of all stripes."

2016 | Buy this book

8. Speculative Everything : Design, Fiction, and Social Dreaming | Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby

Brandon King, founder of the company Home Security Heroes , has been educating himself about UX research to help him communicate with UX designers on how to design for security. He found Speculative Everything a must-read. 

“The book challenges readers to think more creatively about the role of design in shaping the future. Speculative Everything offers a broader perspective on design as a tool for exploring and addressing complex social and technological issues, including cybersecurity-related ones, making it a helpful resource for cybersecurity professionals studying UX research,” he shared.

The authors, Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby, propose a different kind of design in their book – one that serves as a tool to generate not only things but ideas. Dunne and Raby draw on their own experiences in design and teaching, as well as examples from fields such as fine art, architecture, cinema, and photography.

9. The Elements of User Experience : User-Centered Design for the Web | Jesse James Garrett

“My favorite book about UX design and research is The Elements of User Experience by Jesse James Garrett. It's the book that literally got me into the profession so long ago,” shared Co-founder and CEO of Aurelius , Zach Naylor. 

“I love it because it lays out a very clear framework and language for describing all the separate parts of an experience, as well as the tactics on how to create them. Ranging from usability to information architecture, interaction design and visual aesthetics – it clearly provides a framework to think about and communicate creating an awesome user experience.”

The Elements of User Experience provides a simple and clear guide to user-centered design for the web. Instead of focusing on specific tools or techniques, the book emphasizes key concepts with vivid illustrations. 

This makes it a valuable read when creating a successful user experience.

2002 | Buy this book

10. User Experience Revolution | Paul Boag

User Experience Revolution is geared toward those who are enthusiastic about user experience but work for companies that require an extra nudge in the same direction.  

“The book gives you step-by-step instructions on how to build a UX revolution and make users the center of your business, from understanding it and justifying its benefits to advocating for users, setting benchmarks, and more,” shared Mocca Bajao, Digital PR Specialist.

“If you are new to UX or want to expand your knowledge about UX, this book is a must-read.”

2017 | Buy this book  

11. Think Like a UX Researcher : How to Observe Users, Influence Design and Shape Business Strategy | David Travis and Philip Hodgson

Think Like a UX Researcher aims to challenge preconceptions about UX research and encourage readers to explore beyond the obvious. This book provides the tools needed to plan and conduct UX research, analyze data, inspire teams to take action, and carve out a fulfilling career in UX.

The authors offer a range of thought-provoking ideas, exercises, scenarios, practical advice, and real-life examples to help readers become seasoned researchers. With these tools, you can tailor your research methods to fit the unique needs and challenges of your organization.

12. Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner’s Guide to User Research | Elizabeth Goodman, Mike Kuniavsky, and Andrea Moed

Observing the User Experience is described as bridging the gap between “what digital companies think they know about their users and the actual user experience.”

This book is divided into three parts and covers a wide range of topics related to end-user research and its role in creating useful, desirable, and successful products. Part one explores the benefits of user research and its place in product development. Part two provides techniques for gaining insight into people's needs, desires, and abilities. Finally, part three delves into the communication and application of research findings, offering guidance on how to sell companies on the value of user-centered design and how it can boost efficiency and profitability.

2012 | Buy this book

13. Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights | Steve Portigal

This book is a classic and recommended reading for anyone who talks to users. It takes you through the do’s and don’ts of interviewing users, sharing specific interviewing techniques and tools that will change you from an interviewer that gathers data into someone who “ uncovers powerful insights about people.”

14. Lean UX : Designing Great Products With Agile Teams | Josh Seiden and Jeff Gothelf

Antonio Taylor, a web developer at Teki Design Group , recommended Lean UX as it “gives a deep dive into UX design and focuses on outcomes rather than output.”

This practical guide will help you discover that the heart of UX design is the user experience, not the deliverables. By prioritizing the needs of the user over documentation, a deeper understanding is gained of how to apply lean design practices and principles. These methods have been refined through the experiences of numerous successful startup companies, and based on the Lean Startup methodology developed by Eric Ries.

By applying these principles, you'll be able to improve the quality and productivity of your teams, and ultimately create products that deliver exceptional user experiences. Whether you're a UX designer, developer, or part of a startup company, this guide will equip you with the tools and strategies needed to succeed in today's competitive market.

“Lean UX is a book that changed how software is made forever… for the better. By showing product companies how to design with their customers and continuously improving as customers grow and change, Lean UX has enabled a new generation of products that not only look good but are good.” Christina Wodtke, Lecturer, Stanford Computer Science Department, and author of Radical Focus.

15. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan Weinschenk

Conversion rate optimization consultant Oliver Palmer recommended this last book as it “offers insights drawn from psychology that designers can use to make their work more effective and user-friendly.”

“A few examples include the power of storytelling to engage users emotionally, the significance of color psychology in influencing user behavior, and how understanding users' mental models can lead to more intuitive design interactions.”

“I love how this book takes impenetrable academic research out of the journals and presents it in a handy and accessible format that designers can apply in their work. It's very dense yet highly accessible, with each of the 100 insights explained simply and concisely.“

2020 | Buy this book

Final words

Continuous learning and refreshing your knowledge of both foundational and contemporary methodologies will benefit and enhance your quality of work. And although having a book to read is wonderful (and with 15 options to now choose from), there are also numerous additional resources available to help you broaden your knowledge. For instance, you can participate in UX community forums such as ResearchOps, read online articles, follow social media accounts, and explore the  resource hubs and blogs of UX research businesses like Lyssna.  

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Home - Learn UX - UX Books: 15+ Must-Reads in 2024 (Updated)

UX Books: 15+ Must-Reads in 2024 (Updated)

There’s a lot of information on UX out there. If you want to learn more about UX, become a UX designer, or improve yourself as a designer reading a book can be of great help. With that many books available, knowing where to begin can be difficult. My reading list of top UX books and recommendations in 2024 is a great place to start. Take a look!

• Updated on January 3, 2024

There are many, many excellent UX design books you can read. I’ll provide a list of essential must-read UX books you can read in 2024. Once you have read these books, you can consider yourself to have a solid understanding of UX theory.

After that, you can pick books from my more specific reading lists. These include UX books for beginners, UX research, and UX writing . I will provide them at the end of this post. Good luck!

Table of Contents

The benefits of reading books on ux.

There are a couple of routes you can take in starting learning about UX . Some are expensive, like online UX courses and bootcamps, while others are very time-consuming, like joining a university to get your master’s degree in UX.

Another option might be to read a nice book on UX. Just think of it. You can read books in your own time, at your own pace, and in a place of your choice. For example, you can read a book in your garden while enjoying a nice cup of tea, on a train to work, or just before bed.

Books are a lot cheaper and less time-consuming as well. You can listen to an audiobook while at work or while you take a walk. I like to listen to audiobooks while I drive to work. It’s very efficient!

Even in 2024, in the era of working-from-home and online collaboration, reading UX books can be your go-to choice when you want to become a UX designer.  While bootcamps and courses are either online or postponed, you can still order one or two books to read. You will not be delayed in your learning journey.

Essential UX books in 2024

Let’s start at the beginning. Here’s my reading list of top UX books that are a must-read regardless of your current position, goals, or experience as a designer.

The books I’m about to recommend should be a part of any UX reading list, as these books will help regardless of your experience.

The Design of Everyday Things

The Design of Everyday Things is an all-time classic in UX design. Therefore, it is a must-read for every UX designer. Written by  Don Norman  in 1988, this book is still relevant today. It aims to teach you fundamental principles on designing useful products that are delightful to use.

One of these principles is the idea of affordances in UX. Affordances are an essential subject when you want to  become a UX designer . Other important subjects are introductions to user-centered design, the Norman Door, and design thinking. In other words, go and read this UX masterpiece!

The Design of Everyday things explains how design acts as the bridge between an object and the user. Furthermore, it helps explain how good design can make the interaction between users and objects enjoyable. 

After its initial release, the book received a significant update in 2013. Because of this, the book is relevant for every UX designer today.

👉 You can get this book on Amazon .

Related post –  The Design of Everyday Things review .

Don’t Make Me Think

Yet another classic book on UX. This book is your go-to source for anything on usability. As you might know, usability is a big part of UX, making this a great book to help you learn about it as a UX professional.

Steve Krug states that good design is where you do not have to think about how you should interact with the design. Good design makes it easy for you to complete your tasks. You’ll learn how to make that happen.

Like The Design of Everyday Things, this book has had several updates—the most recent one being in 2013.

Don’t Make Me Think is an easy book to read. With just over 200 pages, it is pretty short as well. You could finish the book in just a few days. The book focuses on classic design rules like the 3-click-rule and whether or not you should still apply it today. There’s a lot of humor inside, which makes reading the book a breeze.

👉 You can get the book on Amazon .

The UX Jobs Handbook

Yes, I’m mentioning my ebook in my list of must-read UX books. That’s because it is a very helpful book! The UX Jobs Handbook is a step-by-step approach to landing your first UX design job.

Over 50 pages of actionable tips, tricks, examples, and tutorials help you learn all job hunting essentials while you work your way to landing your first job as a UX designer. The ebook will help you learn the following and much more.

• How to write a cover letter that will get you job interviews.
• Tips, tricks, and templates for your portfolio.
• How to prepare and ace your job interview.
• And much more.

You can get the ebook in one of three bundles over on Gumroad. Check it out below.

No Bullshit Guide to UX

This is a UX ebook written by the great Hype4 Academy . As the title suggest, it will learn you about UX without all the fluff and one-liners.

I will try and do the same for this summary. No beating around the bush. This UX ebook is a must-read for any UX beginner. Take a look at the book on Gumroad below.

👉 You can get this ebook on Gumroad

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People

You design your applications to be used by people. It is called user experience design for a reason. To do this effectively, you must know who your users are, what they want, and how they work.

Understanding your users will benefit the quality of your design considerably. This book will help you with just that; understanding your users. It does so by taking a closer look at how users work and perceive things. Because of this, UX researchers will also benefit from reading this book.  But more on UX research posts later.

In her book, Susan Weinschenk talks about how human beings function on a very deep primal level. One example I found very interesting was how we’re unconsciously triggered to focus on someone’s face. I didn’t know that before! It brings many options to my UX design work. Here are some more examples.

• We can have a fight-or-flight response for any object we see.
• In time, we learn new associations with colors and branding.
• You can divide how people perceive info into how we see, read, and think.

As a UX designer, you can make great use of the things this book teaches you. Therefore, this book is a must-read and should be on the reading list of every UX designer.

Smashing UX Design: Foundations for Designing Online User Experiences

Smashing UX Design is a book that takes an in-depth look into UX. With well over 400 pages, this book is nothing to take lightly! You can divide Smashing UX design into four parts.

• An introduction to UX. It makes the book an exciting read for beginners as well.
• UX research.
• The tools you will need as a designer.
• Specific design cases to go from theory into practice.

The structure of Smashing UX Design is very clear. The book builds on every chapter that passes with new info and insights. It starts very basic and moves carefully to more complex topics.

The book provides you with everything there is to know on UX. Do you want to learn about a particular type of design workshop, specific tools for designing a great landing page, or an introduction to UX research? This book has you covered.

That’s all there is to say on Smashing UX Design. If you have a UX-related question, this book is for you. However, keep in mind that the book is primarily aimed at UX design for the web. The author doesn’t talk that much about mobile.

You’re My Favorite Client

Mike Monteiro is a very outspoken designer. And that’s an understatement. He is known for his talks and lectures around the world and for being the co-founder and design director of  Mule Design , an interaction design studio based in San Francisco.

You can view one of his lectures on how designers destroy the world just below. It is one of my favorite design talks.

In addition, he is the author of multiple books, including the one I recommend here. The UX book is called You’re My Favorite Client, and it is the follow-up to his first book, Design Is A Job.

With only 127 pages, this book is a short read, especially compared to some of the other UX books on this reading list. The book zooms in on the relationship you need to build with your clients to create a successful product. Compared to other books on this list, it stands out as they focus more on hard skills.

Client-designer relationships can be complicated. To make it a success, you have to focus on the soft skills of a UX designer. In the book, Mike Monteiro talks about the step-by-step process of selling and creating your design work, including the questions you must ask and the people you must hire. Especially that final part makes this book also interesting for design managers and even clients.

I recommend all four of Mike Monteiro’s books, but I had to choose one; this book is the one.

Free UX books

There’s an easy way of reading some of my recommended books on UX for free. It can be of great help since getting a lot of books can still be an investment close to that of a UX course.

Try out Amazon’s Audible Plus. You can listen to books while doing something else. For example, I listen to audiobooks while I commute to work.

This excellent service has multiple books found on this UX reading list, including The Design of Everyday Things, the books by Mike Monteiro that I’ve mentioned previously, and more.

Try the service for 30 days for free. Cancel anytime!

Best UX books for beginners

When you’re trying to  become a UX designer , reading books on UX will help you develop an understanding of the theories behind UX. Here’s my recommended reading list of top UX books for beginners.

The first two books are also part of my essential UX booklist, as discussed above. Start with the following books. Both of them are listed above.

• Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
• The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman.

Learning UX is like learning to ride a bike. First, you start with some assistance like training wheels.

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug is like those training wheels. You’ll start easy with UX basics, how-to’s, and principles to get you going.

After that, the training wheels come off when you read The Design of Everyday Things. This book is more abstract and conceptual. It tackles real-life situations, while Don’t Make Me Think is very concrete and focuses on best practices and actionable tips and tricks.

Once you’re done with these first two, continue with the following beginner-friendly UX design books.

Universal Principles of Design

This book is a top read for every beginning UX designer. In the current edition, you can learn 150 design principles. Just think of The Design of Everyday Things and its seven design principles. Then, add another 143 to that list, and you have the Universal Principles of Design!

As a UX designer, you need to speak the language of design. This book teaches you just that.

You can use this book as a dictionary for UX design. With a new design principle every few pages, all you have to do is reference a page you want to know more about.

Then, by adding a sticky note, you remember where to look. Does a more senior UX designer talk about a principle you don’t know? Just look it up in your new UX dictionary!

Universal Principles is a contender for the number one spot on every beginning UX designer’s reading list. It helps designers get started the right way. In addition, the book includes incredible examples and illustrations, which makes it an easy and fun read.

Lean UX is an excellent book for UX beginners, written by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden.

Most clients you’re going to collaborate with work using an Agile framework, like Scrum and Kanban. Scrum events like the daily standup, sprint retrospectives, and reviews are common for almost any UX designer. This book helps you find your place within a Lean and Agile working environment.

Yes, UX and Agile have some differences in their way of working. However, lean UX will give you the tools you need to work together with Agile-minded teams and clients efficiently and productively. And if you need more help, you can always take a look at the  ultimate Scrum guide for UX designers  I wrote.

The User Experience Team of One

During your design career, it could happen that you’re either going to be the only designer at your company or that you’re going to have to collaborate with clients that not see the benefit of good UX design.

That’s where this book comes in. The UX Team of One teaches you how you can get the design done and make an impact while being a one-person UX design team. It focuses on getting more UX work done in less time and how you survive as a lone UX professional.

UX for Beginners: 100 Short Lessons to Get You Started

This book is all about the  UX Crash Course blog  you can find at The Hipper Element. Joel Marsh, a designer and author, wrote both the blog and book.

UX for Beginners is a book that teaches you, as the title suggests, 100 basics about UX. Like the Universal Principles of Design I mentioned earlier, this is essentially a very long listicle. Together, they provide you with 250 principles. That’s instant growth as a designer right there!

These fundamental design principles can help any beginner become a better UX designer. Even experienced designers can still learn a thing or two from this book.

UX research books

Research is one of the building blocks of UX design. Some of the books on my UX reading list also cover some of this expertise. Yet, I believe UX research to be a skill that is too important not to have its list of recommended books. Here’s my list of UX research books. Take a look!

Quantifying the User Experience

Design is about more than just putting pixels in order. Yes, it is important, but there is way more that you will need to do as a UX designer. I’m talking about user research, or UX research in short. As I said before, user research is a unique skill that deserves its own list.

One of the most challenging parts of being a designer is measuring the success of your design. Most people think that design is something subjective. You either like it, or you don’t. Quantifying the User Experience is a UX research book that gives you the tools to do qualitative and quantitative user research. You’ll learn how to break through the image of how design is subjective.

After reading the book, you will be able to measure the success of your UX design work. In addition, by using these tools, you can convince stakeholders of the  importance of UX design . It will, in turn, help you become a better designer.

Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior

A lot happens inside a user’s mind when they interact with your design. For example, your users might have a prejudice or bias you’re not aware of. In other cases, using your designs might be scary for first-time users.

How someone sees an object and how he thinks it will work is what we call a mental model. User research is an essential part of your design process when working as a UX designer. Understanding the mental model involved is key to delivering a user experience that’s both helpful and delightful.

That’s where this UX research book comes in. Indi Young, the author of Mental Models, describes how to approach such a user research process in great detail. If you’re up for a design project that involves UX research, this is an essential book that has to be on every reading list.

Best books for UX writing

Text is becoming a more significant part of the user experience every day. That’s why  UX writing  is an integral part of the modern UX designer’s toolbox.

Just think of it like this. One way to communicate is by sending a text message. Every product you use has a form of text (or speech) in one way or another. As a UX writer, you have to be prepared for that.

These books on UX writing can help you learn the skills you need to make communication within your product easy to use and understand.

Strategic Writing for UX: Drive Engagement, Conversion, and Retention with Every Word

Let’s start with the author. Torrey Podmajersky is a very experienced UX writer. He has working experience at multiple big companies like Google and Microsoft.

She believes UX writing is only about the text within the scope of a UX designer. These texts include headings, call-to-actions, and button labels. UX writers work very closely with copywriters and (in part) marketeers. However, it is very much its own specialty.

Strategic Writing for UX takes a close look at common topics within UX writing, like conversational design, what UX writing is (and isn’t), best practices, and how to measure work effectiveness.

The book does so in a transparent and down-to-earth way. As a result, I can recommend this book to UX designers at any experience level.

👉 You can get Strategic Writing for UX on Amazon .

Further reading

I will be updating this reading list whenever I see new UX books that I think will help you become a UX designer. In addition, I’ll be creating follow-up lists focused on specific topics, like UI design books.

In the meantime, I suggest you read more about  becoming a UX designer . After all, theory on UX is an essential part of every UX designer’s toolbox. Reading books is just one part of that.

Some of the links of this page are affiliate links. I might earn a commission if you order through these links. This doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps me run this website.

About the author

Hi! I'm Nick Groeneveld , a senior designer from the Netherlands with experience in UX, visual design, and research. I'm a UX coach that supports other designers and have completed design projects in finance, tech, and the public sector.

☎️ Book a 1:1 mentor meeting or let's connect on LinkedIn and Twitter .

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The Best UX Research Books You Need to Read in 2024

As new trends emerge and consumer needs continue to shift, keeping up to date with the latest thinking, methods, and best practices in UX research will help you stay ahead of the curve. That's where the right books can make all the difference.

Below, you’ll find a list of classics and more recent publications that will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. 

The books we picked cover diverse aspects of UX research, including usability testing, user interviews, quantitative analysis, and mental models, providing you with a comprehensive toolkit to design experiences that truly resonate with users.  ‍

Measure user satisfaction with your product or service using a Net Promoter Score survey :

Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability | Steve Krug

First published in 2000, Don’t Make Me Think remains a definitive guide on web usability that encourages you to understand how users typically interact with websites.

At the heart of Krug's philosophy is the simple yet profound assertion that a well-designed website or product should allow users to achieve their goals easily and efficiently. With a brilliant knack for distilling complex concepts into digestible content, Krug guides the reader through the core principles of user-friendly design.

Don't Make Me Think also serves as a practical guide to usability testing . Krug offers easy-to-follow advice on conducting usability tests, allowing readers to apply the principles he discusses and learn from real-life user interactions.

The revisited edition, published in 2013, offers updated examples and principles as well as a section on mobile usability . 

The Design of Everyday Things | Don Norman

In his bestseller, Don Norman embarks on a mission to decode the mystery behind why some objects please their users while others frustrate them. 

The book is replete with relatable examples from our day-to-day lives, making it easy to grasp the essence of his design principles.

‍ The Design of Everyday Things is far more than a design book; it's an empathetic call to action for creating a world that respects human needs and limitations. It promotes an understanding that effective design isn't about making objects beautiful or flashy but about making users' interactions as intuitive and enjoyable as possible.

Just Enough Research | Erika Hall

In her book, Erika Hall serves up an invaluable primer on the role and execution of research in the design process. Straddling the line between academic theory and real-world application, this book cuts through the fog often associated with the subject, demystifying it with clear, concise guidance.

Hall's central premise is compelling and straightforward: research isn't an add-on or an option; it is an integral part of the design process. She deftly showcases the importance of carrying out just enough research to inform your design decisions and ensure that your product resonates with users.

The book shines in its ability to explain complex concepts in an approachable and relatable manner. Hall's writing style is casual and conversational, which aids in turning a potentially dry topic into an engaging read. 

Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research | Mike Kuniavsky

Observing the User Experience by Mike Kuniavsky is a go-to reference for UX professionals and enthusiasts that offers a holistic and in-depth approach to understanding users' needs and experiences.

From the get-go, Kuniavsky emphasizes the significance of research in the design process. His approach is thoroughly user-centered , underscoring the fact that effective design is not about assumptions, but about understanding actual users and their interactions with your product or service.

The true strength of this book lies in the extensive range of UX research methods and techniques it covers. Kuniavsky doesn't merely gloss over these methods; he provides comprehensive explanations and practical advice on implementing them. From field studies and surveys to diary studies and usability tests, readers are equipped with a robust toolkit that can be adapted to various contexts and needs.

Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights | Steve Portigal

Steve Portigal offers a comprehensive guide to one of the most essential skills in the UX researcher's toolkit: conducting effective user interviews . This book shines a light on the nuances of this seemingly straightforward activity, presenting it as a crucial way to unearth insights that lead to successful products and services.

Portigal delves into the art of user interviews with a level of detail and thoughtfulness. He skillfully navigates the intricacies of planning, conducting, and analyzing interviews, revealing the richness and complexity of this form of research.

The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide | Leah Buley 

The book by Leah Buley is a remarkable resource designed for UX professionals who often find themselves single-handedly managing the entire scope of user experience within an organization. It’s as much a survival guide as it is an empowering manifesto for UX enthusiasts who often grapple with limited resources and a lack of understanding from other teams.

Buley offers practical tips and strategies on how to manage multiple roles, streamline workflows, advocate for UX importance, and create an impact within the organization. Her guidance is pragmatic and actionable, enabling readers to effectively navigate their unique positions.

One of the significant strengths of this book is Buley's practical approach to UX. She presents a wide array of methodologies, techniques, and tools that readers can use, even with constrained resources. These methods cover the entire UX design process from research and ideation to prototyping and usability testing.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan Weinschenk

In her book, Susan Weinschenk explores the intersection between design and psychology, providing designers with a deeper understanding of how people think, feel, and behave.

Each factor is grounded in psychological theory, but the author goes beyond mere theory to show how these principles can be practically applied to design. Weinschenk presents her insights in a list format, with each of the “100 things” serving as a standalone piece of advice or insight. This structure makes the content digestible, enabling readers to dive in and out at their own pace. It also allows for easy reference, making it an invaluable resource for busy designers.

Quantifying the User Experience: Practical Statistics for User Research | Jeff Sauro and James R Lewis

Quantifying the User Experience by Jeff Sauro and James R Lewis takes a subject that can often seem intimidating and inaccessible and makes it understandable and applicable for UX professionals.

The authors do not merely describe statistical methods; they explain why these methods are necessary and how they can be used to enhance the quality and reliability of user research.

They go beyond the numbers, showing readers how to interpret statistical results and how to use these results to guide design decisions and strategies.

Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior | Indi Young

This exceptional guidebook puts human cognition at the forefront of effective design strategy. It introduces mental models as powerful tools to understand users' thoughts and motivations, and ultimately to create products that align with their expectations and needs.

Young's approach to understanding users is revolutionary in its depth. The concept of mental models provides a framework for capturing users' thoughts, emotions, and motivations in various contexts. By mapping these cognitive processes, designers are empowered to create solutions that truly resonate with their audience.

The author guides her readers through the entire process of developing and using mental models, from conducting user interviews and interpreting the results to creating detailed diagrams and using them to inform design strategy.

Mental Models is more than just a book on user experience design; it's a journey into the human mind. It offers an invaluable perspective for designers seeking to understand their users on a deeper level. While it may require a bit more time to consume than other UX resources, the depth of insight it provides is well worth the effort.

The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | Jesse James Garrett

The book offers a comprehensive overview of user experience, providing an insightful guide to the philosophy, methods, and techniques of user-centered design .

Garrett's writing is well-paced and accessible, making it an excellent introduction for beginners, while still providing enough depth to be valuable for experienced professionals. 

The Elements of User Experience covers a broad range of topics, from strategy and scope to structure and surface, taking readers on a journey through each of these layers and detailing their role in creating a cohesive and compelling user experience. 

While the title suggests a focus on web design, the principles and methods Garrett discusses can be applied to any medium. This makes the book a valuable resource for anyone involved in designing user experiences, regardless of their specific area of work.

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Top 5 UX Research Books for 2024

Staying ahead of the curve is the recipe for UX design success. One of the best ways to do discover key ingredients is by diving into the existing wealth of knowledge found in UX research books. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to refine your methodology or a newcomer eager to learn the ropes, the right resources can transform your understanding and practice of UX research. In this article, we’ll explore the best UX research books and resources that are essential reads for anyone looking to excel in UX design in 2024.

The 5 Best UX Research Books for 2024

A quick point before we dive into the list: Userbrain has not been paid to promote any of these books. The following list simply contains some, but not all, of our favorite UX research books here at Userbrain HQ. We truly hope it’s helpful!

Book 1. “User Experience Design: An Introduction to Creating Interactive Digital Spaces” by Mark Wells

Mark Wells presents a foundational masterpiece in “ User Experience Design ,” guiding readers through the intricate process of crafting engaging digital environments.

This book serves as an invaluable resource for designers and creatives eager to master the art of digital user experience design. Wells expertly navigates through essential stages such as data collection, user analysis, testing, and prototyping , ensuring readers are well-equipped to create seamless designs for varied devices and platforms.

With visual examples and global case studies, this book is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to excel in the digital design arena.

Book 2. “Continuous Discovery Habits: Discover Products that Create Customer Value and Business Value” by Teresa Torres

Teresa Torres’ “ Continuous Discovery Habits ” is a revolutionary guide that bridges the gap between creating products that resonate with customers and achieving tangible business outcomes.

Praised by industry leaders like Marty Cagan, this book introduces a structured approach to continuous discovery, empowering readers to act confidently while remaining open to learning from their mistakes.

Torres combines scientific research, real case studies, and her extensive experience to provide practical advice that’s easy to implement. This book is a beacon for product managers and designers seeking to foster a culture of continuous discovery within their teams.

Book 3. “The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide” by Leah Buley

Leah Buley’s “ The User Experience Team of One ” is a survival guide for UX designers navigating the challenges of limited resources and time constraints.

This book is an ode to the resilience and creativity of solo UX practitioners or small teams striving to make a significant impact.

Buley offers a plethora of approaches that are both efficient and effective, from initiating a UX program to gaining organizational support and implementing UX strategies.

Her book is a testament to doing more with less, providing readers with the tools and insights needed to excel as a UX team of one.

Book 4. “Just Enough Research” by Erika Hall

Erika Hall’s “ Just Enough Research ” demystifies the concept that design research is a daunting, time-consuming task only accessible to experts.

Hall, co-founder of Mule Design, presents a compelling argument for integrating research into every stage of the design process.

This book serves as a practical guide, offering a concise overview of research methods that are both accessible and immediately applicable, regardless of your project’s scale or budget constraints.

The second edition brings updated examples and a new chapter on surveys, ensuring readers are equipped with the latest insights and techniques for conducting effective research.

Hall’s emphasis on critical questioning and bias identification makes this book an indispensable resource for creating designs that genuinely meet user needs.

Book 5. “Think Like a UX Researcher” by David Travis and Philip Hodgson

David Travis and Philip Hodgson’s “ Think Like a UX Researcher ” challenges readers to broaden their understanding of UX research beyond conventional methodologies.

This book encourages a strategic approach to product design, focusing on optimizing the user experience at every touchpoint.

It is packed with tools, techniques, and insights that cater to a wide range of professionals from UX researchers to business analysts.

Travis and Hodgson offer a fresh perspective on data analysis, persuading teams to act on research findings and fostering a career in UX.

Their approach to dissecting the quantitative vs. qualitative dichotomy into attitudinal vs. behavioral data provides a robust framework for evaluating evidence strength.

This book is a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice for both novices and seasoned practitioners looking to enhance their UX research skills.

Wrapping Up: The Top 5 UX Research Books for 2024

Each of these five books offers a unique lens through which to view the complex, multifaceted world of UX research. From practical guides to thought-provoking analyses, these resources are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the challenges of user experience design.

Whether you’re looking to build a solid foundation in UX principles, refine your research methodologies, or inspire your team with innovative approaches, these books are invaluable companions on your journey to becoming a more effective UX professional.

Happy reading!

Your next step – start researching!