THE DESIGN OF EVERYDAY THINGS

Don Norman

Have you ever felt stupid trying to open a door the wrong way? Norman's basic argument is that if the user feels stupid, the product is poorly designed. An older book, but well worth the time.

SPRINT

Jake Knapp

A step by step guide to design sprints, this book dives into how we define problems, generate ideas, and rapidly test them.

COLOR

Alexandra Loske

Loske provides a fascinating look at the wide range of color theories that have shaped our understanding and use of color throughout history. The book itself is gorgeous and contains beautiful images of both scientific and artistic explorations of color.

CHANGE BY DESIGN

Tim Brown

Written by the CEO of IDEO, this book breaks down the ideas and processes that make up design thinking. "The mission of design thinking is to translate observations into insights and insights into products and services that will improve lives." (55)

PRINCIPLES

Ray Dalio

Dalio lays out the principles that guide his career and personal life in a straightforward, actionable way. One that's stuck with me: "Create a culture in which it is okay to make mistakes and unacceptable not to learn from them."

THE LAWS OF SIMPLICITY

John Maeda

Achieving simplicity can often feel frustratingly complex. Maeda offers ten practical laws for understanding and achieving meaningful simplicity in design and business.

MISMATCH: HOW INCLUSION SHAPES DESIGN

Kat Holmes

Holmes provides concise insights into the cycles of exclusion that are too often present in our design work, and discusses the importance of making inclusive design an intentional and foundational part of our work.

DISCUSSING DESIGN

Adam Connor & Aaron Irizarry

When done well, design critiques provide helpful, specific feedback that improves the effectiveness of the design in achieving its goals. This book has lots of practical guidelines and actionable tips.