Book recommendations for 2021 by Innovaccer Design Team
As we step into 2021 our lives would have already changed, people finding new ways to work, students finding new ways to study and each of us finding ways to solve problems. The pandemic is about to end and we hope to start our lives with a new beginning, a new chapter, and a ton of hope.
As we proceed into this new, changed world it's easy to get overwhelmed by it. In the past few months, new technological advances have made our lives so dependable that we are bound to follow it and have forgotten to distant ourselves from it. We have forgotten to take a break. We have forgotten to regenerate!
But before we step back again in our busy lives, let us fill ourselves with some inspiring books that can change the game of how we work, think and reason from now on…
Recommending some books by our design team for all the UXers out there to get inspired and get pumped up before we enter into our so-called ‘Brave new world’.
1. 100 MORE Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People by Susan Weinschenk
Sequel to 100 Things…there are 100 MORE things that Susan wants us to know about people, which are even more essential. It certainly has more to guide us into creating not only better websites, applications or products but also gives us bite-sized insights about how people really behave and interact.
2. Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug
Again, the sequel to don’t make me think comes in very handy at this crucial time of pandemic. Who knew that we’ll have to be self-dependent for almost everything under the sun. But Steve was way ahead of his time and wrote the Rocket Surgery for these unprecedented times. A DIY guide to finding and fixing usability problems that could become a saving grace for many of us.
3. Health design thinking by Bon Ku and Ellen Lupton
Ah! One of its kind. Design thinking for health not only simplifies the nuances of complex issues of the healthcare system but also gives us a peek inside detailed case studies, methodologies, and principles of Health Design Thinking to create better products and services.
4. Information Architecture for the web and beyond by Louis Rosenfeld, Peter Morville & Jorge Arango
As we immerse ourselves into more and more information we need to understand to present information in a way people consume it, use it, make it part of themselves and not just skim to forget about it later. A guide to create better more efficient ecosystems for all UXers out there.
5. Conversational Design by Erika Hall
The name says it all, without a good conversation, everything seems blank and odd. As the book suggests ‘The art of communication can elevate technology’ to a level Erika explains what makes an interaction truly conversational.
6. The Best Interface Is No Interface by Golden Krishna
The author is dead serious about the title of his book. Frustrated to see that people are drowning in their screens and apps, he suggests us to think about an alternative which is way more sophisticated a regular screen.
7. Seductive Interaction design by Stephen P. Anderson
Playful seduction, the subtle art of seduction, the game of seduction it's not what you think it is. In fact, it’s a seduction of interaction design. If only design manages to seduce you imagine how successful your products will become. Get dozens of examples and techniques to make your products successful.
8. The Lean Product Playbook by Dan Olsen
As the name suggests it is more like a playful guide for building products that users love. A step-by-step guide and some expert advice for today’s product creators.
9. Do design: Why beauty is key to everything by Alan Moore
Because people love symmetry, they find it soothing and want to build a picture-perfect life around themselves. The book inspires you to create quality work, adopt simplicity and improve your creative process.
10. Hooked by Nir Eyal
Nir Eyal four-step Hook Model is definitely going to keep you hooked with practical insights on creating products that stick with people. A how-to guide for building better products is written for designers, marketers, entrepreneurs and design enthusiasts who keep digging about how products influence our behavior.
11. Don’t make me think by Steve Krug
A book that gives us common sense on how to approach web usability. One of the most recommended books for all the UXers out there.
12. Design of everyday things by Don Norman
A staple for anyone who is a design enthusiast. It’s an ultimate guide to human-centered design. A foundation to understand design in general and understand how usable design is possible.
13. About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, Christopher Noessel
One of the most essential, comprehensive guides for contemporary interface, interaction, product design methods and much more. An essential resource for all the UXers out there.
What book recommendations you have for the year 2021. Let us know in the comment section below.
