The Top UX Design Books You Need to Read in 2025: Beginner to Expert
The Best UX Design Books for Beginners
UX for Beginners: A Crash Course in 100 Short Lessons by Joel Marsh
Key Take Away: A key thing to come away from this book with is for you to recognize the diversity in user behavior and know why it’s so important for you to design for these variations—a bit like knowing how to address different types of behavior in real life.
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
Key Take Away: A central thing to “get” from The Design of Everyday Things is why user-centered design is such a vital goal, with an emphasis on how design needs to concentrate first on user needs, and Norman shows what he means about this through detailed examples.
User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design are Changing the Way We Live, Work and Play by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant
Key Take Away: Human behaviors, habits, and—ultimately—lifestyles get molded by design, and the authors underline why, as people rely more and more on technology, designers have got to understand these hidden design rules as things that aren’t just fascinating, but crucial to know, too.
Don’t Make Me Think (Revisited) by Steve Krug
Key Take Away: In case you’re after a good, solid, common-sense approach to mobile and web usability and would like concrete examples so you can get how to improve usability and the UX of what you design, then Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think (Revisited) makes a great pick.
Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug
Key Take Away: This book is a practical guide that explains how to conduct usability testing in a simple and effective manner, making it essential reading for anyone who wants to improve their design process.
Top UX Books for Professionals
Lean UX: Applying Lean Principles to Improve User Experience by Jeff Gothelf with Josh Seiden
Key Take Away: Lean UX emphasizes the importance of collaboration and fast iteration, enabling designers and teams to focus on delivering value to users by continuously learning and adapting their designs.
The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz
Key Take Away: Understanding how the abundance of choices can impact user decision-making is crucial for designing user-friendly experiences that simplify decision processes and reduce cognitive load.
UX Magic by Daniel Rosenberg
Key Take Away: Through the exploration of cognitive psychology and persuasive design techniques, this book provides practical insights on how to create magical user experiences that engage and delight users.
Build Better Products: A Modern Approach to Building Successful User-Centered Products by Laura Klein
Key Take Away: By focusing on user research and iterative design, this book offers a comprehensive guide to creating successful products that meet user needs and drive business growth.
Creative Confidence by Tom and David Kelley
Key Take Away: This book explores how design thinking and creativity can be used to solve complex problems and drive innovation, empowering designers to unleash their creative potential.
100 Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People by Susan M. Weinschenk, Ph.D
Key Take Away: By delving into the psychology behind user behavior, this book equips designers with valuable insights that can inform their design decisions and create more effective user experiences.
Essential UI Design Books
UI is Communication by Everett N. McKay
Key Take Away: Emphasizing the importance of clarity and communication in UI design, this book provides practical guidance on how to design interfaces that effectively communicate with users.
Designing with the Mind in Mind by Jeff Johnson
Key Take Away: By exploring how the human mind processes information, this book offers valuable insights for designing intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that align with cognitive principles.
Simple and Usable Web, Mobile, and Interaction Design by Giles Colborne
Key Take Away: Focusing on simplicity and usability, this book provides practical tips and techniques for creating intuitive and effective web, mobile, and interaction designs that enhance user experiences.
Designing Interfaces by Jenifer Tidwell, Charles Brewer and Aynne Valencia
Key Take Away: This comprehensive guide covers a wide range of interface design principles and patterns, offering designers valuable resources for creating user-friendly and consistent interfaces.
UX Research and Strategy Books
The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley
Key Take Away: This book offers practical advice for solo UX practitioners on how to integrate user research and design into their workflow, enabling them to create impactful user experiences with limited resources.
Just Enough Research by Erika Hall
Key Take Away: By emphasizing the value of research in the design process, this book provides guidance on how to conduct effective research that informs design decisions and drives successful outcomes.
Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy by David Travis and Philip Hodgson
Key Take Away: This book explores the intersection of UX research, design, and business strategy, offering insights on how to align user needs with business goals to create valuable and impactful user experiences.
Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology by David C. Evans
Key Take Away: By delving into the psychological aspects of user behavior, this book provides designers with practical strategies for designing user experiences that resonate with users' cognitive and emotional needs.
User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research by Stephanie Marsh
Key Take Away: This book offers practical guidance on how to conduct user research effectively, enabling designers to gather valuable insights that inform their design decisions and drive user-centered solutions.
UX Design Ebooks and Online Resources
The Basics of User Experience Design
This resource provides a foundational overview of UX design principles, processes, and best practices, making it an essential read for beginners looking to enter the field of UX design.
Bright Ideas for User Experience Designers
This ebook offers practical tips and techniques for UX designers to enhance their design skills and create user-friendly experiences that delight users.
Honorable Mention: Another Noteworthy UX Design Book
About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design
Key Take Away: This book offers a comprehensive overview of interaction design principles and best practices, providing designers with valuable insights for creating intuitive and engaging user experiences.
The Take Away
By exploring the diverse range of UX design books—from beginner-level to professional and expert resources—you can enhance your knowledge and skills in the field of user experience design. These books offer valuable insights, practical guidance, and best practices that can empower you to create impactful and user-centered designs that delight users and drive business success. Whether you're just starting out in UX design or looking to advance your expertise, these books provide a wealth of information to support your professional growth and development in the ever-evolving field of UX design.