Recommended reading.
Books I recommend to anyone working in or curious about user experience. I update this list regularly. If you have a suggestion, let me know.
UX Fundamentals
The philosophy of UX. I'd recommend this to everyone regardless of industry, as it's written in plain, everyday language.
One of the must-read books about usability and the art of simplifying.
A great overview of interface types and how to design effectively.
A comprehensive encyclopaedia for everything regarding HCI. Not to be read back to back, but invaluable as a reference guide. It was my university's core text and I still return to it.
Covers sketching and prototyping beautifully. No fancy software required.
Research and Testing
Presents the importance of research and how every little bit helps. Provides useful ways to communicate value to stakeholders with clear examples for different research types.
Approaches research holistically: techniques, importance, presentation, and communicating results to stakeholders.
UX and Psychology
How humans think, decide, and remember. A must-read, written in a clear and concise way, for everyone.
One of my favourites. Provides examples, methods, and research-backed recommendations on how to design for humans.
A must-read for anyone interested in habit-forming products. Structured around a clear framework covering internal vs external triggers and the MAT model.
Thanks to this book I'm a proud owner of a Philippe Starck juicer which rests on my bookshelf, as I can't use it for its original purpose. And that's the point.
Expands on the original with even more useful insight into the way people think and decide.
UX at Work
The UX designer's soft skills. I can't recommend this enough to everyone who is either a UX professional or working with one.
Provides a framework to help clients and stakeholders give useful feedback. Real examples across different project types and how to best communicate the design.
UX in Agile and remote teams. Essential for anyone working with a geographically dispersed team or in an Agile environment.
Written from the perspective of a client. Helps both stakeholders understand designers and designers understand stakeholders.