Essential UI/UX Book List for Aspiring Designers

The author shares a curated list of design books that are especially useful for newcomers to UI/UX and for those considering a career switch into design.

《在你身边，为你设计》

This book is not highly rated by many, and some criticize it for lacking practical guidance for beginners, but the author recommends it as an approachable introduction to UI and user‑experience thinking. It compiles articles from Tencent’s CDC team and provides familiar examples such as QQ, making it a solid entry‑level resource.

《设计心理学》

Although some find the book vague and unrelated to design, the author found it valuable after revisiting it two years later, recognizing how design psychology deeply influences user experience. The book collects stories that encourage rational thinking rather than blindly copying patterns.

“A poorly designed garage door caused a thief to spend days trapped, yet he successfully sued the homeowner for the design flaw.” The author uses this anecdote to illustrate the importance of thoughtful design.

《众妙之门》

This classic work, often cited for UI‑related heuristics such as the “duck test,” the “0123 rule,” and the “80/20 principle,” provides many actionable guidelines that can be directly applied in future design projects.

《设计中的设计》

Written by renowned designer 原研哉, this book initially felt abstract and overly focused on aesthetics, but later readings revealed its deeper emphasis on problem‑solving, energy saving, and practical service design. It encourages designers to think beyond visual appeal.

《照相馆的故事》

An older, now‑out‑of‑print Photoshop 6.0 tutorial book that served as the author’s introduction to Photoshop. Despite its age, it offers engaging, hands‑on learning that helped the author develop a genuine interest in visual creation.