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The Top UX Design Books You Need to Read in 2024: Beginner to Expert

In the digital landscape, user experience (UX) design holds a pivotal role. Every pixel, every interaction, and every piece of visual communication online is an element of UX design. 

UX design shapes the user experience and determines the success of businesses in this connected era.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an aspiring designer, it is essential to stay up-to-date with industry best practices.  UX design is constantly evolving  and demands constant learning. One of the most efficient ways to acquire this knowledge is through reading. Books written by experts in the field can: 

Provide a solid foundation.

Equip you with fresh ideas.

Challenge you to think in new ways.

We've curated a list of the most influential UI/UX design books to read in 2024. We structured our UX design book recommendations to accommodate different levels of expertise. We’ll start with beginners and gradually escalate to advanced UX design books. We've also made sure to encompass different areas of UX, from design and research to strategy.

So, let’s get started!

The Best UX Design Books for Beginners

Starting your UX design journey may seem intimidating, but these carefully selected beginner UX books will guide you from novice to skilled beginner in no time.

UX for Beginners: A Crash Course in 100 Short Lessons by Joel Marsh

© Joel Marsh, Fair Use

"UX for Beginners" is a comprehensive yet entertaining guide for anyone interested in user experience (UX) design. This book covers the fundamentals of UX across 100 self-contained, engaging lessons. 

It strays from dry, technical material and, instead, adopts Marsh's unique snarky humor to teach UX in a simple and practical manner. So, we highly recommend this book. It's an excellent resource for non-designers aspiring to become designers, managers teaching UX, and professionals from other fields seeking to understand UX design better.

Key Takeaway 

A key takeaway from this book is recognizing the diversity in user behavior and the importance of designing for these variations, akin to addressing differing behaviors in real life. Marsh’s practical, humor-infused approach makes this a quick and enjoyable read, perfect to consume in one sitting.

“Everything has a user experience. Your job is not to create the user experience. Your job is to make it good.” ― Joel Marsh

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

© Don Norman , Fair Use

Don Norman’s seminal work will fundamentally change your perspective on the world around you. Through examining everything from doors to software, Norman reveals the power of good design and the frustration of poor design.

While the term “UX design” may have been recently coined, the underlying principles date back thousands of years.

© Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 4.0

Don Norman's "The Design of Everyday Things" underscores the importance of user-centered design – a concept he helped popularize. He emphasizes that design should primarily focus on user needs rather than secondary factors like aesthetics . He illustrates the outcomes of adhering to or straying from this user-focused approach through detailed examples.

“Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible.” — Don Norman

In this video, Don Norman explains why design is “hot”!

• Transcript loading…

User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design are Changing the Way We Live, Work and Play by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant

© Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant, Fair Use

"User Friendly" by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant explores how design principles subtly shape our daily lives and the world around us. The authors weave a historical narrative and chart the evolution of user-experience design from a niche concept to a universal reality in our digital age. They reveal the hidden impact of design on societal shifts, from major historical events to the dawn of the digital era.

Key Takeaway

This book sheds light on the often unnoticed role of user-experience design in our interactions with technology. Kuang and Fabricant underline the importance of design in making technology intuitive and user-friendly and its influence on molding our behaviors, habits, and, ultimately, our lifestyle. They stress that as we become more reliant on technology, understanding these hidden design rules is not just fascinating, but crucial.

“You have to know why people behave as they do—and design around their foibles and limitations, rather than some ideal.” ― Cliff Kuang,

Don’t Make Me Think (Revisited) by Steve Krug

© Steve Krug, Fair Use

Steve Krug presents a common-sense approach to mobile and web usability with his engaging writing style. He focuses on functional aspects of design rather than form, offering concrete examples to improve usability and enhance the user experience.

Steve Krug's "Don't Make Me Think" underscores the power of simplicity and consistency in web design . He advocates for intuitive, skim-friendly interfaces and emphasizes the importance of user testing . Krug suggests that, while creativity is important, it shouldn't compromise the expected consistency unless it enhances the user experience.

“Usability is about people and how they understand and use things, not about technology.” — Steve Krug

Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug

Regarded as the companion to "Don't Make Me Think," Krug's book provides a practical guide to usability testing . He emphasizes the importance of early and frequent testing, making problem identification and resolution a seamless part of your design process.

This book guides readers through the practical aspects of user testing. It highlights the importance of choosing the right participants, crafting effective tasks, and maintaining neutrality during the process. It also uncovers compelling insights from users. Krug offers a comprehensive roadmap to conduct effective user research .

“ You’re not interested in what it takes to uncover most of the problems; you only care about what it takes to uncover as many problems as you can fix .” ― Steve Krug, Rocket Surgery Made Easy

HCI expert Prof. Alan Dix talks about the three guidelines of usability:

Top UX Books for Professionals 

UX design demands a profound understanding of design principles and an analytical mindset. Here are the best UX books that will offer experienced professionals fresh perspectives, deeper insights, and the tools to drive impactful change.

Lean UX: Applying Lean Principles to Improve User Experience by Jeff Gothelf with Josh Seiden

© Jeff Gothelf with Josh Seiden, Fair Use

"Lean UX"  covers principles, tactics and techniques to incorporate design into Agile teams. It underscores the importance of collaborative projects focusing on solving user problems instead of merely adding new features. Gothelf's work encourages you to reflect on your role within the organization and the overall UX strategy.

This book dives into lean and agile principles in UX design. It promotes teamwork in product development, urging frequent feedback and short design cycles. "Lean UX" focuses on crafting an excellent user experience and shifting the focus from merely producing deliverables. Thus, it fosters a beneficial shift in the design process.

“Our goal is not to create a delivery, it's to change something in the world – to create an outcome.” — Jeff Gothelf with Josh Seiden

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz

© Barry Schwartz, Fair Use

Through "The Paradox of Choice," Schwartz contends that while the abundance of choice may appear beneficial, it often leads to frustration and dissatisfaction. This book challenges the conventional wisdom that more is better. It argues for limiting choices to increase user satisfaction. If you understand how people think, you can make your designs better by focusing on what users need, not just what they want.

This book conveys that an abundance of options can lead to decision paralysis and lower user satisfaction. It suggests that "good enough" often trumps the "absolute best." "The Paradox of Choice" urges you to create experiences that satisfy users' needs rather than overwhelm them with excessive choices. This can enhance decision-making ease and user contentment.

“People choose not on the basis of what’s most important, but on what’s easiest to evaluate.” — Barry Schwartz

Build Better Products: A Modern Approach to Building Successful User-Centered Products by Laura Klein 

© Laura Klein, Fair Use

"Build Better Products" offers a comprehensive guide for all aspects of product development . It is valuable for product managers and anyone involved in creating a new product. Klein's step-by-step approach considers every potential scenario in the product development journey and even includes advice on team building. Her approach ensures that readers understand user experience design and product engineering in-depth.

The book provides a holistic framework for product management that is both practical and extensive. It encourages readers to step out of their comfort zone as it provides insights into various aspects of product development that they might not have explored before. Klein's advice on team building is particularly valuable as it recognizes the vital role of a well-coordinated team in the successful development and launch of a product.

“Trying new things constantly and then abandoning them without further study or work is not iterating. That’s flailing.” ― Laura Klein

Creative Confidence by Tom and David Kelley

© Tom Kelly and David Kelly, Fair Use

"Creative Confidence" debunks the "creativity myth"—that people are born creative. It empowers readers to tap into their inherent potential to create change. The authors share inspiring stories from their work at IDEO and teach you how to leverage everyday annoyances as design opportunities.

The book emphasizes the value of practice, empathy , curiosity, an abundance of ideas, and resilience in fostering creativity. It encourages the reader to view the world with fresh eyes and adopt an "abundance mentality." You must treat creativity as a flexible muscle that benefits from regular exercise and teamwork.

“That combination of thought and action defines creative confidence: the ability to come up with new ideas and the courage to try them out.” ― Tom Kelley

100 Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People by Susan M. Weinschenk, Ph.D

© Susan M. Weinschenk, Fair Use

Serving as a comprehensive reference guide, "100 Things Every Designer Needs To Know About People" delves into the basics of how people see, think, read, and what motivates them. It provides valuable insights and tactics from cognitive, social, and perceptual psychology research for creating successful UX designs.

The book teaches that effective design stems from understanding human behavior and motivations. It applies psychology and neuroscience research to user-centric design. Thus, it offers practical advice on creating intuitive, accessible digital and physical products for varied audiences. You’ll also find techniques to create compelling user experiences and get higher conversion rates.

“To design a product or Web site that persuades people to take a certain action, you need to know the unconscious motivations of your target audience.” ― Susan M. Weinschenk

Essential UI Design Books

UI design is an integral part of product development. It requires both artistic creativity and technical understanding. Here are some prominent books that will serve as useful resources for your UI design journey:

UI is Communication by Everett N. McKay

© Everett McKay, Fair Use

"UI is Communication" is a practical guide that focuses on UI design as an objective communication tool rather than aesthetics. The book draws a parallel between user interfaces and conversations, providing useful methods for real-world design challenges.

This book stands out for its rich, varied examples, easily digestible layout with bolded keywords, and inclusion of humor through comics. It goes beyond UI, discussing user-centered design and UX techniques. Suitable for diverse roles, it remains current, even exploring mobile conventions.

“If your product solves real problems, has a simple, intuitive interaction and an appealing, easy-to-read visual design , yet people aren’t using it, chances are your product is failing to communicate at a human level.” ― Everett N. McKay

Designing with the Mind in Mind by Jeff Johnson

© Jeff Johnson, Fair Use

"Designing with the Mind in Mind" explores perceptual and cognitive psychology and how it can inform effective UI design. It provides insights into human decision-making, hand-eye coordination, color perception, and memory, offering a strong foundation for user-centric design.

The book imparts essential perceptual and cognitive psychology insights to UI designers. It enables them to understand and intuitively apply design rules rather than blindly follow them. The book helps designers make informed decisions, even in challenging situations like trade-offs, time limits, or resource constraints.

“Engineering does not replace art in a design, it makes it possible.” ― Jeff Johnson

Evil by Design by Chris Nodder

© Chris Nodder, Fair Use

Nodder's work unravels the psychological aspects used in persuasive design techniques. The book dissects real website examples and displays how companies (and designers)  leverage UI design patterns and human psychology to trick people for commercial advantages.

The book uncovers the dark side of design. It reveals how some designers exploit users' vulnerabilities to enhance conversion rates. "Evil by Design" will help you  become aware of, and resist manipulative strategies. 

“It’s ok to deceive people if it’s in their best interests or if they’ve given implicit consent to be deceived as part of a persuasive strategy.”  — Chris Nodder

Simple and Usable Web, Mobile, and Interaction Design by Giles Colborne

© Giles Colborne, Fair Use

As the title suggests, "Simple and Usable Web, Mobile, and Interaction Design" is a practical guide to achieving simplicity in UI design. It focuses on removing, organizing, concealing, and displacing features and UI elements to enhance the user experience.

Simplicity and usability are crucial to a product's success. Giles Colborne presents four strategies (remove, hide, organize and displace) to achieve this simplicity. The book emphasizes that products that are the simplest to use often win customers.

“The better and longer way is to describe the experience I want the users to have. That means describing the users’ world and how my design fits in.” ― Giles Colborne

Designing Interfaces by Jenifer Tidwell, Charles Brewer and Aynne Valencia

© Jenifer Tidwell, Charles Brewer and Aynne Valencia, Fair Use

"Designing Interfaces" is essentially a comprehensive catalog of various UI patterns . It documents the best practices for each pattern's usage. It's a practical resource, particularly beneficial for those beginning their UI design journey.

This book  compiles common interaction design patterns used across web and desktop environments. The book adeptly navigates between generic and specific advice. It serves as a valuable reference for designers keen on creating effective user-facing software. “Good design can’t be reduced to a recipe.” – Jenifer Tidwell

Here’s UX designer and co-founder of HYPE 4, Michal Malewicz with more on the importance of UI design.

UX Research and Strategy Books

UX research plays a crucial role in understanding users' needs, behaviors, and motivations. For experienced professionals seeking to delve deeper, here are five noteworthy books on UX research:

The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley

© Leah Buley, Fair Use

"The User Experience Team of One" is perfect for those seeking effective UX research with fewer UX design resources. Buley drew from her experiences at notable firms such as Publicis Sapient and InVision to write this book. She provides practical tips and techniques to guide readers through the entire design process and help quantify the user experience. 

Buley offers a valuable breakdown of different design phases. These design phases include planning, researching, designing, testing, and evangelism. The emphasis on outputs, inviting review, and fostering collaboration is particularly insightful. This book provides clear direction and suggests a focus point at the end of each chapter: If you can only do one of these, do X.

“Design is the act of creating new solutions under constrained circumstances, whether those constraints are aesthetic, technological, or resource-driven. That may sound like a restriction, but actually it’s a gift. Constraints, in the end, are a designer’s friend.” — Leah Buley

Just Enough Research by Erika Hall

© Erika Hall, Fair Use

Co-founder of Mule Design Studios , Erika Hall, shares her wealth of knowledge in "Just Enough Research." It aims to improve questioning and critical thinking in research. Hall covers a wide range of topics and offers useful methods for better and faster research.

This book is an exhaustive yet approachable introduction to the multifaceted world of design research. This practical guide, peppered with humor and valuable tips, covers a wide range of topics beyond traditional user interviews and usability testing . Despite being short and concise, it prompts thoughtful reflections and questions about design research methodologies.

“You can optimize everything and still fail, because you have to optimize for the right things. That's where reflection and qualitative approaches come in. By asking why, we can see the opportunity for something better beyond the bounds of the current best. Even math has its limits.” ― Erika Hall

Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy by David Travis and Philip Hodgson

© David Travis and Philip Hodgson, Fair Use

With a combined 50 years of UX research experience, Travis and Hodgson provide invaluable insights into UX research planning, data analysis, and team persuasion. The book includes thought-provoking exercises and stories from experienced researchers.

This book offers a solid overview of UX principles. It reinforces best practices and introduces new tools you can apply to future projects. Its unique feature is the summary of each topic with brief questions and exercises, such as the SCAMPER example. These exercises prompt critical thinking and remind readers that UX approaches should be adaptable and tailored to individual projects. It's an informative read that encourages questioning and flexibility in UX design.

“Companies say they value great design. But they assume that to do great design they need a rock star designer. But great design doesn’t live inside designers. It lives inside your users’ heads. You get inside your users heads by doing good UX research: research that provides actionable and testable insights into users’ needs.” ― David Travis

In this video, CEO of Experience Dynamics, Frank Spillers urges designers to “get out of the building” before designing anything.

Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology by David C. Evans

© David C. Evans, Fair Use

In this book, Evans links cognitive psychology with UX design principles. He explores the psychological processes that influence design success and shares hypotheses for research to meet user needs more effectively.

The key takeaway from this book is that understanding human psychological constraints is crucial for effective UX design. This book explains how to align digital designs with inherent bottlenecks in human nature. It provides case studies and strategies for marketing and product development in the social media age. Also, it highlights the vital role of behaviorism, development, personality, and social psychology in UX design.

“Bottlenecks brings together two very important aspects of user experience design: understanding users and translating this into business impact. A must-read for anyone who wants to learn both.”  – Josh Lamar, Sr. UX Lead, Microsoft Outlook

User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research by Stephanie Marsh

© Stephanie Marsh, Fair Use

Marsh, a seasoned UX researcher, offers insights into implementing UX research effectively within an organization. The book provides practical advice on the most up-to-date  user research methods and data interpretation techniques.

This book provides a detailed, hands-on approach to user research. Marsh discusses the optimal timing for research implementation and showcases how a deep understanding of users can improve product and service design .

“ This book offers a comprehensive overview of how to be a great user researcher and explains exactly how to plan, run and debrief impactful user research. This new edition is right up to date with modern research needs for ethical data handling, and operationalising research. An essential handbook for new and experienced researchers to keep by their side!” — Steve Bromley, Principal User Researcher at Reach PLC

UX Design Ebooks and Online Resources

We understand that your time is precious, and flipping through lengthy books may not always be feasible. So, we've got you covered! Here are five ebooks and online resources that provide excellent UX advice and insights:

The Basics of User Experience Design

The Interaction Design Foundation's comprehensive guide covers the fundamental aspects of UX design. Over nine chapters, readers can learn about conducting user interviews, design thinking , interaction design, mobile UX design , usability, UX research, and more. Get this free ebook here . 

This e-book will help you understand the user-centered design process. It’ll provide practical knowledge of various UX methods and techniques, and insights into modern UX design trends.

Bright Ideas for User Experience Designers

© Userfocus, Fair Use

Userfocus’s e-book offers a friendly and memorable approach to UX design concepts. From improving usability to mastering prototypes, the eBook illuminates key aspects of UX design with real-world examples. It also shares essential tips for writing support material, error communication, and even creating a compelling UX vision. 

This e-book delivers valuable insights into various aspects of user experience design. It helps you learn practical strategies for improving usability, efficient prototyping to create a user experience vision, and enhanced communication of errors. It also provides useful tips for writing user manuals and understanding the significance of "alt" text.

UX Design Trends Bundle

© UXPin, Fair Use

Compiled by UXPin, this bundle contains three e-books covering web and mobile UI design trends. This resource provides a comprehensive analysis of over 300 designs and is a great way to stay updated with the latest trends. You can download the ebooks from the UXPin website.

This e-book talks about key aspects of UX design. It provides insights into current design trends and showcases examples of superior designs. Furthermore, it encourages readers to contemplate the future trajectory of UX design. Its lessons prepare you to innovate, adapt, and create exceptional user experiences.

UX Storytellers: Connecting the Dots

© UX Storytellers, Fair Use

This e-book , published in 2009, offers timeless insights into the world of UX design. It contains anecdotes and advice from 42 UX professionals and provides a holistic view of the field. 

This e-book talks about common UX hurdles and shares practical ways to navigate them. It also highlights the crucial role of storytelling in design. It sheds light on the power of storytelling to create engaging and captivating user experiences.

GET INTO UX: A Foolproof Guide to Getting Your First User Experience Job

© Vy Alechnavicius, Fair Use

"Get Into UX" by Vytautas Alechnavicius is an illuminating guide aimed at equipping both aspiring and experienced designers with the necessary tools to secure their first UX job. Given the booming UX field and the influx of new talent, the book addresses the challenges that young designers face when trying to find jobs and offers a foolproof roadmap to breaking into the UX field. It comprehensively tackles various facets of UX, from understanding the fundamentals to building a strong portfolio, and provides actionable strategies to set up a successful UX career.

This e-book emphasizes the importance of truly understanding UX beyond the surface level. It sets up your UX career with a long-term perspective and practical tools to ace portfolios, resumes, and interviews. The book also underscores the significance of continuous learning and practice in navigating the evolving UX landscape. 

Learn from Great Design

© Tom Kenny, Fair use

This e-book by web designer Tom Kenny provides an in-depth analysis of high-quality web designs. Although only a portion of it is available for free, the e-book provides valuable insights into what makes a design effective. 

The book primarily teaches the essentials of top-notch web design. It offers practical examples for better understanding and prompts self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement in your own work.

These e-books and UX resources are a wealth of knowledge for both new and experienced UX designers , offering a range of insights into the ever-evolving field of user experience design.

Honorable Mentions: More Noteworthy UX Design Books

Universal principles of design by william lidwell, kritina holden and jill butler.

© William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler, Fair Use

"Universal Principles of Design" by William Lidwell is a comprehensive UX design textbook. With Lidwell's extensive research background, the book underlines the science of design, providing well-curated data to aid the understanding of design principles. It covers every facet of the design spectrum, from usability to human behavior.

Key takeaways from the book are its solid grounding in UX design principles, which can be revisited anytime for insight. Furthermore, the book explores all design aspects to broaden a designer's perspective in their field and across various design disciplines. This broad-based approach makes it a rich source of inspiration for designers, regardless of their expertise.

A Project Guide to UX Design: For user experience designers in the field or in the making by Russ Unger & Carolyn Chandler

© Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler, Fair Use

"A Project Guide to UX Design" by Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler is an invaluable handbook for UX designers handling the complexity of design projects. It covers various skills, from understanding stakeholders ' roles to conducting user research to SEO and persona creation.

This book imparts wisdom without prescribing a specific framework. It's a guide that gives you a firm grasp of what you need to know and what you should be cautious about in UX design. It's gained considerable popularity for being a reliable companion in challenging times for UX designers.

Writing Is Designing: Words and the User Experience by Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle

© Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle, Fair use

"Writing Is Designing" advocates for UX writers' critical yet often overlooked role in a product's development. Initially, the book emphasizes the importance of acknowledging UX writers in the design team. It then addresses practical challenges such as strategizing in a project setting and implementing best practices for UX writing.

This book serves as an essential guide for those already versed in UX design and looking to integrate UX writing effectively into their workflows. It not only underlines the significance of UX writing but also provides practical insights to navigate the complexities of UX writing in the design process.

About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design

© Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, and Christopher Noessel, Fair Use

"About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design" by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, and Christopher Noessel is an esteemed text in the realm of interaction design. Revered as a UX bible, the book extensively explores creating intuitive and user-friendly designs. Cooper, known as the "Father of Visual Basic," introduces his goal-directed design method in the book. It emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and behaviors to construct a design that genuinely serves those needs.

This book provides a deeper understanding of the three Ps (principles, patterns, and processes) and the invaluable addition of the fourth P – practice. Cooper's insights into team dynamics and the unique roles of "generators" and "synthesizers" in design teams offer readers valuable guidance on creating and managing successful UX design teams. Also, the book presents Cooper's strategy for hiring designers to provide a comprehensive view of interaction design from conception to execution.

The Take Away

Staying on top of the latest UX and UI design tools is key to thriving in the fast-paced digital world. From grasping the fundamentals of stellar web design to identifying room for improvement in your own work, the insights shared in this piece can significantly enhance your skills.

This piece serves as an evergreen resource designed to support your continuous growth in UX and UI design. As trends evolve and the best books to learn UI UX design change, we'll be updating the content to ensure it remains relevant and valuable for your learning journey.

For those just beginning their journey or seasoned professionals looking to refine their skills, our range of courses caters to all levels. Embark on your learning adventure with our beginner UX courses today.

And if you're ready to excel in your current role or preparing for the next, consider enrolling in our intermediate courses . It's time to upskill, stay competitive, and propel your career to new heights! Start today and shape the digital experiences of tomorrow.

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Aug 9, 2022

11 UX research books to streamline your process & improve your skills

UX research and design is a fast-moving industry—keep up with the latest developments and further your UX knowledge with these 11 hand-picked UX books.

Ella Webber

Improving and developing your product requires that you also continuously improve and develop your own knowledge and skills. With the right resources, you’re always learning— about your product, your users, and how to synthesize both.

UX research looks into how users interact with your product, and how you can improve the experience from start to finish. Good UX research uncovers issues before they arise, and enables you to make informed decisions to provide the best user experience possible.

Continually learning and broadening your research horizons is an absolute must for improving your UX research skills and developing as a UX designer.

These 11 books—plus four bonus reads—provide key insights into UX research, and highlight the ways you can approach design for your product. Let’s take a look at your reading list:

• The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide | Leah Buley
• Just Enough Research | Erika Hall
• Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy | David Travis & Philip Hodgson
• Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology | David C. Evans
• User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research | Stephanie Marsh
• Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests | Jeffrey Rubin and Dana Chisnell
• Quantifying the User Experience: Practical Statistics for User Research | Jeff Sauro and James R. Lewis
• Interviewing Users: Uncover Compelling Insights | Steve Portigal
• Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior | Indi Young
• Usable Usability: Simple Steps for Making Stuff Better | Eric Reiss
• 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan Weinschenk

11 Best UX research books to improve your researching skills

1. the user experience team of one: a research and design survival guide | leah buley.

The User Experience Team of One | Leah Buley

Leah Buley’s User Experience Team of One focuses on conducting UX research with fewer resources and less time than a traditional UX team. It’s the go-to book for practical UX research tips and techniques on a budget.

In this book, Buley shares her knowledge from many years in the experience design industry, during which she worked in key user experience roles at Publicis Sapient, InVision, and Intuit. Her professional career has consisted of researching and analyzing what makes design teams successful, and design’s overall role in a business.

The book guides readers from the very start of the design process—getting everyone onboard—to the very end—testing and validation methods. The book also includes a chapter on evangelism methods—for advocating for design and inspiring others—as well as next steps following your research.

Published 2013 | Buy the book | $39.39

2. Just Enough Research | Erika Hall

Next up is Erika Hall’s Just Enough Research —the guide to asking better questions and thinking critically about the responses. It’s one of two books written by Erika Hall, who shares her 20+ years of knowledge as Co-Founder of Mule Design Studios. In Just Enough Research, Erika shares the tried and tested UX research methods you can implement right away, no matter your team size or budget.

Just Enough Research covers the basics and the process, as well as topics like organizational research, user and customer research, evaluative research, surveys, and more. The book aims to help you uncover your own blind spots and biases, while understanding and harnessing your findings in order to do better research, faster.

Published 2013 | Buy the book | $29

🎧 Find out more about Erika and her thoughts on the relationship between design and business on The Optimal Path Podcast .

3. Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy | David Travis & Philip Hodgson

Think Like a UX Researcher | David Travis & Philip Hodgson

Think Like a UX Researcher is a dive-in-anywhere book that looks to challenge the preconceptions you have about UX research. It looks at how you can plan and conduct UX research, analyze data, persuade teams to take action, and ultimately build a career in UX.

It includes some stand-out features, including thought triggers and exercises to test your UX knowledge, workshop ideas to strengthen your team’s UX muscles, and stories from experienced researchers detailing how you can implement UX research methods in your organization.

With over 50 years of UX research experience between them, Travis and Hodgson know a thing or two about investigating the user experience. It’s an insightful read for finding tools, inspiration and ideas to rejuvenate your thinking, inspire your team, and improve your craft.

Published 2019 | Buy the book | $45.56

4. Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology | David C. Evans

Bottlenecks | David C. Evans

David Evans’ Bottlenecks: Aligning UX Design with User Psychology connects cognitive psychology to explain the dos and don’ts of UX design. The book analyzes key concepts—such as perception and attention—on a psychological level before linking it back to UX design to uncover the best design for users.

Evans holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and currently works as a Senior Manager of Customer Research at Microsoft. In Bottlenecks , Evans shares the psychological processes impacting design success, before and after examples of pages enhanced by psychological alignments, and hypotheses for research to help better meet user needs.

The book promises to help designers, usability and user researchers, marketers and entrepreneurs with strategies for marketing and product development in the age of behavioral targeting. It’s essential reading for UX researchers and designers interested in learning more about the relationship between psychology and user experience design.

Published 2017 | Buy the book | $27.46

5. User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research | Stephanie Marsh

User Research | Stephanie Marsh

Stephanie Marsh’s User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research is key reading for marketing and product leaders looking to implement UX research in their organization. It looks at key UX research methods—such as user testing, card sorting, surveys, A/B testing, and more—as well as how to interpret and analyze obtained data.

Marsh is an experienced UX researcher who’s dived into the user experience at a number of different organizations, including User Experience Manager at HSBC and User Experience Lead at the UK Ministry of Defence. They’re now UX Research Operations Lead at Springer Nature Group.

The book consists of 30 chapters separated into three main sections: the fundamentals, selecting and using user research methods, and analyzing and presenting your data. User Research is a practical guide that walks readers through the wide array of user research methods and how to use them.

Published 2022 | Buy the book | $40.27

6. Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests | Jeffrey Rubin and Dana Chisnell

Handbook of Usability Testing | Jeffrey Rubin and Dana Chisnell

The Handbook of Usability Testing is a great intro into the tools and techniques necessary to create effective usability tests. It’s a practical guide for usability testing beginners, and a useful resource for teams looking to take UX research to the next level.

Both Rubin and Chisnell have ample experience in the UX research space, with a specific focus on usability testing. Rubin’s experience comes from 30 years as a human factors and usability research consultant and lecturer, and Chisnell’s from a career as a usability, user interface design, and technical communications consultant since 1982.

This UX research book dives deep into usability testing, including a rigorous step-by-step approach, common pitfalls to avoid, real-life examples and case histories, and usable templates, models, tables, and more.

Published 2008 | Buy the book | $20.79

7. Quantifying the User Experience: Practical Statistics for User Research | Jeff Sauro and James R. Lewis

Quantifying the User Experience | Jeff Sauro & James R. Lewis

Quantifying the User Experience is the ideal book for UX researchers looking to further their UX research know-how. It’s a practical guide for using statistics to solve quantitative problems in user research.

Both Sauro and Lewis are internationally recognized in the user research field. Sauro is a pioneer in quantifying the user experience, and is the founding principal of MeasuringU—a company providing statistics and usability consulting to Fortune 1000 companies. Lewis is a Senior Human Factors Engineer at IBM, where he primarily focuses on the design and evaluation of user interfaces.

In their book, Sauro and Lewis discuss ways to quantify user research, summarize data and calculate margins of error, select appropriate sample sizes, and more. Each chapter includes a final summary of key points and references, as well as a set of problems and answers to test your knowledge.

Published 2012 | Buy the book | $56.32

8. Interviewing Users: Uncover Compelling Insights | Steve Portigal

Interviewing Users | Steve Portugal

Interviewing Users is a staple read for any marketers, product people, or UX researchers looking to improve their user interviewing skills. The book provides invaluable interviewing techniques and tools that enable readers to conduct informative interviews with anyone.

Portigal has over 20 years of experience building user experience practices and interviewing a wide variety of people. In 2001, he founded Portigal Consulting, where he helps organizations bring insights about their users into their design and development processes.

Interviewing Users aims to turn your interviews from simply gathering information, into uncovering powerful insights about people. It includes tips on embracing how others see the world and building rapport during interviews, as well as templates, samples, and presentations.

Published 2013 | Buy the book | $36.48

9. Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior | Indi Young

Mental Models | Indi Young

Indi Young’s Mental Models is a UX design book that highlights how understanding people’s reasons for doing things can help you build better experiences. The book is informed by Indi’s 30 years of experience in the design field, during which she co-founded the pioneering UX agency Adaptive Minds in 2001.

Mental Models shares Indi’s 29+ years of research experience, and how great research limits the risk further along in the design process. The book starts with a brief guide on how to use the book, before outlining three main sections: What, Why, When, and Who?, The Method, and Applications.

In these sections, Young delves into the importance of understanding your research reasons and audience, and how to go about conducting comprehensive user research.

It’s a roll-up-your-sleeves book for designers, managers, and anyone else interested in making strategic and successful designs. It helps UX designers and researchers better understand the importance of human psychology in design, and enables you to deepen your understanding of what makes designs outstanding.

Published 2008 | Buy the book | $43.89

10. Usable Usability: Simple Steps for Making Stuff Better | Eric Reiss

Usable Usability | Eric Reiss

UX guru Eric Reiss shares his decades of experience making products usable for everyone. Reiss’ experience as an information architecture specialist led him to his current role as CEO and Chairman of The FatDUX Group—DUX being an abbreviation for Designers of User Experience.

Usable Usability equips designers with guidelines and checklists for evaluating and improving products, highlights essential aspects for building the user experience, and addresses considerations for product clarity.

The book separates usability into 10 chapters that cover key considerations for UX design:

• Understandable
• Predictable

The 11th chapter then focuses on next steps, such as guerilla-style usability and formalized think-aloud tests. While not explicitly a UX research book, it’s a great reminder to UX designers of the basic design principles to keep in mind—and how to apply those in everyday UX design.

Published 2012 | Buy the book | $26.63

11. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan Weinschenk

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan M. Weinschenk

Last up is Susan Weinschenk’s 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People.

Designers create with actions in mind—actions they want users to take upon interacting with the design. This book arms UX researchers and designers with insights and knowledge that enable them to build intuitive designs that consider human behavior and encourage users to take action.

Since 1985, Susan Weinschenk has been using her Ph.D. in psychology to contribute to the field of design and user experience. Weinshenk has published a total of five books relating to design, and currently works as Chief Behavioral Scientist and CEO at The Team W, Inc.

The book covers key considerations for designers and researchers alike, such as what keeps someone’s attention, what makes memories stick, how to predict the type of errors humans will make, and much more.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know connects human nature to UX to enable researchers to understand users with little guesswork. It’s about what makes people tick, and why it should matter to you.

Published 2011 | Buy the book | $25.98

12. Bonus Mention: The Ultimate Guide to UX Research | Maze

• The Ultimate Guide to UX Research | Maze

Our bonus mention—and a go-to resource for UX designers and developers—is The Ultimate Guide to UX Research . Of course we’re biased, but it’s a must-read for all teams looking to conduct user research—whether that’s product or marketing.

The guide is a great resource for those looking to better understand anything and everything about UX research. It simplifies the process for non-UX researchers and enables anyone to learn what it takes to conduct effective UX research.

The guide includes:

• How to create a research plan
• Generative research: Definition, methods, and examples
• Evaluative research: Definition, methods, and types
• Qualitative and quantitative research
• UX Research methods
• UX Research tools

It’s the perfect resource for turning a research idea into a research reality—regardless of your and your team’s experience.

Read The Ultimate Guide to UX Research online

4 More books to help you on your UX journey

If you consider the above 11 books your mandatory reading, consider this list your optional—but highly recommended—reading list. They’re not solely about UX design and research, but they’re packed full of strategies to help you sharpen your UX design tools.

1. The Lean Product Playbook | Dan Olsen

The Lean Product Playbook | Dan Olsen

The Lean Product Playbook is a how-to guide for creating products that people love. Dan Olsen writes from his experience working with a variety of organizations, from small, early-stage startups to large public companies.

Many product managers, CEOs, and founders cite The Lean Product Playbook as a key resource when starting their journeys to building useful and successful products. It’s a practical, step-by-step process for implementing lean techniques from the get-go.

The book is split into three parts:

• Core concepts
• The lean product process

It’s a can’t-miss book for designing products that people love.

Published 2015 | Buy the book | $35

2. Thinking, Fast and Slow | Daniel Kahneman

Thinking, Fast and Slow | Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow is a staple for anyone looking to better their understanding of how humans work, and how the human brain is susceptible to making the same mistakes over and over.

Kahneman explains the two systems in our brain that impact decision-making: system one is fast and automatic, whereas system two is conscious, aware, and considerate. Kahneman details how each system makes decisions, and how they often lead us to incorrect answers.

It’s an insightful read for understanding people, including yourself. It enables you to get a better understanding of the human psyche, and how you can take advantage of fast thinking in your product design.

Published 2011 | Buy the book | $12

3. A Beginner’s Guide to Usability Testing | Maze

A Beginner's Guide to Usability Testing | Maze

The ultimate guidebook to usability testing, this ebook runs readers through the usability testing process, as well as the different types of usability testing available for UX research and the best tools to use.

Exploring methods like remote testing and guerilla usability testing, the guide also includes details on analyzing and presenting usability metrics, plus an inside look at some real-life usability testing examples.

Read A Beginner’s Guide to Usability Testing online

4. Writing Is Designing: Words and the User Experience | Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle

Writing is Designing | Michael J. Metts & Andy Welfle

Writing is Designing covers the importance and usefulness of words in UX design. Authors Michael J. Metts and Andy Welfle use their combined experience as product designers to share their insights on how words can create useful, usable experiences.

Some of the most notable chapters include:

• Creating clarity: know what you’re designing
• Inclusivity and accessibility: writing that works for everyone
• Tone: meeting people where they are

Overall, it’s an eye-opening read for UX designers unfamiliar with the impact of the words around designs, and a great opportunity to expand your UX knowledge of ways that words can improve your designs.

Published 2020 | Buy the book | $44.06

Hungry for more? Take a look at our top 17 greatest graphic design books to take your visuals to the next level.

Improving UX research is a process

When it comes to UX research, one thing’s for sure—you’re not alone. Thousands of businesses—both large and small—are searching for the best way to conduct user research and improve the user experience.

Reading up on UX research developments and best practices is a great place to start, and these 11 books make it easy. Take your pick, find a relaxing reading spot, and get stuck in to a new perspective on UX research and design.

If you’re looking for additional resources, check out our library of UX, research and design guides and collections, as well as our UX research templates. You can also head over to The Optimal Path podcast, where we chat to different product people each episode and delve into the stories, ideas, and approaches that drive product decision-making.

Frequently asked questions about UX research books

What should I study for UX research?

There’s no set reading list for conducting useful UX research, but some books we’d recommend include:

• Bottlenecks: Aligning UX with User Psychology | David C. Evans

The exact books you should be reading depend on your expertise—are you a beginner, an expert, or somewhere in between? Consider your existing knowledge and aim for a book you find challenging and engaging.

How do I practice UX research?

There are a variety of methods that you can use throughout your research process. You’ve likely heard the saying: practice makes perfect—and that applies to UX.

Continuous self-improvement and learning are key to becoming a UX research expert. Staying on top of industry trends and developments, reading the latest UX literature, and following the top UX industry experts will help you develop your skills and UX network.

Is UX research difficult?

There are parts of UX research that are tough—but those parts depend on your skills and experience. UX research is a lot easier when you’ve got the required UX research methods and resources for making it happen.

The Best UX Research Books You Need to Read in 2024

As new trends emerge and consumer needs continue to shift, keeping up to date with the latest thinking, methods, and best practices in UX research will help you stay ahead of the curve. That's where the right books can make all the difference.

Below, you’ll find a list of classics and more recent publications that will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. 

The books we picked cover diverse aspects of UX research, including usability testing, user interviews, quantitative analysis, and mental models, providing you with a comprehensive toolkit to design experiences that truly resonate with users.  ‍

Measure user satisfaction with your product or service using a Net Promoter Score survey :

Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability | Steve Krug

First published in 2000, Don’t Make Me Think remains a definitive guide on web usability that encourages you to understand how users typically interact with websites.

At the heart of Krug's philosophy is the simple yet profound assertion that a well-designed website or product should allow users to achieve their goals easily and efficiently. With a brilliant knack for distilling complex concepts into digestible content, Krug guides the reader through the core principles of user-friendly design.

Don't Make Me Think also serves as a practical guide to usability testing . Krug offers easy-to-follow advice on conducting usability tests, allowing readers to apply the principles he discusses and learn from real-life user interactions.

The revisited edition, published in 2013, offers updated examples and principles as well as a section on mobile usability . 

The Design of Everyday Things | Don Norman

In his bestseller, Don Norman embarks on a mission to decode the mystery behind why some objects please their users while others frustrate them. 

The book is replete with relatable examples from our day-to-day lives, making it easy to grasp the essence of his design principles.

‍ The Design of Everyday Things is far more than a design book; it's an empathetic call to action for creating a world that respects human needs and limitations. It promotes an understanding that effective design isn't about making objects beautiful or flashy but about making users' interactions as intuitive and enjoyable as possible.

Just Enough Research | Erika Hall

In her book, Erika Hall serves up an invaluable primer on the role and execution of research in the design process. Straddling the line between academic theory and real-world application, this book cuts through the fog often associated with the subject, demystifying it with clear, concise guidance.

Hall's central premise is compelling and straightforward: research isn't an add-on or an option; it is an integral part of the design process. She deftly showcases the importance of carrying out just enough research to inform your design decisions and ensure that your product resonates with users.

The book shines in its ability to explain complex concepts in an approachable and relatable manner. Hall's writing style is casual and conversational, which aids in turning a potentially dry topic into an engaging read. 

Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research | Mike Kuniavsky

Observing the User Experience by Mike Kuniavsky is a go-to reference for UX professionals and enthusiasts that offers a holistic and in-depth approach to understanding users' needs and experiences.

From the get-go, Kuniavsky emphasizes the significance of research in the design process. His approach is thoroughly user-centered , underscoring the fact that effective design is not about assumptions, but about understanding actual users and their interactions with your product or service.

The true strength of this book lies in the extensive range of UX research methods and techniques it covers. Kuniavsky doesn't merely gloss over these methods; he provides comprehensive explanations and practical advice on implementing them. From field studies and surveys to diary studies and usability tests, readers are equipped with a robust toolkit that can be adapted to various contexts and needs.

Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights | Steve Portigal

Steve Portigal offers a comprehensive guide to one of the most essential skills in the UX researcher's toolkit: conducting effective user interviews . This book shines a light on the nuances of this seemingly straightforward activity, presenting it as a crucial way to unearth insights that lead to successful products and services.

Portigal delves into the art of user interviews with a level of detail and thoughtfulness. He skillfully navigates the intricacies of planning, conducting, and analyzing interviews, revealing the richness and complexity of this form of research.

The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide | Leah Buley 

The book by Leah Buley is a remarkable resource designed for UX professionals who often find themselves single-handedly managing the entire scope of user experience within an organization. It’s as much a survival guide as it is an empowering manifesto for UX enthusiasts who often grapple with limited resources and a lack of understanding from other teams.

Buley offers practical tips and strategies on how to manage multiple roles, streamline workflows, advocate for UX importance, and create an impact within the organization. Her guidance is pragmatic and actionable, enabling readers to effectively navigate their unique positions.

One of the significant strengths of this book is Buley's practical approach to UX. She presents a wide array of methodologies, techniques, and tools that readers can use, even with constrained resources. These methods cover the entire UX design process from research and ideation to prototyping and usability testing.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan Weinschenk

In her book, Susan Weinschenk explores the intersection between design and psychology, providing designers with a deeper understanding of how people think, feel, and behave.

Each factor is grounded in psychological theory, but the author goes beyond mere theory to show how these principles can be practically applied to design. Weinschenk presents her insights in a list format, with each of the “100 things” serving as a standalone piece of advice or insight. This structure makes the content digestible, enabling readers to dive in and out at their own pace. It also allows for easy reference, making it an invaluable resource for busy designers.

Quantifying the User Experience: Practical Statistics for User Research | Jeff Sauro and James R Lewis

Quantifying the User Experience by Jeff Sauro and James R Lewis takes a subject that can often seem intimidating and inaccessible and makes it understandable and applicable for UX professionals.

The authors do not merely describe statistical methods; they explain why these methods are necessary and how they can be used to enhance the quality and reliability of user research.

They go beyond the numbers, showing readers how to interpret statistical results and how to use these results to guide design decisions and strategies.

Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior | Indi Young

This exceptional guidebook puts human cognition at the forefront of effective design strategy. It introduces mental models as powerful tools to understand users' thoughts and motivations, and ultimately to create products that align with their expectations and needs.

Young's approach to understanding users is revolutionary in its depth. The concept of mental models provides a framework for capturing users' thoughts, emotions, and motivations in various contexts. By mapping these cognitive processes, designers are empowered to create solutions that truly resonate with their audience.

The author guides her readers through the entire process of developing and using mental models, from conducting user interviews and interpreting the results to creating detailed diagrams and using them to inform design strategy.

Mental Models is more than just a book on user experience design; it's a journey into the human mind. It offers an invaluable perspective for designers seeking to understand their users on a deeper level. While it may require a bit more time to consume than other UX resources, the depth of insight it provides is well worth the effort.

The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond | Jesse James Garrett

The book offers a comprehensive overview of user experience, providing an insightful guide to the philosophy, methods, and techniques of user-centered design .

Garrett's writing is well-paced and accessible, making it an excellent introduction for beginners, while still providing enough depth to be valuable for experienced professionals. 

The Elements of User Experience covers a broad range of topics, from strategy and scope to structure and surface, taking readers on a journey through each of these layers and detailing their role in creating a cohesive and compelling user experience. 

While the title suggests a focus on web design, the principles and methods Garrett discusses can be applied to any medium. This makes the book a valuable resource for anyone involved in designing user experiences, regardless of their specific area of work.

Automate your user research with Survicate

Educating yourself on the best UX research practices is half the success. But you also need to leverage the right tools to put the knowledge to practical use. 

Surveys play an integral role in this process, providing a direct line of communication with users. They can help you collect qualitative data, gauge user satisfaction, and uncover pain points that might otherwise go unnoticed.

With its intuitive interface and powerful features, Survicate makes creating and managing surveys a breeze. It allows you to easily collect feedback across various touchpoints, enabling you to obtain a holistic understanding of your users' experiences and expectations.

Simply sign up for free and enjoy unlimited user insights with Survicate!

We’re also there

• January 5, 2024

Top 26 books anyone in UX should read in 2024 (designers, writers, and researchers)

Want to expand your knowledge of UX writing, content design, and research? We’ve got a complete list of books for you right here.

Shortcuts: Jump Straight To

The rise of ux.

User experience design, research, and writing are all children of the digital revolution. Today there’s an app for everything, and there is massive, growing demand for people who can create great digital experiences .

UX researchers learn about people’s behavior and collect relevant data, UX writers and content designers use that data to create content for digital products and interfaces, and designers visualize the content and data in a user-friendly and intuitive way.

Why it’s worth reading about UX

Alongside the rise of UX, there has been a steady rise of books on the subject. In fact, there are so many that we’ll probably never get to the bottom of the pile.

I know; books can be overwhelming.  Is there anything more stressful than a growing number of books waiting to be read? The thing is, we all know that books are good for us. They give us in-depth knowledge in a way articles never will and keep our minds active. And if you’re an aspiring UX writer, reading more will do wonders for your writing skills.

If you find it hard to get going with books, you’ll find some reading tips at the end of this article. But first, check out the recommendations from me and other members of the UX Writing Hub crew!

UX writing books | Books for UX writers

Strategic writing for ux by torrey podmajersky.

Torrey Podmajersky used to work on the copy of Xbox and now works at Google. In her latest book (released in July 2019), she shares the strategic wisdom she’s picked up during the years. 

Content design by Sarah Winters (was Richards)

Clear, concise, and useful from start to finish, with tons of insights for UX writers. Plus, it gets top marks for presenting everything in a way that makes it easy to digest . Written by Sarah Winters, who led the team that created the content style guide for the UK government. 

I had a chat with her about her process of finding her way as a content designer in the Writers in Tech podcast .

Microcopy: The Complete Guide by Kinneret Yifrah

This book is called “the bible of microcopy ” for a reason. If you want to become a UX writer and plan to read just one single book, make it this one. As it includes lots of examples, it’s also great as a reference book when it comes to creating different microcopy scenarios.

The Business of UX Writing by Yael Ben-David

As UX writers, we learn to focus on user needs and pain points, and rightly so. But working only on user goals and forgetting about the business goals may affect business results. And without decent business results, the product could eventually go bust .

That’s why it’s better to aim for the sweet spot where user needs meet business goals . Yael Ben-David explains everything we need to know in her book The Business of UX Writing . Besides a complete framework, she gives us plenty of concrete examples of how UX writing is good for business. These examples will come in handy every time we need to show the value of UX writing and the effect it can have on ROI (return on investment).

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

Every chapter of this book is a gem with insights from the traditional writing world. You’ll get lots of practical tips you can implement in any piece of content you create. My favorite takeaway is the section about working with great editors and how they can change your life. The same goes for great UX writers who edit the copy in your product interface!

Nicely Said by Nicole Fenton

Top writing tips with a strategic edge for all kinds of web editors . This is one of the first books I recall that talked about writing for the web and digital interfaces, a topic that had been overlooked for years. Beautiful illustrations throughout the book make it an easy read.

The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker

Cognitive psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker takes a science-based approach to writing and sheds new light on many old, outdated concepts . A must-read for anyone writing in the English language.

Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch

While language is always changing, the internet has accelerated the process like never before. From SMS and emails to blogs and social media, online communication tools have affected how we use language on every level.

Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch explains how emojis, memes and different kinds of LOLS barged into our conversations, and why it’s a good thing.

If this sounds interesting, definitely check out the You Are Not So Smart podcast episode with Gretchen too.

Conversations with Things: UX Design for Chat and Voice by Diana Deibel and Rebecca Evanhoe

Chatbots and voice user interfaces have made tremendous progress in the last few years. And still, many of them offer a mediocre user experience at best. Why? One reason is that constructing a human conversation with a machine is easier said than done.

Diana Deibel and Rebecca Evanhoe share invaluable insights for everyone interested in conversation design , with practical tips on how to improve the UX of voice UIs .

UX design books | Books for UX designers

Universal principles of design by william lidwell, kritina holden and jill butler.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People (Voices That Matter) by Susan Weinschenk

This classic from 2011 is still mega useful both for designers and for writers who want to develop their design thinking .

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

If you’re guilty of procrastination , you’re not alone. This book will help you get over it.

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

Another classic that’s still relevant for *everyone* who works with the web in any shape or form.

Solving Product Design Exercises: Questions & Answers by Artiom Dashinsky

This little gem of a book helps you to get ready for your next design interview. It breaks down the process step by step and shows you exactly how to prepare for that dreaded interview exercise .

Next up on my UX design reading list is this one, released in November 2019:

User Friendly by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant

UX research books | Books for researchers

Just enough research by erika hall.

Erika Hall’s book is the cornerstone not just for UX researchers, but for anyone in a product team (including stakeholders). People need to care more about data- and research-driven design, and this guide tells you exactly how to do it. I also had a fantastic conversation with Erika about how to plan your design research on the Writers in tech podcast .

More UX research books on my reading list:

Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal

The User’s Journey: Storymapping Products That People Love by Donna Lichaw

Other UX-related books | Books for all content and product people

Mismatch by kat holmes.

Wish you were more aware of inclusive design? Mismatch is a great place to start. This book explains why we should stop thinking of accessibility as something to fix for the benefit of a minority. After all, disabilities affect everyone, sooner or later – whether it is for a short period or permanently.

Cross-cultural design by Senongo Akeem

Great read if you’re involved with multilingual or multicultural products . Get lots of insights on how to approach cultural differences and learn what questions you need to ask before launching language versions.

World Wide Waste  by Gerry McGovern

It’s easy to assume that digital communications and e-commerce are better for the environment than physical meetings and traditional trade.

As Gerry McGovern shows in his book World Wide Waste, we need to think again. Every time we publish something or interact online, servers around the world consume energy. Not to mention the fuel needed to store the messages in our full inboxes. This book is a great start for everyone who wants to become more aware of how our computers create pollution.

Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

I read this one when I was in high school (13 years ago!). Dan Ariely’s research on human behavior blew my mind, and it still does. Totally inspiring and way ahead of its time. If you know Dan, please tell him I would love to interview him for my Writers in Tech podcast 🙂 

Nudge by Richard H. Thaler

This gem explains how to encourage people to take action, whether you’re working on a new app or writing a note for the tip jar in a bar. It’s an inspiring book that will help you to understand what influences people to make a decision. 

Measure What Matters by John Doerr

As a data-driven person, I design, write, and create only things that I can measure. 

This book helped me understand my OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and the actions I need to take to reach them. You’ll find out how companies like Google and Intuit measure their success and optimize their results in an ever-changing world. 

Everyday Information Architecture by Lisa Maria Martin

As a UX professional, you will come across information architecture sooner if not later. Brace yourself by reading this excellent book on how to organize content for digital interfaces .

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown 

In a world where digital products fight for our attention, focus has become an important commodity . In this book, you’ll learn how to cut through the clutter and decide what you need to focus on versus what is not that essential. 

Ruined by Design by Mike Monteiro

My top tip about ethical design, published in 2019. It’s a huge wake-up call for the design industry and how UX people can help design a world we all want to live in.

Check out my chat with Mike Monteiro on Writers in Tech , too!

Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal

The first hard copy of a UX book I ever had is a bestselling game-changer about how to create addictive products without pushy content and expensive advertising .

How does that fit in with ethical design? Listen to my talk with Nir Eyal on the Writers in Tech podcast , where we talk about ethics and much more.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR   by David Meerman Scott

It can also come in handy for UX writers who find themselves battling with the marketing department, as it gives plenty of arguments for a user-focused approach in marketing too.

Reading tips to get going with books

That’s it for now! Overwhelmed? Here are a few tips on how to get going:

• First of all, you may think that you don’t have time for books, but you do. Set aside a little bit of time to read: 30 minutes in the morning, for example. Or whenever works for you. Stick to it for a week and see how it goes!
• Tackle one book at a time. Pick one that catches your attention and forget about all the others for a while.
• Thanks to technology, there are numerous ways to read. It doesn’t have to be a regular hardcopy book – try a Kindle or other ebook reader, or listen to books on Audible. Go on, give it a go and see what you think 🙂
• There are also lots of helpful reading apps. For example, if you use Kindle Cloud Reader and Google Chrome, you can install the speed-reading extension Kreeder.

Final thoughts

Understanding and implementing insights from the books on this list doesn’t just make work more fun, it has also made me a better professional in my day-to-day work. Make time for reading, and nail your next UX project or task!

Have you read a book that should be on this list? Shoot an email to [email protected] and let me know about it.

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This article was co-written with Anja Wedberg

Hosts the Writers in Tech podcast and works and the founder and CEO of the UX Writing Hub.

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Best UX Research Books (According to Our Survey)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

To keep your knowledge up to date in 2024, check out these top 10 UX research books, authored by experts and colleagues. We think you might like them!

Recommended UX Research Books

Here are the books that resonated the most with our user research community. This compilation provides a blend of educational, engaging and thought-provoking content, perfect for user researchers looking to expand their knowledge and skills.

• Handbook of Usability Testing
• Interviewing Users
• Think Like a UX Researcher
• Just Enough Research
• User Research
• The User Experience Team of One
• Thinking, Fast and Slow  
• Quantifying the User Experience
• User Experience Revolution
• Usable Usability

🐝 Note: Each book in our list has been given a normalized score out of 10, simplifying the process of comparison and selection for you. This scoring system is based on our survey of the UX community. You can learn more about the survey and its methodology here .

Top rated and most widely known books

We’ve compiled a brief summary featuring the top five “most recommended books” from our survey. Plus, we’ve added a “best known books” section, showcasing titles that were widely recognized by user researchers in our survey.

Books by Expertise

In this section, we’ve categorized the book recommendations according to the years of experience our survey respondents have. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the field for a while, we’ve selected three books for each experience category, recommended by people with similar expertise. These books are chosen to help you grow your skills and improve in your profession.

🐝 Tip: Interested in furthering your education in the UX field and already finished reading all the books? Consider attending conferences or workshops to expand your knowledge. Check out our article, “ Best UX Conferences in 2024 ,” and register for an event today.

Recommended Book Selection

#1 handbook of usability testing.

Source: Amazon

Score:   10/10

Authors : Jeffrey Rubin and Dana Chisnell

Where can I buy this book? Amazon

How many people in the survey knew this book? 50%

What is this book about?

Whether it’s software, technical documentation, a cell phone, or a refrigerator, your customers expect ease of use. This thoroughly updated handbook provides clear, step-by-step guidelines for usability testing, incorporating industry best practices and real-life examples. Learn to recognize usability limitations, select the right testing environment, create effective test plans, and more. Discover user-centered design principles, and take advantage of valuable tools like templates and case studies.

#2 Interviewing Users

Source: Rosenfeld Media

Score: 9.89/10

Author : Steve Portigal

Where can I buy this book? Rosenfeld Media

How many people in the survey knew this book? 72%

Master user interviews with Steve Portigal’s updated classic, “Interviewing Users.” This book guides you through the process, from setting goals to effective techniques. Learn remote interviewing, handle biases, and ensure impactful research. Whether you’re a CEO, designer, marketer, or interviewer, this book is essential for understanding user needs and creating successful products.

Did you know? 👀

We recently had a chat with Steve Portigal on our UX Research Geeks podcast?

Plus, we’ve got a surprise for you:

In collaboration with Steve Portigal and Rosenfeld Media, we’re offering our listeners a 20% discount on Interviewing Users (2nd Edition) . Use the code UXRGEEKS at checkout to claim your discount, valid until December 29, 2023 . Don’t miss this opportunity to treat yourself this Christmas!

#3 Think Like a UX Researcher

Score: 9.64/10

Authors : David Travis & Philip Hodgson

How many people in the survey knew this book? 67%

“Think Like a UX Researcher” challenges conventional UX research thinking. It guides you in planning, conducting, and applying UX research effectively. This book offers practical advice, exercises, and real-world examples to enhance your UX skills. Whether you’re a UX Researcher, Designer, Project Manager, Scrum Master, Business Analyst, or Marketing Manager, it provides valuable insights to elevate your approach and career in UX research.

#4 Just Enough Research

Score: 8.90/10

Author : Erika Hall

Where can I buy this book?   Amazon

Design research isn’t a lengthy process — it’s about asking better questions and evaluating answers. In “Just Enough Research,” Erika Hall, co-founder of Mule Design, offers a concise guide to research methods. Learn to identify competitive advantages, recognize biases, and leverage findings. You’ll be conducting effective research quickly. Erika Hall, with a background in web design, co-founded Mule Design Studio in 2001, specializing in research, interaction design, and strategy. She’s a frequent speaker and writer on collaboration and user interface language, and she co-hosts the podcast “Running from the Law.”

#5 User Research

Score: 7.71/10

Author : Stephanie Marsh

How many people in the survey knew this book? 28%

Many businesses overlook the end user in their planning and development processes, but “User Research” aims to change that. This book explores user experience research (UX research), focusing on understanding user behaviors, needs, and motivations through various techniques. Written by a leading UK UX research professional, it covers key research methods and provides compelling insights into data interpretation.

#6 The User Experience Team of One

Score: 6.43/10

Author : Leah Buley

How many people in the survey knew this book? 56%

In today’s fast-paced world of product and web development, projects are often short-staffed. When you’re the lone designer, success depends on knowing how to prioritize and make the most of your resources. “The User Experience Team of One” provides practical insights to help you excel and achieve more with less.

#7 Thinking, Fast and Slow

Score: 6.00/10

Author : Daniel Kahneman

How many people in the survey knew this book? 83%

In the mega bestseller “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman explores the two systems that drive our thinking: System 1, which is fast and intuitive, and System 2, which is slower and more logical. Recognized by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, this book delves into topics like overconfidence, cognitive biases, and decision-making in both personal and business contexts. It’s a contemporary classic that has had a profound impact on readers worldwide.

#8 Quantifying the User Experience

Score:   5.84/10

Authors : Jeff Sauro and James R. Lewis

How many people in the survey knew this book? 61%

Quantifying the User Experience is a practical guide for using statistics in user research. It provides solutions for common quantitative challenges, including usability assessment and task success rates. The book covers statistical theory, Excel formulas, and web calculators for data analysis, making it a valuable resource for researchers.

#9 User Experience Revolution

Score: 3.21/10

Author : Paul Boag

How many people in the survey knew this book? 22%

Are you the advocate for user experience in your company? This eBook is for passionate individuals, regardless of their role, who want to champion user-centric approaches within their organization. It provides guidance on how to promote the benefits of user experience design, create customer experience advocates, gain managerial support, and transform the organizational culture.

#10 Usable Usability

Score: 1.84/10

Author: Eric Reiss

How many people in the survey knew this book? 39%

Uncover the guide to identifying and fixing usability issues. This book, authored by UX expert Eric Reiss, provides practical advice to improve user experiences. With examples and checklists, it helps you enhance product functionality, clarity, and overall quality.

🐝 Tip: Do you want to enter the world of UX, but don’t know where to start? Read our article The Best UX design resources in which you will find the answer to this and other important questions.

More worthwhile reads for UX researchers

Looking for more valuable reads as a UX researcher? Discover five recommended books by fellow UX researchers that offer valuable perspectives and knowledge in the field.

1. Customers Know You Suck

Author: Debbie Levitt

“Customers Know You Suck” is your guide to customer-centric product-market fit, offering actionable strategies to improve CX, boost satisfaction, and increase revenue. Suitable for CX, UX, and Design experts, Business Analysts, Managers, Lean and Agile practitioners, Marketing and Sales professionals, and Strategists at mid-level and above in their careers.

Check out our UXR Geeks podcast to learn more about Debie

In the fourth episode of ‘UX Research Geeks,’ we’re joined by Debbie Levitt , a highly experienced researcher, designer, UX strategist and mentor. Debbie shares her perspective on the current state of UX/CX and its relationship with business management. Join us for this discussion on the world of UX research and its impact on business.

2. A practical guide to usability testing

Authors: Joseph S. Dumas, Janice C. Redish

In this book, the authors define usability, explain usability engineering methods, and explore techniques for assessing usability during product development. They guide readers through the planning and execution of usability tests, data analysis, and using results for product improvement. The book is easy to understand and includes examples from various products and tests, covering a range of testing options. It also discusses usability laboratories and necessary skills for conducting tests. Forms for conducting usability tests and lab layouts are provided to assist readers.

3. It’s Our Research: Getting Stakeholder Buy-in for User Experience Research Projects

Author: Tomer Sharon

Getting Stakeholder Buy-in for User Experience Research Projects provides practical strategies for gaining stakeholder support in UX research. The book covers key stages, including understanding stakeholder roles, identifying research opportunities, planning research, and improving communication of results. It’s a valuable resource for UX professionals, offering insights and techniques for successful UX research projects.

4. Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems

Author: Steve Krug

“Rocket Surgery Made Easy” offers a cost-effective approach to usability testing. Steve Krug, the author of “Don’t Make Me Think,” provides a streamlined method for testing web designs and applications. With practical advice, illustrations, and humor, he explains how to test any design, prioritize critical issues, and implement fixes efficiently. This book simplifies usability testing, making it accessible for teams to test early and address problems before they become complex. It also includes demonstration videos to enhance the learning experience.

5. Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner’s Guide to User Research

Authors: Elizabeth Goodman Ph.D. and Mike Kuniavsky

“Observing the User Experience” bridges the gap between designers, developers, and users. This book provides practical insights and 13 user experience research techniques to help you understand your users’ needs and create better products, whether web, software, or mobile-based. It’s a valuable resource for designers, developers, and project managers, offering tools and confidence to perform user research effectively. The second edition covers new topics like observational research, mobile usability, and cross-cultural projects, making it relevant in today’s evolving landscape of user research.

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About our “Best UX research books” survey

What was the process behind our survey? We started by selecting books from various articles that recommended reading for researchers. This formed a shortlist that our respondents could assess. They had options to mark each book as ‘Not familiar’, ‘Would recommend’, ‘Indifferent’, or ‘Would not recommend’. Once the survey concluded, we analyzed these responses to draw our conclusions.

How our rating methodology works?

• In our approach to rating the books, we started by calculating the percentages of respondents who had  either recommended it, expressed indifference to it, or not recommended it , disregarding the respondents who selected the “not familiar with” option.
• We then determined a net recommendation score for each book by subtracting the percentage of non-recommendations from the percentage of recommendations.
• This score effectively captures the overall sentiment toward each book , taking into account both positive and negative opinions.
• To make an easier comparison across the books, we normalized these net recommendation scores to a scale ranging from 0 to 10. The highest-ranked book was assigned a score of 10 , and the scores for the other books were adjusted proportionally.
• This normalization process helps us present a clear, quantifiable, and easy-to-understand rating for each book, reflecting its relative standing among the survey respondents.

We believe this method provides a balanced view of the respondents’ preferences.

Where do our survey respondents come from?

We’re thrilled to report that 327 individuals from more than 40 countries chose to participate in our survey! A detailed look shows 48.8% were from the North America, followed by 36% from Europe, then 9.3% from Asia, 3.5% from South America, 1.4% from Africa and 0.8% from Australia and Oceania. The participants were from countries such as Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada, Argentina, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, among others. It’s fantastic to see such wide and diverse involvement! 😊

How much experience in UX field do our respondents have?

The background of UX researchers is informative, especially when considering their book recommendations. Knowing their level of experience helps us understand the expertise influencing their choices. Looking at the results of our study, we see that approximately half of the respondents have between 2 to 5 years of experience in UX.

🐝 Tip: Do you want to get in touch with people from the UX community but don’t know where to look? See our article Best 30 UX Communities and Groups to Join !

Jana Filusova, our Marketing Executive at UXtweak, brings a scientific approach, analytical skills, and a business background to her role. She is responsible for producing our UX research podcast called"UX Researcher Geeks" and content creation. Jana's academic background is in Molecular Biology and Genetics, and she spent three years as a researcher at the Czech Academy of Sciences. After completing her Master's studies, she shifted from the world of science to the field of Business Management and began working for UXtweak.

UXtweak is buzzing with expert UX research, making thousands of products more user friendly every day

UX Task Analysis: A Complete Guide + Example

In today’s article, we will explain how UX task analysis helps you determine the user's goals, the actions they take in order to achieve them, and how you can create a user-friendly website or app based on this knowledge.  Read more ...

How to Craft a Leading Design Proposal with User Research

Read this article to learn what is a design proposal, why you need it and how to write a leading design proposal that will outshine your competitors + an Ultimate Design Proposal Checklist! Read more ...

Top 20 Session Replay Tools and Software in 2024

Is your website intuitive enough? In this article we’ve gathered the best of the best session replay softwares on the market, so you could analyze your visitors and make useful improvements to your website’s UX. Read more ...

• Card Sorting
• Tree Testing
• Preference Test
• Five Second Test
• Session Recording
• Freeform Interviews
• Study Interviews
• Mobile Testing
• First Click Test
• Prototype Testing
• Website Testing
• Onsite Recruiting
• Own Database
• Documentation
• Product features
• Comparisons

• Computers & Technology
• Computer Science

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Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research 2nd Edition

• Explains how to balance usability with creativity and originality
• A valuable resource for designers, developers, project managers -- anyone whose work affects the end user experience
• Provides a real-world perspective on research. Helps you do user research cheaply and quickly, and present it persuasively
• Gives you the tools and confidence to perform user research on your own design, tuning user experience to the unique needs of your product and its users.
• ISBN-10 0123848695
• ISBN-13 978-0123848697
• Edition 2nd
• Publisher Morgan Kaufmann
• Publication date September 21, 2012
• Language English
• Dimensions 7.46 x 1 x 9.27 inches
• Print length 608 pages
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

"In this second edition, the authors update an important contribution to the emerging discipline of user experience (UX) research…This book is one of many noteworthy titles from Morgan Kaufmann in this subject area. It is chock full of practical examples and advice for both novice and experienced practitioners." --ComputingReviews.com, January 2013

"Anyone even remotely interested in involving participants and observing their reaction and interaction with the product in order to enhance the overall user acceptance should deeply benefit from this book. I very much liked the practical examples, tables, and diagrams which have given this book a more vibrant feel and allowed the reader to feel like he can use this textbook directly in the practice of establishing some user experience tests. I think the textbook is profoundly informational and was a joy to read." --Software Engineering News, March 2012

"You'll like Mike Kuniavsky's broad selection of practical user research methods--presented clearly and usably. And you'll like his timing too: while recent books focus on the whys of user experience, many are now ready for the hows. Observing the User Experience does just that: It demonstrates how to discover what is in users' heads, and suggests how we might balance those considerations with business objectives." --Lou Rosenfeld, co-author of Information Architecture for the World Wide Web

"Wow! So many of the user experience research methods we have refined and used over the years are now organized and described in detail in one book. It is an essential reference for any practitioner." --Christian Rohrer, Manager, User Experience Research, Yahoo!

"Observing the User Experience provides the reader with a wealth of information. We now have a guideline that can be used to gain insight into those mysterious figures...our users. Knowing who our users are, what they need, and how they might use the things we build for them is the most important part of any product development cycle. Mike Kuniavsky's focus in this book is on the user experience as it relates to online interfaces, but ANYONE who builds ANYTHING can gain valuable knowledge from reading this book." --David Hoffer, Senior User Interface Designer, CTB/McGraw-Hill

"I love Observing the User Experience! This comprehensive guide approaches user experience research like never before, and is well-written, easy-to-read, and quite user friendly. It provides a real-world example of how research is done in just enough detail that it can both inform a CEO of the role of usability research as well as introduce methodology to someone starting out in the field. Bravo!" --Kelly Braun, Usability Manager, Ebay

"Mike Kuniavsky offers many practical procedures to conduct and analyze the results of your own custom usability tests. He shares lots of personal stories from the trenches, many of which are painfully ironic. The hope is that his knowledge will help spare you the pain of making the same mistakes others have made before you." --from the foreword by Lynda Weinman, Author and Founder, lynda.com, Inc.

"Kuniavsky presents information logically, often anticipating potential questions by providing extensive explanations. His text is readable and easily understandable. He incorporates interesting quotes from various scholars, keeping readers' interest by breaking up the strict presentation of information. The overall layout and conversational tone make the text an enjoyable read and useful reference." --Kalle Medhurst - Technical Communications

"The best general how-to handbook on user research remains Mike Kuniavsky's Observing the User Experience. For the reader who wants to integrate contextual design into a fast-paced development cycle, but isn't sure how, this book will be a godsend. Even when their advice can't be followed to the letter, the book, like the authors method, can be adapted to your needs." --Networker Magazine

"Mike Kuniavsky's Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research is a welcome addition to the half dozen essential books on my cubicle shelf. This book provides lucid, personable, experienced advice that could only come from a seasoned consultant who has seen the good, bad, and ugly of web and application design. Its purpose is to give a solid foundation to any design team in the crucial beginning stages of a project by answer the questions: How do we go about learning who our users are an what they really need? And how do we do this in a way that helps us make a strong case for our design decisions to the people in charge?" --Andrew Hinton

From the Back Cover

• Explains how to create usable products that are still original and creative.
• Provides a real-world perspective on research, with tips on conducting user research inexpensively and quickly, and on persuasively presenting the results.
• Gives readers the tools and confidence to get started fast, while introducing more advanced questions and techniques.

About the Author

Product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Morgan Kaufmann; 2nd edition (September 21, 2012)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0123848695
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0123848697
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.61 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.46 x 1 x 9.27 inches
• #177 in User Experience & Website Usability
• #236 in Computer Systems Analysis & Design (Books)
• #265 in Human-Computer Interaction (Books)

About the authors

Elizabeth goodman.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Mike Kuniavsky

I am a consultant, writer, entrepreneur and designer exploring the intersections of high technology and everyday life. I have been a user experience design consultant since 1994 and have helped hundreds of companies and organizations design effective, pleasurable and profitable online, environmental and device user experiences. In 2006 I cofounded ThingM, a ubiquitous computing consulting company. Previously, I was a cofounder of Adaptive Path, a leading San Francisco internet consultancy, and the founder of Wired Digital's User Experience Lab. I live in San Francisco.

Andrea Moed

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Top 5 UX Research Books for 2024

Staying ahead of the curve is the recipe for UX design success. One of the best ways to do discover key ingredients is by diving into the existing wealth of knowledge found in UX research books. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to refine your methodology or a newcomer eager to learn the ropes, the right resources can transform your understanding and practice of UX research. In this article, we’ll explore the best UX research books and resources that are essential reads for anyone looking to excel in UX design in 2024.

The 5 Best UX Research Books for 2024

A quick point before we dive into the list: Userbrain has not been paid to promote any of these books. The following list simply contains some, but not all, of our favorite UX research books here at Userbrain HQ. We truly hope it’s helpful!

Book 1. “User Experience Design: An Introduction to Creating Interactive Digital Spaces” by Mark Wells

Mark Wells presents a foundational masterpiece in “ User Experience Design ,” guiding readers through the intricate process of crafting engaging digital environments.

This book serves as an invaluable resource for designers and creatives eager to master the art of digital user experience design. Wells expertly navigates through essential stages such as data collection, user analysis, testing, and prototyping , ensuring readers are well-equipped to create seamless designs for varied devices and platforms.

With visual examples and global case studies, this book is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to excel in the digital design arena.

Book 2. “Continuous Discovery Habits: Discover Products that Create Customer Value and Business Value” by Teresa Torres

Teresa Torres’ “ Continuous Discovery Habits ” is a revolutionary guide that bridges the gap between creating products that resonate with customers and achieving tangible business outcomes.

Praised by industry leaders like Marty Cagan, this book introduces a structured approach to continuous discovery, empowering readers to act confidently while remaining open to learning from their mistakes.

Torres combines scientific research, real case studies, and her extensive experience to provide practical advice that’s easy to implement. This book is a beacon for product managers and designers seeking to foster a culture of continuous discovery within their teams.

Book 3. “The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide” by Leah Buley

Leah Buley’s “ The User Experience Team of One ” is a survival guide for UX designers navigating the challenges of limited resources and time constraints.

This book is an ode to the resilience and creativity of solo UX practitioners or small teams striving to make a significant impact.

Buley offers a plethora of approaches that are both efficient and effective, from initiating a UX program to gaining organizational support and implementing UX strategies.

Her book is a testament to doing more with less, providing readers with the tools and insights needed to excel as a UX team of one.

Book 4. “Just Enough Research” by Erika Hall

Erika Hall’s “ Just Enough Research ” demystifies the concept that design research is a daunting, time-consuming task only accessible to experts.

Hall, co-founder of Mule Design, presents a compelling argument for integrating research into every stage of the design process.

This book serves as a practical guide, offering a concise overview of research methods that are both accessible and immediately applicable, regardless of your project’s scale or budget constraints.

The second edition brings updated examples and a new chapter on surveys, ensuring readers are equipped with the latest insights and techniques for conducting effective research.

Hall’s emphasis on critical questioning and bias identification makes this book an indispensable resource for creating designs that genuinely meet user needs.

Book 5. “Think Like a UX Researcher” by David Travis and Philip Hodgson

David Travis and Philip Hodgson’s “ Think Like a UX Researcher ” challenges readers to broaden their understanding of UX research beyond conventional methodologies.

This book encourages a strategic approach to product design, focusing on optimizing the user experience at every touchpoint.

It is packed with tools, techniques, and insights that cater to a wide range of professionals from UX researchers to business analysts.

Travis and Hodgson offer a fresh perspective on data analysis, persuading teams to act on research findings and fostering a career in UX.

Their approach to dissecting the quantitative vs. qualitative dichotomy into attitudinal vs. behavioral data provides a robust framework for evaluating evidence strength.

This book is a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice for both novices and seasoned practitioners looking to enhance their UX research skills.

Wrapping Up: The Top 5 UX Research Books for 2024

Each of these five books offers a unique lens through which to view the complex, multifaceted world of UX research. From practical guides to thought-provoking analyses, these resources are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the challenges of user experience design.

Whether you’re looking to build a solid foundation in UX principles, refine your research methodologies, or inspire your team with innovative approaches, these books are invaluable companions on your journey to becoming a more effective UX professional.

Happy reading!

Your next step – start researching!

Home - Learn UX - UX Books: 15+ Must-Reads in 2024 (Updated)

UX Books: 15+ Must-Reads in 2024 (Updated)

There’s a lot of information on UX out there. If you want to learn more about UX, become a UX designer, or improve yourself as a designer reading a book can be of great help. With that many books available, knowing where to begin can be difficult. My reading list of top UX books and recommendations in 2024 is a great place to start. Take a look!

• Updated on January 3, 2024

There are many, many excellent UX design books you can read. I’ll provide a list of essential must-read UX books you can read in 2024. Once you have read these books, you can consider yourself to have a solid understanding of UX theory.

After that, you can pick books from my more specific reading lists. These include UX books for beginners, UX research, and UX writing . I will provide them at the end of this post. Good luck!

Table of Contents

The benefits of reading books on ux.

There are a couple of routes you can take in starting learning about UX . Some are expensive, like online UX courses and bootcamps, while others are very time-consuming, like joining a university to get your master’s degree in UX.

Another option might be to read a nice book on UX. Just think of it. You can read books in your own time, at your own pace, and in a place of your choice. For example, you can read a book in your garden while enjoying a nice cup of tea, on a train to work, or just before bed.

Books are a lot cheaper and less time-consuming as well. You can listen to an audiobook while at work or while you take a walk. I like to listen to audiobooks while I drive to work. It’s very efficient!

Even in 2024, in the era of working-from-home and online collaboration, reading UX books can be your go-to choice when you want to become a UX designer.  While bootcamps and courses are either online or postponed, you can still order one or two books to read. You will not be delayed in your learning journey.

Essential UX books in 2024

Let’s start at the beginning. Here’s my reading list of top UX books that are a must-read regardless of your current position, goals, or experience as a designer.

The books I’m about to recommend should be a part of any UX reading list, as these books will help regardless of your experience.

The Design of Everyday Things

The Design of Everyday Things is an all-time classic in UX design. Therefore, it is a must-read for every UX designer. Written by  Don Norman  in 1988, this book is still relevant today. It aims to teach you fundamental principles on designing useful products that are delightful to use.

One of these principles is the idea of affordances in UX. Affordances are an essential subject when you want to  become a UX designer . Other important subjects are introductions to user-centered design, the Norman Door, and design thinking. In other words, go and read this UX masterpiece!

The Design of Everyday things explains how design acts as the bridge between an object and the user. Furthermore, it helps explain how good design can make the interaction between users and objects enjoyable. 

After its initial release, the book received a significant update in 2013. Because of this, the book is relevant for every UX designer today.

👉 You can get this book on Amazon .

Related post –  The Design of Everyday Things review .

Don’t Make Me Think

Yet another classic book on UX. This book is your go-to source for anything on usability. As you might know, usability is a big part of UX, making this a great book to help you learn about it as a UX professional.

Steve Krug states that good design is where you do not have to think about how you should interact with the design. Good design makes it easy for you to complete your tasks. You’ll learn how to make that happen.

Like The Design of Everyday Things, this book has had several updates—the most recent one being in 2013.

Don’t Make Me Think is an easy book to read. With just over 200 pages, it is pretty short as well. You could finish the book in just a few days. The book focuses on classic design rules like the 3-click-rule and whether or not you should still apply it today. There’s a lot of humor inside, which makes reading the book a breeze.

👉 You can get the book on Amazon .

The UX Jobs Handbook

Yes, I’m mentioning my ebook in my list of must-read UX books. That’s because it is a very helpful book! The UX Jobs Handbook is a step-by-step approach to landing your first UX design job.

Over 50 pages of actionable tips, tricks, examples, and tutorials help you learn all job hunting essentials while you work your way to landing your first job as a UX designer. The ebook will help you learn the following and much more.

• How to write a cover letter that will get you job interviews.
• Tips, tricks, and templates for your portfolio.
• How to prepare and ace your job interview.
• And much more.

You can get the ebook in one of three bundles over on Gumroad. Check it out below.

No Bullshit Guide to UX

This is a UX ebook written by the great Hype4 Academy . As the title suggest, it will learn you about UX without all the fluff and one-liners.

I will try and do the same for this summary. No beating around the bush. This UX ebook is a must-read for any UX beginner. Take a look at the book on Gumroad below.

👉 You can get this ebook on Gumroad

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People

You design your applications to be used by people. It is called user experience design for a reason. To do this effectively, you must know who your users are, what they want, and how they work.

Understanding your users will benefit the quality of your design considerably. This book will help you with just that; understanding your users. It does so by taking a closer look at how users work and perceive things. Because of this, UX researchers will also benefit from reading this book.  But more on UX research posts later.

In her book, Susan Weinschenk talks about how human beings function on a very deep primal level. One example I found very interesting was how we’re unconsciously triggered to focus on someone’s face. I didn’t know that before! It brings many options to my UX design work. Here are some more examples.

• We can have a fight-or-flight response for any object we see.
• In time, we learn new associations with colors and branding.
• You can divide how people perceive info into how we see, read, and think.

As a UX designer, you can make great use of the things this book teaches you. Therefore, this book is a must-read and should be on the reading list of every UX designer.

Smashing UX Design: Foundations for Designing Online User Experiences

Smashing UX Design is a book that takes an in-depth look into UX. With well over 400 pages, this book is nothing to take lightly! You can divide Smashing UX design into four parts.

• An introduction to UX. It makes the book an exciting read for beginners as well.
• UX research.
• The tools you will need as a designer.
• Specific design cases to go from theory into practice.

The structure of Smashing UX Design is very clear. The book builds on every chapter that passes with new info and insights. It starts very basic and moves carefully to more complex topics.

The book provides you with everything there is to know on UX. Do you want to learn about a particular type of design workshop, specific tools for designing a great landing page, or an introduction to UX research? This book has you covered.

That’s all there is to say on Smashing UX Design. If you have a UX-related question, this book is for you. However, keep in mind that the book is primarily aimed at UX design for the web. The author doesn’t talk that much about mobile.

You’re My Favorite Client

Mike Monteiro is a very outspoken designer. And that’s an understatement. He is known for his talks and lectures around the world and for being the co-founder and design director of  Mule Design , an interaction design studio based in San Francisco.

You can view one of his lectures on how designers destroy the world just below. It is one of my favorite design talks.

In addition, he is the author of multiple books, including the one I recommend here. The UX book is called You’re My Favorite Client, and it is the follow-up to his first book, Design Is A Job.

With only 127 pages, this book is a short read, especially compared to some of the other UX books on this reading list. The book zooms in on the relationship you need to build with your clients to create a successful product. Compared to other books on this list, it stands out as they focus more on hard skills.

Client-designer relationships can be complicated. To make it a success, you have to focus on the soft skills of a UX designer. In the book, Mike Monteiro talks about the step-by-step process of selling and creating your design work, including the questions you must ask and the people you must hire. Especially that final part makes this book also interesting for design managers and even clients.

I recommend all four of Mike Monteiro’s books, but I had to choose one; this book is the one.

Free UX books

There’s an easy way of reading some of my recommended books on UX for free. It can be of great help since getting a lot of books can still be an investment close to that of a UX course.

Try out Amazon’s Audible Plus. You can listen to books while doing something else. For example, I listen to audiobooks while I commute to work.

This excellent service has multiple books found on this UX reading list, including The Design of Everyday Things, the books by Mike Monteiro that I’ve mentioned previously, and more.

Try the service for 30 days for free. Cancel anytime!

Best UX books for beginners

When you’re trying to  become a UX designer , reading books on UX will help you develop an understanding of the theories behind UX. Here’s my recommended reading list of top UX books for beginners.

The first two books are also part of my essential UX booklist, as discussed above. Start with the following books. Both of them are listed above.

• Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug.
• The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman.

Learning UX is like learning to ride a bike. First, you start with some assistance like training wheels.

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug is like those training wheels. You’ll start easy with UX basics, how-to’s, and principles to get you going.

After that, the training wheels come off when you read The Design of Everyday Things. This book is more abstract and conceptual. It tackles real-life situations, while Don’t Make Me Think is very concrete and focuses on best practices and actionable tips and tricks.

Once you’re done with these first two, continue with the following beginner-friendly UX design books.

Universal Principles of Design

This book is a top read for every beginning UX designer. In the current edition, you can learn 150 design principles. Just think of The Design of Everyday Things and its seven design principles. Then, add another 143 to that list, and you have the Universal Principles of Design!

As a UX designer, you need to speak the language of design. This book teaches you just that.

You can use this book as a dictionary for UX design. With a new design principle every few pages, all you have to do is reference a page you want to know more about.

Then, by adding a sticky note, you remember where to look. Does a more senior UX designer talk about a principle you don’t know? Just look it up in your new UX dictionary!

Universal Principles is a contender for the number one spot on every beginning UX designer’s reading list. It helps designers get started the right way. In addition, the book includes incredible examples and illustrations, which makes it an easy and fun read.

Lean UX is an excellent book for UX beginners, written by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden.

Most clients you’re going to collaborate with work using an Agile framework, like Scrum and Kanban. Scrum events like the daily standup, sprint retrospectives, and reviews are common for almost any UX designer. This book helps you find your place within a Lean and Agile working environment.

Yes, UX and Agile have some differences in their way of working. However, lean UX will give you the tools you need to work together with Agile-minded teams and clients efficiently and productively. And if you need more help, you can always take a look at the  ultimate Scrum guide for UX designers  I wrote.

The User Experience Team of One

During your design career, it could happen that you’re either going to be the only designer at your company or that you’re going to have to collaborate with clients that not see the benefit of good UX design.

That’s where this book comes in. The UX Team of One teaches you how you can get the design done and make an impact while being a one-person UX design team. It focuses on getting more UX work done in less time and how you survive as a lone UX professional.

UX for Beginners: 100 Short Lessons to Get You Started

This book is all about the  UX Crash Course blog  you can find at The Hipper Element. Joel Marsh, a designer and author, wrote both the blog and book.

UX for Beginners is a book that teaches you, as the title suggests, 100 basics about UX. Like the Universal Principles of Design I mentioned earlier, this is essentially a very long listicle. Together, they provide you with 250 principles. That’s instant growth as a designer right there!

These fundamental design principles can help any beginner become a better UX designer. Even experienced designers can still learn a thing or two from this book.

UX research books

Research is one of the building blocks of UX design. Some of the books on my UX reading list also cover some of this expertise. Yet, I believe UX research to be a skill that is too important not to have its list of recommended books. Here’s my list of UX research books. Take a look!

Quantifying the User Experience

Design is about more than just putting pixels in order. Yes, it is important, but there is way more that you will need to do as a UX designer. I’m talking about user research, or UX research in short. As I said before, user research is a unique skill that deserves its own list.

One of the most challenging parts of being a designer is measuring the success of your design. Most people think that design is something subjective. You either like it, or you don’t. Quantifying the User Experience is a UX research book that gives you the tools to do qualitative and quantitative user research. You’ll learn how to break through the image of how design is subjective.

After reading the book, you will be able to measure the success of your UX design work. In addition, by using these tools, you can convince stakeholders of the  importance of UX design . It will, in turn, help you become a better designer.

Mental Models: Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior

A lot happens inside a user’s mind when they interact with your design. For example, your users might have a prejudice or bias you’re not aware of. In other cases, using your designs might be scary for first-time users.

How someone sees an object and how he thinks it will work is what we call a mental model. User research is an essential part of your design process when working as a UX designer. Understanding the mental model involved is key to delivering a user experience that’s both helpful and delightful.

That’s where this UX research book comes in. Indi Young, the author of Mental Models, describes how to approach such a user research process in great detail. If you’re up for a design project that involves UX research, this is an essential book that has to be on every reading list.

Best books for UX writing

Text is becoming a more significant part of the user experience every day. That’s why  UX writing  is an integral part of the modern UX designer’s toolbox.

Just think of it like this. One way to communicate is by sending a text message. Every product you use has a form of text (or speech) in one way or another. As a UX writer, you have to be prepared for that.

These books on UX writing can help you learn the skills you need to make communication within your product easy to use and understand.

Strategic Writing for UX: Drive Engagement, Conversion, and Retention with Every Word

Let’s start with the author. Torrey Podmajersky is a very experienced UX writer. He has working experience at multiple big companies like Google and Microsoft.

She believes UX writing is only about the text within the scope of a UX designer. These texts include headings, call-to-actions, and button labels. UX writers work very closely with copywriters and (in part) marketeers. However, it is very much its own specialty.

Strategic Writing for UX takes a close look at common topics within UX writing, like conversational design, what UX writing is (and isn’t), best practices, and how to measure work effectiveness.

The book does so in a transparent and down-to-earth way. As a result, I can recommend this book to UX designers at any experience level.

👉 You can get Strategic Writing for UX on Amazon .

Further reading

I will be updating this reading list whenever I see new UX books that I think will help you become a UX designer. In addition, I’ll be creating follow-up lists focused on specific topics, like UI design books.

In the meantime, I suggest you read more about  becoming a UX designer . After all, theory on UX is an essential part of every UX designer’s toolbox. Reading books is just one part of that.

Some of the links of this page are affiliate links. I might earn a commission if you order through these links. This doesn’t cost you anything, but it helps me run this website.

Do you have feedback on this article? Missing something? Or just a question? Reach out to me and I’ll get back to you!

About the author

Hi! I'm Nick Groeneveld , a senior designer from the Netherlands with experience in UX, visual design, and research. I'm a UX coach that supports other designers and have completed design projects in finance, tech, and the public sector.

Through The Designer's Toolbox, I'm an Educational Partner for Interaction Design Foundation.

☎️ Book a 1:1 mentor meeting with me or let's connect on LinkedIn , Twitter and Medium .

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9 UX Research Books for Designing Better Products

In this blog post you will find:

• “User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance your UX Research” by Stephanie Marsh

“The Handbook of Usability Testing” by Jeffrey Rubin and Dana Chisnell

“the design of everyday things” by don norman, “just enough research” by erika hall, “mental models: aligning design strategy with human behavior” by indi young, “observing the user experience” by elizabeth goodman, mike kuniavsky, and andrea moed, “quantifying the user experience” by jeff sauro and james lewis, “interviewing users” by steve portigal, “it’s our research” by tomer sharon.

• How Can You Start With UX Research?
• What Are The Latest Trends In UX Research?

In making great products and keeping users happy, there’s one golden rule: never stop learning. Enter: UX research books!

User expectations shift as rapidly as the technological landscape, therefore staying ahead of the curve is crucial. Keeping your UX research skills sharp is important, and equipping yourself with the knowledge of the best UX research books is your ticket to success. 

In this article, we’ll give you 9 essential UX research books that you can pick up today to start designing better products tomorrow. So, cozy up in your favorite spot and dive into this curated list of UX research books that will transform you from UX enthusiast to UX guru faster than you can say “click here.”

“User Research: Improve Product and Service Design and Enhance Your UX Research” by Stephanie Marsh

344 Pages / 4,6 Rating / $32.99 / Get the book

Stephanie Marsh, a seasoned expert in the field, shares her wealth of experience in this comprehensive UX research book. It covers a wide range of topics essential to understanding user behavior and gathering meaningful insights. From conducting user interviews and surveys to analyzing data and creating personas, Stephanie breaks down complex concepts into digestible chunks, making them accessible to readers of all backgrounds.

One of the standout features of the book is its practical approach. Real-world examples and case studies are used throughout to illustrate how principles are applied in various contexts.

384 Pages / 4,5 Rating / $29.31 / Get the book

With Jeffrey Rubin’s extensive experience in usability testing and Dana Chisnell’s expertise in UX research, this book offers a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices of usability testing.

Readers will find a wealth of valuable information within its pages, ranging from planning and conducting usability tests to analyzing results and implementing findings. The authors break down complex concepts into clear, actionable steps, making it easy for readers to follow along and apply the techniques in their own projects.

Numerous real-world examples are provided, as well as case studies, templates, models, and more, illustrating how usability testing can be applied in different scenarios and industries.

368 Pages / 4,6 Rating / $13.49 / Get the book

Don Norman’s classic work delves into the principles of intuitive design, arguing that products should be designed with the user’s needs and limitations in mind. It’s a call to action for creating user-friendly and enjoyable interfaces. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the principles of good design.

In this book, Norman explores the fundamental concepts of usability and user-centered design, offering practical insights into how to create products that are intuitive and user-friendly. With clear examples and straightforward explanations, he demonstrates how design impacts our daily interactions and experiences.

Whether you’re in design, UX research, engineering, or simply curious about the world around you, “The Design of Everyday Things” is a valuable resource that will change the way you think about the objects you encounter every day.

198 Pages / 5,0 Rating / $37.95 / Get the book

Erika Hall’s book advocates for ‘just enough’ research in the design process. Written in a clear and accessible style, Hall offers practical advice on how to conduct effective UX research without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

She emphasizes the importance of conducting research that is focused and purposeful, providing readers with just enough information to make informed decisions. From identifying UX research goals to choosing the right methods, Hall covers all the essentials in a concise and easy-to-understand manner.

“Just Enough Research” is a valuable UX research book that will help you navigate the complexities of research and make meaningful contributions to your projects.

299 Pages / 4,3 Rating / $47.01 / Get the book

“Mental Models” is a definitive guide to understanding the relationship between design strategy and human behavior. Young, who co-founded the pioneering UX research agency Adaptive Path (acquired by Capital One in 2014), offers valuable insights into how mental models shape our perceptions and interactions with the world around us.

In this book, you will discover practical techniques for uncovering and leveraging mental models to inform design decisions. The author’s approach is both accessible and insightful, providing readers with the tools they need to create more intuitive and user-centered designs.

One of the highlights of “Mental Models” is its emphasis on empathy and understanding. Young encourages designers to step into the shoes of their users, gaining deeper insights into their motivations and behaviors. By aligning design strategy with human behavior, designers can create more meaningful experiences for their users.

601 Pages / 4,3 Rating / $44.90 / Get the book

With its 601 pages, “Observing the User Experience” offers an extensive exploration of UX research methodologies, techniques, and best practices. It covers every aspect of the process, from planning and conducting studies to analyzing data and synthesizing findings. You will find detailed discussions on various UX research methods, including interviews, surveys, usability testing, and ethnographic research. The book also delves into topics such as user personas, journey mapping, and interaction design, providing a comprehensive overview of the field.

While “Observing the User Experience” is accessible to readers of all levels, it also offers advanced insights and techniques for experienced practitioners. The authors draw from their extensive experience in the field to provide nuanced discussions on topics such as research design, data analysis, and synthesis. Advanced concepts, such as affinity diagramming, contextual inquiry, and mental models, are explored in depth as well.

Despite its length and depth, this book remains highly practical and actionable. The authors provide clear, step-by-step instructions for conducting UX research, accompanied by real-world examples and case studies. Whether you’re a novice researcher or a seasoned professional, you’ll find plenty of value in this book.

350 Pages / 4,5 Rating / $42.32 / Get the book

For those interested in the quantitative side of UX research, this book provides a practical guide to using statistics to solve problems. It’s ideal for usability professionals looking to measure the impact of their work. Readers will gain insight into statistical concepts such as sample size calculations, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing, empowering them to conduct rigorous and scientifically valid UX research studies.

Despite its focus on statistical analysis, “Quantifying the User Experience” remains highly practical and accessible to readers of all levels. The authors provide clear explanations of statistical concepts, accompanied by real-world examples and case studies. You will learn how to apply statistical techniques to analyze user data, interpret findings, and make data-driven decisions to improve the user experience of your products.

176 Pages / 4,4 Rating / $28.49 / Get the book

Steve Portigal’s book is a masterclass in interviewing users, and  a must-read for anyone looking to hone their skills. Portigal provides practical guidance and valuable insights gleaned from his extensive experience as a researcher.  

What sets this UX research book apart is its emphasis on empathy and understanding. Portigal stresses the importance of building rapport with interviewees, creating a safe space for open dialogue, and listening attentively to users’ stories and experiences. Through real-world examples, you will learn how to ask meaningful questions that don’t miss the mark.

288 Pages / 4,4 Rating / $31.96 / Get the book

“It’s Our Research” by Tomer Sharon emphasizes the importance of gaining stakeholder buy-in. The main point of the book is about cultivating a user-centered culture throughout the organization, one where stakeholders from various departments actively participate in and value UX research activities.

Sharon provides practical strategies and insights on how to effectively communicate the value of UX research to stakeholders, demonstrating its impact on product success and customer satisfaction. By aligning user research goals with organizational objectives, Sharon guides readers on how to garner support and involvement at all levels.

Moreover, “It’s Our Research” offers actionable advice on integrating user research into existing workflows and processes within organizations. The author emphasizes the collaborative nature of UX research, encouraging cross-functional teams to work together.

How can you start with UX research?

The selection of UX research books mentioned above lays a strong foundation for further exploration. In addition, reads like “ Don’t Make Me Think ” by Steve Krug and “ Thinking, Fast and Slow ” by Daniel Kahneman are essential additions to any bookshelf. These UX research books offer a solid introduction to UX principles.

It’s important to recognize that enhancing UX, whether for your own product or within a company, is a slow and steady journey involving multiple stakeholders. Beginning with a solid grasp of foundational knowledge, including familiarizing yourself with the jargon, techniques, and concepts, is crucial. 

Additional resources are available through our blog . If you would like to learn more about UX benchmarking as well, consider joining our upcoming webinar on the ULX® Benchmarking Score .

What are the latest trends in UX research?

If you’re feeling unsure about where to start your UX research journey and want to dive into the latest trends straight away, there are a few key areas you can explore.

• Usability Remote Testing
• AI Analytics
• Inclusive Design

First, Usability Remote Testing. It allows you to gather feedback from users without being in the same location. Platforms like Userlytics make this process easy and accessible, and have surged in popularity over the years.

Next, look into AI-driven Analytics, which can help you analyze large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. Userlytics’ AI UX Analysis capabilities makes the whole process of gathering, analyzing and interpreting large quantities of video content in an efficient and streamlined manner.

Finally, Inclusive Design is definitely a field you should learn about. It is about ensuring that your products are usable and accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. If you would like to know more about Inclusive Design, consider listening to this interview of Userlytics’ UX Whisperers Podcast.

By focusing on these areas, as well as strengthening your foundational knowledge with the aforementioned UX research books, you can stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving field of UX research!

About the Author: Mehdi El Taghdouini

Mehdi is the Head of Content and Communications at Userlytics. He is skilled at writing clear and engaging content on several topics, especially technology and SaaS products. Before joining Userlytics, Mehdi led the content marketing team of the largest Google Cloud and Google Workspace reseller in the Benelux market. He brings six years of experience in managing content for both startups and large companies. Mehdi holds a Bachelor\'s degree in E-Business and enjoys photography in his spare time. His photography projects have been exhibited in Brussels, Hong Kong, and Barcelona, where he now lives.

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Dive into our Resources Hub for a wealth of UX insights and tools, or jumpstart your journey with a free demo today. Discover how Userlytics can transform your user experience strategy!

10 books to boost your UX research

Maybe you have studied UX design and research in school but most probably, you have learned all these skills online with trainings, courses, on blogs, on LinkedIn, on the job and while networking with other designers/researchers.

While online resources are vast and of high quality, reading a book about UX research is a different approach which might bring you new perspectives on the matter.

Here is our list of 10 books to boost your UX research:

Think like a UX researcher by David Travis and Philip Hodgson

Page count: 306

Price: ~60€

What to expect: This is the most expansive book of the list. No bias please, it doesn’t mean it’s the most valuable of all, keep reading. The book is organized as follows:

1) setting the stage,

2) planning user experience research,

3) conducting UXR,

4) analyzing UXR,

5) persuading people to take action on the results of UXR,

6) building a career in UXR.

The book also includes knowledge tests and real-life hands on examples of how to tailor the book content to your own organization and projects.

Interviewing users: How to uncover compelling insights by Steve Portigal

Page count: 177

Price: ~50€

What to expect: This book is very focused and detailed on the different stages of an interview process (before, during and after). It also includes tips on how to best conduct remote user research. Some of his great tips:

- interviewing people in their own environnement to grasp better insights and create less bias,

- the brain dump: a “transitional ritual of unburdening” to increase our open-mindedness before an interview,

- being a “hollow vessel” for insights to come.

Just enough research by Erika Hall (Second edition, 2019)

Page count: 186

What to expect: This is a revamp from the 2013 edition. The book is all about creating a culture of user centricity at your organization with great frameworks and tools to conduct ethical qualitative and quantitative research. She advocates not to over engineer ones research process in order to be able to make it more often and create more enthusiasm around it. Erika is also a great source of UX inspiration to follow on Twitter, LinkedIn or Medium.

Quantifying the user experience: Practical statistics for user research by James R. Lewis and Jeff Sauro

Page count: 312

Price: ~40€

What to expect: The book dives deep into the maths of measuring the difference between two designs and especially confidence intervals, statistical difference and sample size. It’s not an easy read but is a great support when analyzing your research results.

Handbook of usability testing: How to plan, design, and conduct effective tests by Dana Chisnell and Jeffrey Rubin

Page count: 384

Price: ~45€

What to expect: This book is a systemic step-by-step, very detailed guide. It defines:

- what makes an interface usable,

- what skills a test moderator should develop,

- when tests should be carried out,

- steps to create a test plan,

- setting up a testing environment,

- how to recruit and select testers (hi 😊),

- preparing test material,

- conducting the session and analyzing results.

A plus: a few pages on how to test with people with disabilities, with older adults and children. It is the most extensive book of our selection, definitely not a night stand book but rather a companion to pick in during your research.

Surveys that work: A practical guide for designing and running better surveys by Caroline Jarrett

Page count: 368

What to expect: The author details:

- how to define your goal for a survey,

- find your audience,

- get the best completion rates,

- how to write and test your questions, choose a survey tool,

- how to turn your results into insights,

- how they present these to stakeholders so that they will take action.

Continuous discovery habits: Discover products that create customer value and business value by Teresa Torres

Page count: 244

Price: ~20€

What to expect: This book has the best value per page count and explores one of the trendiest concept in the field of research. The author describes the concept as a light weight research method and identifies ways to create research habits through visualization, interviewing, mapping, prioritizing, ideating and testing.

Validating product ideas: Through lean user research by Tomer Sharon

Page count: 344

What to expect: This book has a very wide scope which explores concepts of human psychology and asks big questions like “What do people need?” and “Do people want the product”, then breaks them down into actionable steps to  answer these questions by conducting research. The author sometimes puts himself in the shoes of users by writing excerpts of the book from their perspective which offers a fresh new view on the matter.

Measuring the user experience: Collecting, analyzing, and presenting UX metrics by Bill Albert and Tom Tullis

Page count: 377

Price: ~25€

What to expect: This book focuses on UX metrics and details which ones you should use and how for each type of test and item tested. It explains how to collect data and turn it into actionable metrics for various subjects such as eye tracking, measuring emotions or self-reported metrics. It also features great case studies with Netflix and Pwc.

Here is an extract of the summary which we thought was funny 😇

UX methods: A quick guide to user experience research methods by James Pannafino and Patrick McNeil

Page count: 122

Price: ~15€

What to expect: This is the cheapest and shortest book of the list. It features 50 different research methods and has a sketch for each one of them. If you struggle reading books, this might be a great pick.

While we don’t expect nor recommend buying all of these 10 books at once, maybe you could decide to buy the one that inspires you the most (or the cheapest, or the one with the best cover). Then place it on your desk and read one page every morning when you get to work.

If you are REALLY not in the mood to read a whole book, maybe you can read our guide to writing better screeners 😇

Unlock your user research superpowers with Tandemz!

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📚 My Selection of the Best Books on UX Research, UX Design, Mobile, Accessibility & more

I get asked quite often for book recommendations on different design related topics. I finally found a little bit of time to go through my list of ebooks and paper books. Those are the books written in English I read and can truly recommend . (there’s a few more books in on the French version of this list). I wrote a small review for each of those.

Note that I still haven’t read half of the books I bought, so stay tuned, this list will be updated often. Also, yes this article contains affiliate links on amazon but there are options to buy from other sellers when possible, so, up to you.

C urrently reading: Disruptive Research , Better Onboarding , Nudge

** Last updated: July 2023 **

I ordered the list in different categories to help you go through it:

Understanding & selling User eXperience

Usability & ux research specific methods, ux design & psychology, information architecture & content strategy.

• Design ethics and creativity

UI & Web Design practical guide

Design methods, workflows & collaboration, mobile, touch & responsive, accessibility, business, collaboration & strategy.

Customers Know You Suck – Debbie Levitt

Full title is “Customers Know You Suck: Actionable CX Strategies to Better Understand, Attract, and Retain Customers”. This is a manual (with miro templates) to help you improve customer centricity and sell UX research to your stakeholders, but also conduct user research. Debbie also adresses a couple of myths agile and UX, and aspirologies (methods that look like they can help but hurt the profession). There are a lot of super interesting interviews from UX designers, researchers and strategists in the field. And, chapter 22 is an interview of me, talking about interprise UX, hahaha. Still, I read the rest too, highly recommend it.

Where to find it: Amazon , Debbie Levitt’s Site

Just Enough Research – Erika Hall

A nice introduction to different methods of user research , from the basics to process, competitive research, evaluative research, etc. She also added a chapter on surveys in the second edition. Like most A Book Apart books, a lot of information is packed in this one. You will want to keep it close to your desk for future reference.

Where to find it : A book Apart

The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide – Leah Buley

I started my career as the “only UX designer in the team” and this book was really helpful. The book is split in 2 parts: philosophy (building principles, attitude, perspective) and practice (methods, techniques, tips and tricks). The first part concentrates on helping you sell UX to the company . The second one presents different UX methods and tools to help you build user centric products . Both parts are equally useful depending on where you work and where you are in your career.

Where to find it : Rosenfeld Media – Amazon

User Experience Revolution – Paul Boag

This is a nice complement to Leah Buley’s book and will help you “sell” UX process within a company . This is a step by step battle plan to help you build a UX revolution and place users at the heart of your organization, from understanding it, selling the benefits, to customer experience evangelisation, getting managerial support, establishing best practices and more.

Where to find it : Boarworld.com – Amazon

UX for Beginners: A Crash Course in 100 Short Lessons – Joel Marsh

I love the duck on the cover and this is a nice introduction to the different aspects of UX design. It covers a LOT of topics so you won’t go deep into each one, but it’s a nice book for beginners to grasp the different concepts and decide what they want to dig into more later. It’s full of illustrations though so I would advise to get a paper version or to read it on a tablet but not on kindle.

Where to find it : Amazon

“Don’t make me think” + “Rocket Surgery Made Easy” – Steve Krug

Steven Krug can be considered as the godfather of usability and user testing. Those 2 books are classics to read on usability and user testing . They are a little bit “dated”, but still provide a nice base for the discipline.

Where to find it : Don’t make me think: Author’s page –  Amazon | Rocket Surgery Made Easy: Author’s page – Amazon

Interviewing for research: a pocket guide to design research – Andrew Travers

Want to learn how to conduct user research and interviews ? This is a small free 60 pages quick field guide to help you get started: recruitment, preparation, conducting the interview, documentation and synthesis. Also the book is available for free on the author’s site, yeahy.

Where to find it : Free on author’s page

How to recruit participants for usability studies – Deborah Hinderer Sova and Jakob Nielsen

A free 234 pages guidelines on how to set up, recruit and manage users for your usability tests .

Where to find it : NN Group page

Design for Cognitive Bias – David Dylan Thomas

We  like to think we know why we take decisions, that our memory is perfect. It’s not. 95% of cognition, choices happens below the threshold of conscious thought. David wrote this amazing guide on how to navigate our own brains . This book will help you understand different biases : users, stakeholders and your own. It’s packed with examples inside and outside the digital world on how those biases might affect people. But also how to harness those to bring good to products and the world.

Where to find it: A Book Apart

Psychology for designers – Joe Leech

This a a pocket book you can quickly read that will give you advice on how to use and find psychology theories and apply them to your designs .

Where to find it: psychologyfordesigners.com

Designing for Emotion – Aarron Walter

The reference book to start learning how to design for emotions and build a memorable experience by the design lead at MailChimp

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People – Susan M. Weinschenk

Psychology theory is sometimes scary but Susan does a great job at making those theories accessible and easy to understand. I really like the format of the book: 100 little cheat sheets organized in different categories with practical takeaways for each theory. This is one of those books you keep on your desk and refer back to when you need it.

100 More Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People  – Susan M. Weinschenk

Not it’s not a typo, the important word is “more”. Susan is back with even more theories to help you understand how people’s brains work , yeahy!

The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less – Barry Schwartz

This is one of those “basics to read books” when it comes to psychology. It’s a great book to understand how humans work and how they take (or don’t take) decisions . Keep in mind it was written in 2004 though.

Everyday information architecture – Lisa Maria Marquis

This book is a great introduction to information architecture (obviously). Information architecture focuses on structuring, organizing and labelling content on your site so that can find it and use it different ways. This is a really practical books with lots of examples from Lisa’s project. Lisa examples how to conduct a content audit, how to build and structure categories, labels and different tags and taxonomies. She explains how to analyse the site structure and how to build sitemaps. Finally she shows different structures of navigation and way-finding for you users. This book helped me a lot on my current project. I have 400 different pages with a lot of super heavy content. The book gave me a framework and structure to help me make sense of all of that content for a redesign and migration. I highly recommend it to every designer!

How to make sense of any mess – Abby Covert

I loved that book. It is a beginner’s guide to information architecture split into 7 chapters that will guide you through a journey to help you better understand how to structure, mostly anything (but especially websites). Each chapter contains examples, lessons, but also graphs and exercises. It’s a great book for beginners. And even if I’m not a beginner, I ended up smiling, nodding and underlining a lot of parts because Abby has a really amazing way to explain those complex concepts. 100% recommend it!

Where to find it: Abby’s Website – Free version online

Design ethics, diversity and creativity

Technically Wrong: Sexist Apps, Biased Algorithms, and Other Threats of Toxic Tech – Sara Wachter-Boettcher

A must read to understand how techno-solutionism messed up the world, creating biases product and services that will discriminate “at best” some people, become a nightmare for some others. Sexist, racist, and biased design and development practices create toxic tech that harms users and society . And she gives practical advice on how to be aware and critical of what we use. And how we can demand more ethical and inclusive tech from the companies that create them.

Where to find it: Amazon

Extra Bold – A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designers

This is a collaboration of different contents related to design on topics like feminism, inclusivity, anti-racism, non binarity, etc . written by a diverse team of authors to rethink design principles and practices. There’s interviews, essays, some comic books, survival guides and a lot of other amazing formats that make this book a piece of art as well. This is why  I got the paper version, I’m not sure if it is nice as an ebook.

Where to find it : Amazon // ExtraBold

Design for Real Life – Sara Wachter-Boettcher & Eric A. Meyer

A great book on how to design with compassion, integrity and make sure none is left out or even worse, made feel bad when using your products and services. Sara and Eric have some great examples of what happens when things go bad and how to avoid this.

Where to find it : A Book Apart

Ruined by Design – Mike Monteiro

An interesting exploration on how design choices, from technology interfaces to product designs, have contributed to environmental degradation, social issues, and ethical dilemmas . The book challenges us to recognize our political responsibilities. It also tries to provide some tools to help us make more informed, ethical decisions

Steal like an artist – Austin Kleon

A small book featuring 10 “tips” to help you become a creative person and get over the “blank page” fear .

Where to find it : Author’s page – Amazon

Designing for the Web – Mark Boulton

This is a nice introduction to help you design websites. It covers some generic advice on workflow, the research and ideation phase and goes deeper into typography, color, layout with detailed examples of different websites. Remember that the book was written in 2009 thought so the examples look outdated, but the design theories and advice are still pretty accurate.

Where to find it : designingfortheweb.co.uk (read the book online or download it for free!)

Refactoring UI – Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger

This is not just an ebook, but a whole package with videos, online lessons, etc. The promise of Refactoring UI: explain design tactics to developers. And it works! Not only for developers! The authors cover hierarchy, layout, spacing, text, color, working with depth and images to the finishing touches to help you bring your UIs to the next level.

Where to find it : refactoringui.com

On Web Typography – Jason Santa Maria

This book focuses on one particular aspect of web and UI design: typography. The author explains how people read, how typography works and different methods and tips to evaluate and pair typefaces . A good introduction to help you avoid typography faux pas!

Combining typefaces – Tim Brown

This is one of those “pocket guides” that are now available for free since  Five Simple Steps closed. It’s a nice quick to read practical guide to help you get the right typography choices for your designs .

Where to find it : Blog Typekit (for free)

Atomic Design – Brad Frost

From atoms, to molecules, organismes, templates and pages, Brad offers and interesting method to build strong and versatile design systems that will scale and how to maintain them.

Where to find it : Author’s book page or Read it for free online

Design Systems: A practical guide to creating design languages for digital products – Alla Kholmatova

Alla researched a lot about how the design systems of different companies and products where built and bring you all this knowledge in this great book. It’s a great introduction to the process of building a design system . If you thought you could just copy/paste a Sketch file from a previous client, I (or Alla) hate to break it to you, but this is not how it works. The book is split in 2 parts : the foundation is about really understanding what a design system is and the “process” part will help you get your hands dirty.

Where to find it : Smashing Magazine

Content Strategy for Mobile –  Karen McGrane

I might be biased because I love Karen, but this book is one of my number one references when it comes down to content strategy . She wrote this in 2012 and I still use some of the methods she wrote about today (2019) in workshops to help me build a strong content strategy and hierarchy, not only for mobile but across different screen sizes. Because “You don’t get to decide which platform or device your customers use to access your content: they do”.

Responsive Web Design – Ethan Marcotte

The “Bible” for responsive web design . It was written in 2010, things have changed since, but still quite a nice reference to read and help you get started. This book has some code examples to help you practise.

Mobile First – Luke Wroblewski

While Ethan’s book focuses on “desktop to mobile”, Luke’s book helps you understand how to build a mobile, starting from smaller screens . There’s no code examples but the book focuses more on strategy, the whys and hows.

Designing for Touch – Josh Clark

Understanding touch size , gestures and how touch devices work is an essential’s part of design today. This book focuses on t he usability of touch interfaces but also provides a few code examples to help you implement touch friendly interactions

Going Responsive – Karen McGrane

While Ethan, Luke and Josh’s previous books focus on “how”, this book focuses on the “why” and the strategic part of responsive web design . If you still need some arguments to convince people and a plan to approach a big responsive redesign, this book will help you! Keep in mind it was written in 2015 though.

Responsive Design Workflow – Stephen Hay

This is another book that changed the way I work. Stephen goes deep into the “how” to build responsive website and offers quite a few interesting ideas to help you build your own process. Ever heard of designing for breakpoints and breakpoint graphs?

Where to find it : responsivedesignworkflow.com – Amazon

Accessibility for Everyone – Laura Kalbag

A great guide to help you get started in the field of accessibility : understanding disabilities, laws, guidelines, planning, testing and evaluating accessibility, etc. This book will demystify a few concepts for you before you can jump into the whole ARIA WCAG complexity.

Where to find it : Author’s page – A Book Apart

Color accessibility workflows – Geri Coady

This was a really great book on color accessibility to learn about colour-blindness, choosing appropriate colors, to learn how to test your designs, provide alternatives when it doesn’t work, etc.

Design is a Job – Mike Monteiro

A must read book on everything that goes “around” running a design business: contracts, selling design, brief, meetings , etc. A MUST read, especially if you want to freelance.

Where to find it : A Book Apart 

You’re My Favorite Client  – Mike Monteiro

The second book of Mike Monteiro focuses on the topic of “how to make design decisions”. Mike demystifies the design process and helps you better communicate with clients, stakeholders, team members and make the whole collaboration process go smoother.

Resilient Management – Lara Hogan

I wrote a longer review here . This book will help you better communicate with coworkers and build stronger teams . It’s full of frameworks to help you and really good advice.

The “other” books that don’t fit on those design categories

Demystifying public speaking –  lara hogan.

I wrote a longer review here , basically the book you need if you start public speaking (and if you continue as well)

Where to find it : Author’s page – A Book Apart  – Read if for free online

Animation at Work – Rachel Nabors

This is not only a book about CSS animations, it’s also about understanding the human perception of animations , what purpose they serve on a website and how to communicate them with your teams.

Other places to find books

I am not the only one who shares her book’s list. So here are a few other places to find some books to read:

• Design Books by Womxn & People of Color , a curated list of book written by womxn and people of color. Thanks a lot to @theyuanstudio the curator of this list.
• Non-Design Books for Designers — Women Authors Edition curated by Kate Rutter
• Non-Design Books for Designers – curated by Dan Saffer
• Darren Hood’s Living, Breathing User Experience Book Recommendation List
• To Learn a New UX Skill, Read an Old Book
• Readinglist.design : 35 Books Every Designer Should Read, curated by people from the industry.

My favorite editors for design and technical books

I tend to love the format of most books from A Book Apart because they are small, practical, easy to read and well formatted on my Kindle. Smashing Library has a also a great selection of ebook, and the Smashing books are always a delight to read.

Other articles you might enjoy:

• 4 Non Design/Tech Books That Help My Career
• A User Research and UX Design Starter Kit
• Enterprise UX: essential resources to design complex data tables
• An Introduction to User Journey Map + free User Journey Map Templates
• 15+ Expert Resources For Mobile UI Inspiration: Patterns, Components and Flows

Published on 6 March 2021

in Lists of Tools, Books & Links

By Stéphanie Walter

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Stay informed when I publish new articles and save some precious time on content curation. Join a select group of developers, designers, UX researchers and agencies who also get exclusive resources and discounts along the year. (If you didn’t get a confirmation email, check your spam box.)

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♥  Design by Stéphanie , code/motion by Geoffrey , SEO by Myriam   ♥ — © 2024 — All Rights Reserved

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Looppanel book list for ux professionals, satvik soni, 26th april, 2023.

This is a growing list of all the books we have ever recommended, either in our articles or through the LinkedIn profiles of our founders, Kritika and Akash .

UX Design Books (that you should read)

1. a beginner’s guide to finding user needs by jan dittrich.

This is a free ebook for new UXRs. The content here covers planning research, communicating your findings with others and everything in between. The tone is conversational and Jan favours practical examples over abstract explanations of UXR concepts.

2. Think Like a UX Researcher by David Travis

This is ideal for product people who haven’t been trained in UXR. The thesis here is that while companies believe they have a good product, their users don’t always agree.

The book covers how to overcome bad UXR by getting rid of your seven deadly sins.

3. Just Enough Research by Erika Hall

This book ecourages UXR teams to ask better questions and think critically to save their time and money. Good research doesn’t have to be a long-drawn, boring process that distracts your team from “real” UX work. Following Erika’s advice, good research can be efficient, effective, and ethical.

4. Designing Interactions by Bill Moggridge

This book covers the covers the history and evolution of interaction design. Bill Moggridge also goes over the process and principles for creating successful interactive products and services.

5. The UX Team of One by Leah Buley

This book is a comprehensive guide for solo UX practitioners. It covers aspects of both, UX research and design and is ideal for those working in 1-person "teams".

This book’s greatest strength is that it offers an actionable toolset that keeps your limited resources in mind.

6. Interviewing Users by Steve Portigal

Steve’s book helps experienced as well as beginner UX professionals learn how to run more efficient interviews. The book serves as an end-to-end guide for user interviews and is full of funny real-world examples to help you understand the book better.

Non-UX Books (that you should still read)

1. influence without authority by cohen and bradford.

A lot of your persuasion will be towards people who either don’t report to you or are your direct seniors. Billed as the guide to leading people who don’t report to you, this book will help you with this persuasion.

2. Influence by Robert Cialdini

One of the most important contemporary books on persuasion, Influence will arm you with research-based insights which you can use to earn buy-in for UX work.

3. Talk to Me by Dean Nelson

Dean Nelson is a professor of journalism. In this book he teaches fellow journalists how to take better interviews. His tips will help you improve your user interviews.

4. The Art of the Interview by Lawrence Grobel

A classic book on interviews. This is also aimed at improving the interview skills of journalists, so you’d have to overlook a few segments that make sense for journalists and not for UXers.

5. The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

You do not need remarkable actions to be successful— it’s neither practical nor sustainable. This book urges you to constantly make unremarkable progress which eventually compounds into success. Applicable to your UX practice as well as your personal goals.

6. Mind Over Mood by Greenberger et.al

This is a workbook that helps you improve your emotional regulation. It was written by licensed psychologists (including the founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). I’m usually sceptical of self-help books — but this one is genuinely helpful!

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Top 7 user research books for beginners

.css-1nrevy2{position:relative;display:inline-block;} Think Like a UX Researcher: How to Observe Users, Influence Design, and Shape Business Strategy by David Travis & Philip Hodgson

After this list was first published,  Stephanie Pratt , senior user experience researcher at  GoCanvas  and  David Hamill , independent UX consultant highlighted that a super important title was missed entirely -  Think Like a UX Researcher . It was first released in January 2019 and is already making its way to the top of user researcher’s lists. According to the reviews, nothing like this book currently exists and on top of its freshness, it’s helping the readers excel at their jobs and be better user researchers. The structure of the book means that it is easy to read in different sittings or you can consume it all at once.

David Hamill , independent UX consultant says:

The thing that sets it apart from other books on UX research is that it guides the reader in the mindset a good UX researcher has and how it applies to user centred design.

User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design Are Changing the Way We Live, Work, and Play by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant

There is a definite hype around this title - author Cliff Kuang is a UX designer and renowned journalist making his voice both distinct and powerful.  User Friendly  takes the reader through the principles governing how design shapes our current behavior. It is told through the fascinating historical lens of what has gone before and how it has changed the design and human landscape forever.

Joe Gebbia , co-founder of Airbnb says:

Rarely do I dog-ear pages as much as I did with this book. Engrossing and rich with rarely-told stories and interviews,  User Friendly  gives critical insights to make us better, smarter consumers of design.

Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal

Researchers must love it when they pick this book up and the title reads -  how to uncover compelling insights , indicating that the pages within will arm you with the tools you need to discover nuggets of greatness in your next interview. While interviewing is just a small part of the user research landscape, from all accounts, it is an incredibly complicated part. This book isn’t just for readers who are new to user research, the widely held opinion is that all researchers should constantly be revisiting the pages of  Interviewing Users .

Elizabeth Churchill , director of user experience at Google says:

Steve Portigal’s book is packed with useful tips, illustrative examples, cautionary tales, and how-to advice for planning and conducting interviews, as well as analyzing and presenting data gathered.

Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited by Steve Krug

There’s got to be a reason that  Don’t Make Me Think  is constantly listed as Amazon’s Best Seller in User Experience. This book went from being purely for web designers and developers in the early 2000s to being a staple for anyone with an interest in the relationship between usability and design. If you have anything to do with a website, this is a must-read.

Jeffrey Zeldman , author of  Designing with Web Standards  says:

After reading it over a couple of hours and putting its ideas to work for the past five years, I can say it has done more to improve my abilities as a Web designer than any other book.

Lean UX by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden

This title is a fan favorite and provides an introduction to being lean and agile while simultaneously pulling it into the realm of UX. Various reviewers have indicated that while it doesn’t function as the definitive manual of how to implement Lean UX at scale, it is a foundational piece that creates a base understanding.

Andrew Binstock , a former editor at  Dr. Dobb’s Journal  says:

This short book is an excellent guide to the paradigm of UX design and implementation, presented here in an agile context that enables developers to integrate this approach into their workflow quickly and effectively.

Just Enough Research by Erika Hall

Just Enough Research  is thought of as an ultra-valuable design research primer which includes user research, stakeholder research, competitive analysis etc. The sentiment is that it is jam-packed with practical tips to ensure you understand your customer and optimize your approach based on the things you discover.

Liz Danzico , VP of design at NPR says:

Chances are good that your business is making inaccurate assumptions about your customers’ behavior. Enough! Erika’s book makes research accessible and helps you create an informed plan to better understand—and design for—your customers.

Quantifying the User Experience: Practical Statistics for User Research by James R. Lewis and Jeff Sauro

This book is not we would call a quick read but it is purportedly one of the most useful resources for quant UX researchers!  Quantifying the User Experience  acts as a practical guide on how to use statistics to solve common quantitative problems that arise in user research. It offers functional applications and considered discussions. Philip Kortum, an associate psychology professor at Rice University:

Serious practitioners of usability science will find this book a valuable addition to the highly qualitative texts that are currently available.

Bonus: The UX Research Book by Apple & Banana

While still untitled and yet to be released, we're super excited about the upcoming book to be published by the folks at Apple & Banana . The book is still a work in progress, but aims to demystify how UX research actually helps build products that customers love and practically tackles the fundamental elements of psychological, technology, and design that UX researchers employ every day at work.

It's already received early praise from UX professionals like Chris Nodder , who says:

I think there's a need for this book. The scope and contents are really interesting...this has the potential to be a useful entry-level handbook [for UX researchers].

Keep reading

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The Roxanne Perspective

9 Best UX Books to Read in 2023

Staying current with the latest UX trends and best practices is crucial for any UX designer . However, with so much information available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. As a UX designer myself, I understand the struggle. If you’re short on time, here are my top 3 UX books to read:

The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition

This book does not merely teach you about the principles of great design, it transforms your entire perception of the world around you. Suddenly, doors aren’t just doors, and teapots aren’t just teapots. They’re opportunities for meaningful user interaction.

Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

Krug’s witty and concise writing style helps to demystify complex UX concepts, making them easily understandable and applicable even for beginners.

Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights

This book offers comprehensive insights that can transform the way you interact with users, making it indispensable for UX researchers and designers alike.

I vividly recall feeling lost when I first started my career in UX design. I had the drive and passion to create intuitive designs and solve meaningful problems, but lacked the knowledge and expertise to take my work to the next level. I’ve spent countless dollars on books that either fell short or delivered exactly what I needed.

My goal is to save you time and money by sharing my top 9 UX books to read in 2023. These books have personally helped me grow as a designer, and I’m confident they’ll do the same for you.

It wasn’t until I started reading books on UX design that I began to feel more confident in my abilities and equipped to create exceptional user experiences. That’s why I’m excited to share my top 9 picks for 2023 with you.

Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned UX designer or just starting out, these books offer valuable insights and inspiration to help you elevate your skills and create outstanding designs.

What are the benefits of reading UX books?

Imagine slipping into the mind of a seasoned UX designer, minus the caffeine dependency – sounds enticing, right? Well, that’s precisely what UX books offer. They provide a treasure trove of knowledge, strategies, and tried-and-true methodologies that can supercharge your UX skills. 

But let’s get a bit more specific, shall we?

Gain a Deeper Understanding 

UX books are like your personal roadmaps to the labyrinth of user experience design. They delve into the nitty-gritty of design principles , usability testing, interaction design, and so much more. It’s like having your own UX Yoda whispering wise design philosophies into your ear. 

Stay Current with Industry Trends 

The UX sphere is ever-evolving, and keeping up with the latest trends can feel like chasing a hyperactive rabbit. UX books, especially the newer ones, tackle the latest industry developments, helping you stay ahead of the curve. Read ’em and reap the benefits of staying in the know. 

Improve Your Design Process 

Ever feel like your design process is like assembling IKEA furniture with missing instructions? Worry not, UX books to the rescue! They offer invaluable insights into creating more streamlined, efficient, and user-centered design processes. It’s the cheat sheet you wish you had. 

So, there you have it. Reading UX books is akin to carrying a Swiss Army knife in the world of user experience design. It’s time to turn those pages and level up your UX game.

What Are the Best UX Books?

Don’t make me think, revisited: a common sense approach to web usability.

“If you can’t make something self-evident, you at least need to make it self-explanatory.” Highlighted by 4,473 Kindle readers

Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited by Steve Krug is a practical guide on web usability. The book emphasizes the importance of designing user-friendly websites that are intuitive and easy to navigate .

Krug provides practical tips and guidelines for improving website usability, including the importance of clear and concise communication, using conventions to make navigation easy, and designing for scanning rather than reading.

The book also covers topics such as accessibility, testing, and mobile design.

The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web

The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web is a guidebook to creating user-centered design for websites, software, and other digital products.

The book outlines a five-plane model of user experience that includes strategy, scope, structure, skeleton, and surface.

The author stresses the importance of understanding the needs and goals of users at each of these stages, and provides guidance on how to conduct user research, create personas , and develop task flows.

The book also covers topics such as information architecture, interaction design, visual design, and usability testing.

Designing for Interaction: Creating Smart Applications and Clever Devices

Designing for Interaction by Dan Saffer focuses on designing intuitive user interfaces for digital products that seamlessly integrate with users’ lives.

The book provides a comprehensive guide to creating meaningful and usable interactive designs by exploring a range of topics, from cognitive psychology and usability principles to storytelling and animation.

Saffer also emphasizes the importance of prototyping and testing throughout the design process to ensure the final product is user-friendly and meets the needs of its target audience.

The book includes real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the concepts presented, making it a valuable resource for designers and developers alike.

About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design (4th Edition)

The book “ About Face 4: The Essentials of Interaction Design ” is a comprehensive guide to interaction design principles and practices.

It covers a range of topics, including designing for user needs, understanding users and their behavior, creating effective interface designs, and designing for accessibility.

The book emphasizes the importance of user-centered design and provides practical advice on how to create engaging and intuitive digital experiences.

It also includes case studies and real-world examples to illustrate key concepts and best practices.

“Affordances determine what actions are possible. Signifiers communicate where the action should take place.” Highlighted by 7,916 Kindle readers

The Design of Everyday Things discusses the principles of good design and how it can make our daily lives easier.

It emphasizes the importance of understanding human psychology and behavior when designing products, and the need for feedback to enhance usability.

The book also includes examples of poorly designed products and how they can be improved. The revised and expanded edition includes new insights on the role of technology in design and how it can impact our interactions with products.

Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights is a book that provides practical tips and methods for conducting effective user interviews.

It emphasizes the importance of empathy and active listening, and covers topics such as preparing for the interview, building rapport with the user, asking the right questions, and analyzing the data collected.

The book also includes case studies and real-world examples to illustrate how user interviews can be used to inform design decisions and create more user-centered products.”

Related: How to Craft the Perfect User Interview Script

Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams

The book “ Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams ” by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden describes how to implement Lean UX principles in the product design process to create great products.

The authors explain how to incorporate user feedback and testing into the development process, how to create cross-functional teams, and how to measure success.

The book also covers how to create a culture of collaboration, how to deal with uncertainty, and how to scale Lean UX to larger organizations.

Overall, the book emphasizes the importance of a user-centered design approach and continuous iteration in creating successful products.

Information Architecture: For the Web and Beyond

The book “ Information Architecture: For the Web and Beyond ” covers the concept of information architecture (IA) and how it can be used to create effective and user-friendly websites and digital products.

The book offers practical techniques and guidelines for organizing content, designing navigation, and creating user interfaces. It covers topics such as classification, labeling, metadata, search, and navigation systems.

The author emphasizes the importance of understanding user needs and behavior when designing IA, and offers case studies and examples to illustrate the concepts presented in the book.

Seductive Interaction Design: Creating Playful, Fun, and Effective User Experiences (Voices That Matter)

“ Seductive Interaction Design ” is a guide to creating engaging and compelling user experiences.

The book emphasizes the importance of emotional engagement in design and provides practical techniques for creating experiences that are both functional and delightful.

It explores topics such as sensory design, behavioral design, game design, and persuasive design. The author also emphasizes the importance of understanding users’ goals and motivations and aligning design with those goals.

The book provides examples of successful seductive designs and offers insights into the design process from industry experts. Overall, “ Seductive Interaction Design ” provides a comprehensive guide to creating user experiences that are engaging, compelling, and emotionally resonant.

Wrapping Up

I hope you found this list of the 9 best UX books to read in 2023 helpful! By reading these books, you’ll gain valuable insights and learn new techniques to improve your UX design skills.

But why stop there? If you’re looking for more resources to help you become a better UX designer , check out my other article on the best UI/UX design podcasts . If you are looking to take your design skills to the next level check out this article on the best UX/UI Design courses .

Disclosure: We’re reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

UX Consultant

UX Consultant | UX Design Mentor

Roxanne Rosewood, is an accomplished UX designer and researcher with five years of experience. Drawing from her professional expertise in the field, she shares her valuable insights on UX design, UX research, UX writing, and UI design on her blog TheRoxannePerspective.com where she provides a wealth of knowledge and expertise in these areas.

Roxanne’s dedication extends beyond UX design and research, as she also serves as a mentor, guiding and supporting aspiring UX professionals.

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8 must-read UX books for anyone interested in User Experience design

Looking for your next UX books to read? Whether you’re a student or senior practitioner, these helpful books can deepen your UX knowledge.

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What is UX? Why has it become so important? Could it be a career for you? Learn the answers, and more, with a free 7-lesson video course.

From design theory classics to industry guides, we’ve compiled a list of our top eight UX books reading recommendations.

Our top 8 Must-read UX books:

Ux book 1: the design of everyday things by don norman.

The Design of Everyday Things

Don Norman is considered to be one of the founding members of modern UX design. The Design of Everyday Things was first published in 1988, and it’s known as the usability bible.

It’s a must-read for anyone who designs for humans. The book’s main theme explores the relationship between a user and an object’s design.

It highlights that although we’re often keen to blame ourselves when objects appear to malfunction; it’s rarely the fault of the user but rather poor design.

The book claims that: “It could forever change how you experience and interact with your physical surroundings, open your eyes to the perversity of bad design and the desirability of good design, and raise your expectations about how things should be designed.”

Its insights are just as relevant today as they were thirty years ago, making it a UX classic.

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Ux book 2: the inmates are running the asylum: why high tech products drive us crazy and how to restore the sanity by alan cooper.

The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity 

Alan Cooper is a software designer, programmer and founder of Cooper – a leading interaction design consultancy. He’s well known for developing the Goal Directed Design methodology.

The Inmates Are Running the Asylum was first published in 1999. It’s another UX classic that looks at the value of user experience.

The book argues that “the business executives who make the decisions to develop these products are not the ones in control of the technology used to create them.”

It pioneers designing for normal people through the likes of user research and personas. While this might seem like an ageing revelation for some, user research is still often deprioritised in modern UX practice.

UX book 3: The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web by Jesse James Garrett

The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web 

Jesse James Garrett is a UX designer who has worked on the web since 1995. Aside from writing The Elements of User Experience , Garrett has developed the Visual Vocabulary , a notation system for documenting UX design; and defining Ajax , an approach to creating web applications.

His book The Elements of User Experience adds more structure to UX design theory classics like The Design of Everyday Things and The Inmates Are Running the Asylum. 

It carefully dissects the UX process and looks at how its various stages influence a product.

Here’s what you can expect to read:

“With so many issues involved—usability, brand identity, information architecture, interaction design— creating the user experience can be overwhelmingly complex. This edition cuts through that complexity with clear explanations and vivid illustrations that focus on ideas rather than tools or techniques. Garrett gives readers the big picture of user experience development, from strategy and requirements to information architecture and visual design.”

It’s another foundational UX book that you’ll want to keep close to your desk.

UX book 4: Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug

Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability 

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug was first published in 2000. It examines how good software is easy to use, and why it shouldn’t make you think.

This is reflected in its writing style. It’s like reading a very well-written, punchy comic book. You’ll instantly understand the points, but it will also make you think deeply about usability and accessibility.

You’ll understand UX – what it’s about and why research is so important. It uses real-world analogies to illustrate how UX can make products and people’s lives so much better.

Krug thinks that people are good at satisficing , taking the first available solution to fix their problem. He thinks design should take advantage of this opportunity.

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UX book 5: 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People by Susan Weinschenk

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People (and its sequel 100 More Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People ) could appeal to those interested in the psychological side of UX.

These straightforward books were written by behavioural psychologist, Dr. Susan Weinschenk, who has worked in the UX field since 1985. She applies neuroscience to understand what motivates people and how to get them to take action. She teaches, speaks, mentors, and consults with Fortune 1000 companies, startups, non-profit agencies, and educational institutions.

Weinschenk uses her expertise to steer designers into making better decisions in both books.

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People can be summarised as:

“This book combines real science and research with practical examples to deliver a guide every designer needs. With it you’ll be able to design more intuitive and engaging work for print, websites, applications, and products that match the way people think, work, and play.”

UX book 6: Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction by Jenny Preece, Helen Sharp & Yvonne Rogers

Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction

Interaction Design   is a key academic interaction design resource for students and professionals alike.

Academic contributors include Jenny Preece (Professor and Dean Emerita in the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland); Helen Sharp (Professor of Software Engineering and Dean in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at the Open University); and Yvonne Rogers (Professor of Interaction Design and Director of the Interaction Centre at University College London).

This is a comprehensive resource for learning about interaction design, human-computer interaction, information design, web design, while looking at how they relate to AI and data science.

UX book 7: Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner’s Guide to User Research by Elizabeth Goodman, Mike Kuniavsky & Andrea Moed

Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner’s Guide to User Research

Observing the User Experience by Mike Kuniavsky encourages designers to see things from the users’ perspective, offering practical advice for designers.

It aims to bridge the gap between designers and their users, by looking at what users want and need. It offers designers 13 user research techniques to help them create better products.

The book considers real world constraints like tight budgets, scheduling issues, etc, making it a great field guide for designers.

Observing the User Experience is a good introduction to user research, as well as a good refresher.

UX book 8: Delft Design Guide: Design strategies and methods by Annemiek van Boeijen, Jaap Daalhuizen, Roos van der Schoor & Jelle Zijlstra

Delft Design Guide: Design strategies and methods

Delft Design Guide  by Annemiek van Boeijen, Jaap Daalhuizen, Jelle Zijlstra, Roos van der Schoor catalogues seventy strategies, techniques and methods taught at TU Delft. Some of these are unique to TU Delft and others are found outside of it.

The main purpose of this book is to teach design students, but it’s a useful resource for practitioners too.

Although this is a dense read, it’s a comprehensive resource that you can revisit again and again.

Now that you have your ultimate list of UX books to start reading why not check out more of our helpful resources for your UX career? Check out our top UX design tools for 2022 and our guide to the best UX portfolio out there .

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2 July 2024

• Victor Yocco
• Apr 9, 2024

Connecting With Users: Applying Principles Of Communication To UX Research

• 30 min read
• UX , User Research , Communication
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About The Author

Victor Yocco, PhD, has over a decade of experience as a UX researcher and research director. He is currently affiliated with Allelo Design and is taking on … More about Victor ↬

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Communication is in everything we do. We communicate with users through our research, our design, and, ultimately, the products and services we offer. UX practitioners and those working on digital product teams benefit from understanding principles of communication and their application to our craft. Treating our UX processes as a mode of communication between users and the digital environment can help unveil in-depth, actionable insights.

In this article, I’ll focus on UX research. Communication is a core component of UX research , as it serves to bridge the gap between research insights, design strategy, and business outcomes. UX researchers, designers, and those working with UX researchers can apply key aspects of communication theory to help gather valuable insights, enhance user experiences, and create more successful products.

Fundamentals of Communication Theory

Communications as an academic field encompasses various models and principles that highlight the dynamics of communication between individuals and groups. Communication theory examines the transfer of information from one person or group to another. It explores how messages are transmitted, encoded, and decoded, acknowledges the potential for interference (or ‘noise’), and accounts for feedback mechanisms in enhancing the communication process.

In this article, I will focus on the Transactional Model of Communication . There are many other models and theories in the academic literature on communication. I have included references at the end of the article for those interested in learning more.

The Transactional Model of Communication (Figure 1) is a two-way process that emphasizes the simultaneous sending and receiving of messages and feedback . Importantly, it recognizes that communication is shaped by context and is an ongoing, evolving process. I’ll use this model and understanding when applying principles from the model to UX research. You’ll find that much of what is covered in the Transactional Model would also fall under general best practices for UX research, suggesting even if we aren’t communications experts, much of what we should be doing is supported by research in this field.

Understanding the Transactional Model

Let’s take a deeper dive into the six key factors and their applications within the realm of UX research:

• Sender: In UX research, the sender is typically the researcher who conducts interviews, facilitates usability tests, or designs surveys. For example, if you’re administering a user interview, you are the sender who initiates the communication process by asking questions.
• Receiver: The receiver is the individual who decodes and interprets the messages sent by the sender. In our context, this could be the user you interview or the person taking a survey you have created. They receive and process your questions, providing responses based on their understanding and experiences.
• Message: This is the content being communicated from the sender to the receiver. In UX research, the message can take various forms, like a set of survey questions, interview prompts, or tasks in a usability test.
• Channel: This is the medium through which the communication flows. For instance, face-to-face interviews, phone interviews, email surveys administered online, and usability tests conducted via screen sharing are all different communication channels. You might use multiple channels simultaneously, for example, communicating over voice while also using a screen share to show design concepts.
• Noise: Any factor that may interfere with the communication is regarded as ‘noise.’ In UX research, this could be complex jargon that confuses respondents in a survey, technical issues during a remote usability test, or environmental distractions during an in-person interview.
• Feedback: The communication received by the receiver, who then provides an output, is called feedback. For example, the responses given by a user during an interview or the data collected from a completed survey are types of feedback or the physical reaction of a usability testing participant while completing a task.

Applying the Transactional Model of Communication to Preparing for UX Research

We can become complacent or feel rushed to create our research protocols. I think this is natural in the pace of many workplaces and our need to deliver results quickly. You can apply the lens of the Transactional Model of Communication to your research preparation without adding much time. Applying the Transactional Model of Communication to your preparation should:

• Improve Clarity The model provides a clear representation of communication, empowering the researcher to plan and conduct studies more effectively.
• Minimize misunderstanding By highlighting potential noise sources, user confusion or misunderstandings can be better anticipated and mitigated.
• Enhance research participant participation With your attentive eye on feedback, participants are likely to feel valued, thus increasing active involvement and quality of input.

You can address the specific elements of the Transactional Model through the following steps while preparing for research:

Defining the Sender and Receiver

In UX research, the sender can often be the UX researcher conducting the study, while the receiver is usually the research participant. Understanding this dynamic can help researchers craft questions or tasks more empathetically and efficiently. You should try to collect some information on your participant in advance to prepare yourself for building a rapport.

For example, if you are conducting contextual inquiry with the field technicians of an HVAC company, you’ll want to dress appropriately to reflect your understanding of the context in which your participants (receivers) will be conducting their work. Showing up dressed in formal attire might be off-putting and create a negative dynamic between sender and receiver.

Message Creation

The message in UX research typically is the questions asked or tasks assigned during the study. Careful consideration of tenor, terminology, and clarity can aid data accuracy and participant engagement. Whether you are interviewing or creating a survey, you need to double-check that your audience will understand your questions and provide meaningful answers. You can pilot-test your protocol or questionnaire with a few representative individuals to identify areas that might cause confusion.

Using the HVAC example again, you might find that field technicians use certain terminology in a different way than you expect, such as asking them about what “tools” they use to complete their tasks yields you an answer that doesn’t reflect digital tools you’d find on a computer or smartphone, but physical tools like a pipe and wrench.

Choosing the Right Channel

The channel selection depends on the method of research. For instance, face-to-face methods might use physical verbal communication, while remote methods might rely on emails, video calls, or instant messaging. The choice of the medium should consider factors like tech accessibility, ease of communication, reliability, and participant familiarity with the channel. For example, you introduce an additional challenge (noise) if you ask someone who has never used an iPhone to test an app on an iPhone.

Minimizing Noise

Noise in UX research comes in many forms, from unclear questions inducing participant confusion to technical issues in remote interviews that cause interruptions. The key is to foresee potential issues and have preemptive solutions ready.

Facilitating Feedback

You should be prepared for how you might collect and act on participant feedback during the research. Encouraging regular feedback from the user during UX research ensures their understanding and that they feel heard. This could range from asking them to ‘think aloud’ as they perform tasks or encouraging them to email queries or concerns after the session. You should document any noise that might impact your findings and account for that in your analysis and reporting.

Track Your Alignment to the Framework

You can track what you do to align your processes with the Transactional Model prior to and during research using a spreadsheet. I’ll provide an example of a spreadsheet I’ve used in the later case study section of this article. You should create your spreadsheet during the process of preparing for research, as some of what you do to prepare should align with the factors of the model.

You can use these tips for preparation regardless of the specific research method you are undertaking. Let’s now look closer at a few common methods and get specific on how you can align your actions with the Transactional Model.

Applying the Transactional Model to Common UX Research Methods

UX research relies on interaction with users. We can easily incorporate aspects of the Transactional Model of Communication into our most common methods. Utilizing the Transactional Model in conducting interviews, surveys, and usability testing can help provide structure to your process and increase the quality of insights gathered.

Interviews are a common method used in qualitative UX research. They provide the perfect method for applying principles from the Transactional Model. In line with the Transactional Model, the researcher (sender) sends questions (messages) in-person or over the phone/computer medium (channel) to the participant (receiver), who provides answers (feedback) while contending with potential distraction or misunderstanding (noise). Reflecting on communication as transactional can help remind us we need to respect the dynamic between ourselves and the person we are interviewing. Rather than approaching an interview as a unidirectional interrogation, researchers need to view it as a conversation.

Applying the Transactional Model to conducting interviews means we should account for a number of facts to allow for high-quality communication. Note how the following overlap with what we typically call best practices.

Asking Open-ended Questions

To truly harness a two-way flow of communication, open-ended questions, rather than close-ended ones, are crucial. For instance, rather than asking, “Do you use our mobile application?” ask, “Can you describe your use of our mobile app?”. This encourages the participant to share more expansive and descriptive insights, furthering the dialogue.

Actively Listening

As the success of an interview relies on the participant’s responses, active listening is a crucial skill for UX researchers. The researcher should encourage participants to express their thoughts and feelings freely. Reflective listening techniques , such as paraphrasing or summarizing what the participant has shared, can reinforce to the interviewee that their contributions are being acknowledged and valued. It also provides an opportunity to clarify potential noise or misunderstandings that may arise.

Being Responsive

Building on the simultaneous send-receive nature of the Transactional Model, researchers must remain responsive during interviews. Providing non-verbal cues (like nodding) and verbal affirmations (“I see,” “Interesting”) lets participants know their message is being received and understood, making them feel comfortable and more willing to share.

We should always attempt to account for noise in advance, as well as during our interview sessions. Noise, in the form of misinterpretations or distractions, can disrupt effective communication. Researchers can proactively reduce noise by conducting a dry run in advance of the scheduled interviews . This helps you become more fluent at going through the interview and also helps identify areas that might need improvement or be misunderstood by participants. You also reduce noise by creating a conducive interview environment, minimizing potential distractions, and asking clarifying questions during the interview whenever necessary.

For example, if a participant uses a term the researcher doesn’t understand, the researcher should politely ask for clarification rather than guessing its meaning and potentially misinterpreting the data.

Additional forms of noise can include participant confusion or distraction. You should let participants know to ask if they are unclear on anything you say or do. It’s a good idea to always ask participants to put their smartphones on mute. You should only provide information critical to the process when introducing the interview or tasks. For example, you don’t need to give a full background of the history of the product you are researching if that isn’t required for the participant to complete the interview. However, you should let them know the purpose of the research, gain their consent to participate, and inform them of how long you expect the session to last.

Strategizing the Flow

Researchers should build strategic thinking into their interviews to support the Transaction Model. Starting the interview with less intrusive questions can help establish rapport and make the participant more comfortable, while more challenging or sensitive questions can be left for later when the interviewee feels more at ease.

A well-planned interview encourages a fluid dialogue and exchange of ideas. This is another area where conducting a dry run can help to ensure high-quality research. You and your dry-run participants should recognize areas where questions aren’t flowing in the best order or don’t make sense in the context of the interview, allowing you to correct the flow in advance.

While much of what the Transactional Model informs for interviews already aligns with common best practices, the model would suggest we need to have a deeper consideration of factors that we can sometimes give less consideration when we become overly comfortable with interviewing or are unaware of the implications of forgetting to address the factors of context considerations, power dynamics, and post-interview actions.

Context Considerations

You need to account for both the context of the participant, e.g., their background, demographic, and psychographic information, as well as the context of the interview itself. You should make subtle yet meaningful modifications depending on the channel you are conducting an interview.

For example, you should utilize video and be aware of your facial and physical responses if you are conducting an interview using an online platform, whereas if it’s a phone interview, you will need to rely on verbal affirmations that you are listening and following along, while also being mindful not to interrupt the participant while they are speaking.

Power Dynamics

Researchers need to be aware of how your role, background, and identity might influence the power dynamics of the interview. You can attempt to address power dynamics by sharing research goals transparently and addressing any potential concerns about bias a participant shares.

We are responsible for creating a safe and inclusive space for our interviews. You do this through the use of inclusive language, listening actively without judgment, and being flexible to accommodate different ways of knowing and expressing experiences. You should also empower participants as collaborators whenever possible . You can offer opportunities for participants to share feedback on the interview process and analysis. Doing this validates participants’ experiences and knowledge and ensures their voices are heard and valued.

Post-Interview Actions

You have a number of options for actions that can close the loop of your interviews with participants in line with the “feedback” the model suggests is a critical part of communication. Some tactics you can consider following your interview include:

• Debriefing Dedicate a few minutes at the end to discuss the participant’s overall experience, impressions, and suggestions for future interviews.
• Short surveys Send a brief survey via email or an online platform to gather feedback on the interview experience.
• Follow-up calls Consider follow-up calls with specific participants to delve deeper into their feedback and gain additional insight if you find that is warranted.
• Thank you emails Include a “feedback” section in your thank you email, encouraging participants to share their thoughts on the interview.

You also need to do something with the feedback you receive. Researchers and product teams should make time for reflexivity and critical self-awareness.

As practitioners in a human-focused field, we are expected to continuously examine how our assumptions and biases might influence our interviews and findings. “

We shouldn’t practice our craft in a silo. Instead, seeking feedback from colleagues and mentors to maintain ethical research practices should be a standard practice for interviews and all UX research methods.

By considering interviews as an ongoing transaction and exchange of ideas rather than a unidirectional Q&A, UX researchers can create a more communicative and engaging environment. You can see how models of communication have informed best practices for interviews. With a better knowledge of the Transactional Model, you can go deeper and check your work against the framework of the model.

The Transactional Model of Communication reminds us to acknowledge the feedback loop even in seemingly one-way communication methods like surveys. Instead of merely sending out questions and collecting responses, we need to provide space for respondents to voice their thoughts and opinions freely. When we make participants feel heard, engagement with our surveys should increase, dropouts should decrease, and response quality should improve.

Like other methods, surveys involve the researcher(s) creating the instructions and questionnaire (sender), the survey, including any instructions, disclaimers, and consent forms (the message), how the survey is administered, e.g., online, in person, or pen and paper (the channel), the participant (receiver), potential misunderstandings or distractions (noise), and responses (feedback).

Designing the Survey

Understanding the Transactional Model will help researchers design more effective surveys. Researchers are encouraged to be aware of both their role as the sender and to anticipate the participant’s perspective as the receiver. Begin surveys with clear instructions, explaining why you’re conducting the survey and how long it’s estimated to take. This establishes a more communicative relationship with respondents right from the start. Test these instructions with multiple people prior to launching the survey.

Crafting Questions

The questions should be crafted to encourage feedback and not just a simple yes or no. You should consider asking scaled questions or items that have been statistically validated to measure certain attributes of users.

For example, if you were looking deeper at a mobile banking application, rather than asking, “Did you find our product easy to use?” you would want to break that out into multiple aspects of the experience and ask about each with a separate question such as “On a scale of 1–7, with 1 being extremely difficult and 7 being extremely easy, how would you rate your experience transferring money from one account to another?” .

Reducing ‘noise,’ or misunderstandings, is crucial for increasing the reliability of responses. Your first line of defense in reducing noise is to make sure you are sampling from the appropriate population you want to conduct the research with. You need to use a screener that will filter out non-viable participants prior to including them in the survey. You do this when you correctly identify the characteristics of the population you want to sample from and then exclude those falling outside of those parameters.

Additionally, you should focus on prioritizing finding participants through random sampling from the population of potential participants versus using a convenience sample, as this helps to ensure you are collecting reliable data.

When looking at the survey itself, there are a number of recommendations to reduce noise. You should ensure questions are easily understandable, avoid technical jargon, and sequence questions logically. A question bank should be reviewed and tested before being finalized for distribution.

For example, question statements like “Do you use and like this feature?” can confuse respondents because they are actually two separate questions: do you use the feature, and do you like the feature? You should separate out questions like this into more than one question.

You should use visual aids that are relevant whenever possible to enhance the clarity of the questions. For example, if you are asking questions about an application’s “Dashboard” screen, you might want to provide a screenshot of that page so survey takers have a clear understanding of what you are referencing. You should also avoid the use of jargon if you are surveying a non-technical population and explain any terminology that might be unclear to participants taking the survey.

The Transactional Model suggests active participation in communication is necessary for effective communication . Participants can become distracted or take a survey without intending to provide thoughtful answers. You should consider adding a question somewhere in the middle of the survey to check that participants are paying attention and responding appropriately, particularly for longer surveys.

This is often done using a simple math problem such as “What is the answer to 1+1?” Anyone not responding with the answer of “2” might not be adequately paying attention to the responses they are providing and you’d want to look closer at their responses, eliminating them from your analysis if deemed appropriate.

Encouraging Feedback

While descriptive feedback questions are one way of promoting dialogue, you can also include areas where respondents can express any additional thoughts or questions they have outside of the set question list. This is especially useful in online surveys, where researchers can’t immediately address participant’s questions or clarify doubts.

You should be mindful that too many open-ended questions can cause fatigue , so you should limit the number of open-ended questions. I recommend two to three open-ended questions depending on the length of your overall survey.

Post-Survey Actions

After collecting and analyzing the data, you can send follow-up communications to the respondents. Let them know the changes made based on their feedback, thank them for their participation, or even share a summary of the survey results. This fulfills the Transactional Model’s feedback loop and communicates to the respondent that their input was received, valued, and acted upon.

You can also meet this suggestion by providing an email address for participants to follow up if they desire more information post-survey. You are allowing them to complete the loop themselves if they desire.

Applying the transactional model to surveys can breathe new life into the way surveys are conducted in UX research. It encourages active participation from respondents, making the process more interactive and engaging while enhancing the quality of the data collected. You can experiment with applying some or all of the steps listed above. You will likely find you are already doing much of what’s mentioned, however being explicit can allow you to make sure you are thoughtfully applying these principles from the field communication.

Usability Testing

Usability testing is another clear example of a research method highlighting components of the Transactional Model. In the context of usability testing, the Transactional Model of Communication’s application opens a pathway for a richer understanding of the user experience by positioning both the user and the researcher as sender and receiver of communication simultaneously.

Here are some ways a researcher can use elements of the Transactional Model during usability testing:

Task Assignment as Message Sending

When a researcher assigns tasks to a user during usability testing, they act as the sender in the communication process. To ensure the user accurately receives the message, these tasks need to be clear and well-articulated. For example, a task like “Register a new account on the app” sends a clear message to the user about what they need to do.

You don’t need to tell them how to do the task, as usually, that’s what we are trying to determine from our testing, but if you are not clear on what you want them to do, your message will not resonate in the way it is intended. This is another area where a dry run in advance of the testing is an optimal solution for making sure tasks are worded clearly.

Observing and Listening as Message Receiving

As the participant interacts with the application, concept, or design, the researcher, as the receiver, picks up on verbal and nonverbal cues. For instance, if a user is clicking around aimlessly or murmuring in confusion, the researcher can take these as feedback about certain elements of the design that are unclear or hard to use. You can also ask the user to explain why they are giving these cues you note as a way to provide them with feedback on their communication.

Real-time Interaction

The transactional nature of the model recognizes the importance of real-time interaction. For example, if during testing, the user is unsure of what a task means or how to proceed, the researcher can provide clarification without offering solutions or influencing the user’s action. This interaction follows the communication flow prescribed by the transactional model. We lose the ability to do this during unmoderated testing; however, many design elements are forms of communication that can serve to direct users or clarify the purpose of an experience (to be covered more in article two).

In usability testing, noise could mean unclear tasks, users’ preconceived notions, or even issues like slow software response. Acknowledging noise can help researchers plan and conduct tests better. Again, carrying out a pilot test can help identify any noise in the main test scenarios, allowing for necessary tweaks before actual testing. Other forms of noise can be less obvious but equally intrusive. For example, if you are conducting a test using a Macbook laptop and your participant is used to a PC, there is noise you need to account for, given their unfamiliarity with the laptop you’ve provided.

The fidelity of the design artifact being tested might introduce another form of noise. I’ve always advocated testing at any level of fidelity, but you should note that if you are using “Lorem Ipsum” or black and white designs, this potentially adds noise.

One of my favorite examples of this was a time when I was testing a financial services application, and the designers had put different balances on the screen; however, the total for all balances had not been added up to the correct total. Virtually every person tested noted this discrepancy, although it had nothing to do with the tasks at hand. I had to acknowledge we’d introduced noise to the testing. As at least one participant noted, they wouldn’t trust a tool that wasn’t able to total balances correctly.

Under the Transactional Model’s guidance, feedback isn’t just final thoughts after testing; it should be facilitated at each step of the process. Encouraging ‘think aloud’ protocols , where the user verbalizes their thoughts, reactions, and feelings during testing, ensures a constant flow of useful feedback.

You are receiving feedback throughout the process of usability testing, and the model provides guidance on how you should use that feedback to create a shared meaning with the participants. You will ultimately summarize this meaning in your report. You’ll later end up uncovering if this shared meaning was correctly interpreted when you design or redesign the product based on your findings.

We’ve now covered how to apply the Transactional Model of Communication to three common UX Research methods. All research with humans involves communication. You can break down other UX methods using the Model’s factors to make sure you engage in high-quality research.

Analyzing and Reporting UX Research Data Through the Lens of the Transactional Model

The Transactional Model of Communication doesn’t only apply to the data collection phase (interviews, surveys, or usability testing) of UX research. Its principles can provide valuable insights during the data analysis process.

The Transactional Model instructs us to view any communication as an interactive, multi-layered dialogue — a concept that is particularly useful when unpacking user responses. Consider the ‘message’ components: In the context of data analysis, the messages are the users’ responses. As researchers, thinking critically about how respondents may have internally processed the survey questions, interview discussion, or usability tasks can yield richer insights into user motivations.

Understanding Context

Just as the Transactional Model emphasizes the simultaneous interchange of communication, UX researchers should consider the user’s context while interpreting data. Decoding the meaning behind a user’s words or actions involves understanding their background, experiences, and the situation when they provide responses.

Deciphering Noise

In the Transactional Model, noise presents a potential barrier to effective communication. Similarly, researchers must be aware of snowballing themes or frequently highlighted issues during analysis. Noise, in this context, could involve patterns of confusion, misunderstandings, or consistently highlighted problems by users. You need to account for this, e.g., the example I provided where participants constantly referred to the incorrect math on static wireframes.

Considering Sender-Receiver Dynamics

Remember that as a UX researcher, your interpretation of user responses will be influenced by your understandings, biases, or preconceptions, just as the responses were influenced by the user’s perceptions. By acknowledging this, researchers can strive to neutralize any subjective influence and ensure the analysis remains centered on the user’s perspective. You can ask other researchers to double-check your work to attempt to account for bias.

For example, if you come up with a clear theme that users need better guidance in the application you are testing, another researcher from outside of the project should come to a similar conclusion if they view the data; if not, you should have a conversation with them to determine what different perspectives you are each bringing to the data analysis.

Reporting Results

Understanding your audience is crucial for delivering a persuasive UX research presentation. Tailoring your communication to resonate with the specific concerns and interests of your stakeholders can significantly enhance the impact of your findings. Here are some more details:

• Identify Stakeholder Groups Identify the different groups of stakeholders who will be present in your audience. This could include designers, developers, product managers, and executives.
• Prioritize Information Prioritize the information based on what matters most to each stakeholder group. For example, designers might be more interested in usability issues, while executives may prioritize business impact.
• Adapt Communication Style Adjust your communication style to align with the communication preferences of each group. Provide technical details for developers and emphasize user experience benefits for executives.

Acknowledging Feedback

Respecting this Transactional Model’s feedback loop, remember to revisit user insights after implementing design changes. This ensures you stay user-focused, continuously validating or adjusting your interpretations based on users’ evolving feedback. You can do this in a number of ways. You can reconnect with users to show them updated designs and ask questions to see if the issues you attempted to resolve were resolved.

Another way to address this without having to reconnect with the users is to create a spreadsheet or other document to track all the recommendations that were made and reconcile the changes with what is then updated in the design. You should be able to map the changes users requested to updates or additions to the product roadmap for future updates. This acknowledges that users were heard and that an attempt to address their pain points will be documented.

Crucially, the Transactional Model teaches us that communication is rarely simple or one-dimensional. It encourages UX researchers to take a more nuanced, context-aware approach to data analysis, resulting in deeper user understanding and more accurate, user-validated results.

By maintaining an ongoing feedback loop with users and continually refining interpretations, researchers can ensure that their work remains grounded in real user experiences and needs. “

Tracking Your Application of the Transactional Model to Your Practice

You might find it useful to track how you align your research planning and execution to the framework of the Transactional Model. I’ve created a spreadsheet to outline key factors of the model and used this for some of my work. Demonstrated below is an example derived from a study conducted for a banking client that included interviews and usability testing. I completed this spreadsheet during the process of planning and conducting interviews. Anonymized data from our study has been furnished to show an example of how you might populate a similar spreadsheet with your information.

You can customize the spreadsheet structure to fit your specific research topic and interview approach. By documenting your application of the transactional model, you can gain valuable insights into the dynamic nature of communication and improve your interview skills for future research.

You can use the suggested columns from this table as you see fit, adding or subtracting as needed, particularly if you use a method other than interviews. I usually add the following additional Columns for logistical purposes:

• Date of Interview,
• Participant ID,
• Interview Format (e.g., in person, remote, video, phone).

By incorporating aspects of communication theory into UX research, UX researchers and those who work with UX researchers can enhance the effectiveness of their communication strategies, gather more accurate insights, and create better user experiences. Communication theory provides a framework for understanding the dynamics of communication, and its application to UX research enables researchers to tailor their approaches to specific audiences, employ effective interviewing techniques, design surveys and questionnaires, establish seamless communication channels during usability testing, and interpret data more effectively.

As the field of UX research continues to evolve, integrating communication theory into research practices will become increasingly essential for bridging the gap between users and design teams, ultimately leading to more successful products that resonate with target audiences.

As a UX professional, it is important to continually explore and integrate new theories and methodologies to enhance your practice . By leveraging communication theory principles, you can better understand user needs, improve the user experience, and drive successful outcomes for digital products and services.

Integrating communication theory into UX research is an ongoing journey of learning and implementing best practices. Embracing this approach empowers researchers to effectively communicate their findings to stakeholders and foster collaborative decision-making, ultimately driving positive user experiences and successful design outcomes.

References and Further Reading

• The Mathematical Theory of Communication (PDF), Shannon, C. E., & Weaver, W.
• From organizational effectiveness to relationship indicators: Antecedents of relationships, public relations strategies, and relationship outcomes , Grunig, J. E., & Huang, Y. H.
• Communication and persuasion: Psychological studies of opinion change, Hovland, C. I., Janis, I. L., & Kelley, H. H. (1953). Yale University Press
• Communication research as an autonomous discipline, Chaffee, S. H. (1986). Communication Yearbook, 10, 243-274
• Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters (PDF), Wood, J. (2015)
• Theories of Human Communication , Littlejohn, S. W., & Foss, K. A. (2011)
• McQuail’s Mass Communication Theory (PDF), McQuail, D. (2010)
• Bridges Not Walls: A Book About Interpersonal Communication , Stewart, J. (2012)

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Automating the mundane: 4 AI tools to improve UX research

The focus of product and UX leaders on user research is stronger now than ever. And we all recognize the critical role UX research plays in crafting exceptional user experiences that truly meet customer needs.

However, UX designers often encounter major hurdles throughout the research process. Repetitive tasks and time-consuming analysis can further bog things down.

Amidst these challenges, powerful AI tools have been developed to optimize UX research for greater ease, scalability, and accuracy. These AI tools offer a solution by automating some of the biggest bottlenecks in UX research.

In this article, we discuss these common bottlenecks, examine the role of AI for UX research and explore the best AI tools to better UX research.

Challenges in UX research

Let’s explore the most common challenges UXers face when conducting research:

Choosing the right research method for your needs

Selecting the most appropriate research method can be a huge stumbling block for UX designers. The allure of trendy new methodologies can often overshadow the tried-and-true methods that best suit the research question at hand.

A common mistake when conducting UX research is relying solely on surveys for quantitative insights when user interviews or usability testing might provide richer, more contextual data.

The key lies in understanding the strengths and limitations of different methods.

AI can help you identify the right research method based on your research project’s requirements and limitations. It can also compare various research methods and let you know which best suits your needs.

For example, surveys excel at gathering quantitative data from a large sample size, while user interviews delve deeper into user needs and motivations. Usability testing , on the other hand, provides invaluable insights into user behavior within a specific product context.

Drafting the perfect survey and interview questions with minimal biases

How you phrase questions or interact with participants in UX interviews can influence their responses. Mitigating this bias requires careful design of research questions and a neutral facilitation approach.

While this can ordinarily be quite tricky, AI can help you develop neutral survey and interview questions that limit biases.

Transcribing lengthy interviews and coding qualitative data

One of the most time-consuming tasks in UX research is transcribing lengthy interviews and coding qualitative data.

However, with the advent of AI-powered tools like Otter.ai , this process can be automated. These tools can transcribe audio recordings and assist with coding themes and sentiment analysis, freeing up valuable time for designers to focus on interpreting the data and extracting actionable insights.

Analyzing large datasets can be tricky and nearly superhuman

Making sense of vast amounts of qualitative and quantitative data can be overwhelming, especially for smaller UX teams. Identifying key themes and insights requires strong data analysis skills, typically far removed from a UX designer’s skill set.

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With AI, UXers can automatically generate insights and visualizations from complex datasets. These can be used to quickly identify trends and communicate research findings effectively, even to nontechnical stakeholders.

Top 4 tools in AI for UX research

Let’s examine the best AI tools for UX research and how you can use them to improve the UX research process and overcome the research challenges we’ve highlighted.

1. ChatGPT and Gemini for research brainstorming

Generative tools like ChatGPT and Gemini offer a unique value proposition for UXers in the early stages of their research planning.

These two AI tools can significantly improve your research planning and free up time to focus more on interpretation and design decision-making. They can also help you deliver UX that resonates more profoundly with your target audience.

Here are some ways you can use these two AI for UX research:

• Brainstorm and refine research questions — If you’re stuck formulating a clear research question, you simply have to provide some background information about your project and target audience, and AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini can suggest relevant research questions
• Analyze your research questions and find ways to refine them for clarity and direction — Using AI for UX research ensures that your research questions target the most relevant user behaviors to gather data that directly addresses your research goals
• Figure out the best methodology — You may use ChatGPT or Gemini to determine what research method works best to help you meet your research goals once you have your research questions
• Highlight any gaps in your research study — You may have missed or overlooked gaps in your research plan, and using AI for UX research can help you bridge these gaps

2. Otter.ai for interview transcription

UX research often involves capturing user insights through interviews, surveys, and user testing sessions. Manual transcription of audio recordings is time-consuming and prone to errors.

Here’s where you can leverage AI for UX research. Otter.ai can automatically join your meetings to record, take notes, and utilize AI to streamline transcription. Here are some ways Otter.ai does this for you:

• Automatically transcribe interviews and user testing sessions — Otter.ai frees researchers to focus on observing user behavior and taking contextual notes during interviews with its real-time, editable, and searchable transcriptions
• Create summaries of the discussion that can be easily shared with relevant stakeholders — By creating summaries out of interviews — live or pre-recorded — Otter.ai significantly reduces your post-interview workload, so you can dedicate more time to analyzing user data. You can also highlight and annotate the transcriptions and share notes with involved stakeholders
• Enable researchers to directly probe the transcription via AI chat — Otter.ai allows researchers to interact with the transcription through an AI chat interface, significantly improving data accuracy compared to manual note-taking methods and ensuring the integrity of captured user feedback

3. Typeform for building smarter forms

Typeform will help you create surveys and forms that can be utilized for better insights. It has AI capabilities that can enhance the form-building and data-collection experience. Here’s an overview of Typeform’s most helpful AI features:

• Build and design your form — Simply describe your goals for the survey, and the Typeform’s AI will suggest relevant question types and answer options. This jumpstarts the form-building process , helps you cure blank page syndrome, and ensures you collect the right data
• Get contextual options for your multiple-choice questions — Typeform’s AI can automatically generate multiple-choice and dropdown answer options based on the keywords you enter for your question. This can help save time spent scrambling for answer choices and ensure your questions provide users with clear and relevant response choices
• Easily personalize the survey design and aesthetic — Typeform’s AI can scan your website and suggest design elements that match your brand. It can also suggest tailored branching logic based on your form’s content, personalizing the survey based on user responses. This ensures users see only relevant questions, creating a more engaging experience
• Get “smart insights” — You may also use Typeform’s AI for UX research in the post-survey phase. Typeform automatically converts survey responses into charts and graphs. This saves you time on data visualization and manipulation and helps researchers instantly identify patterns and key points. Additionally, it highlights user sentiment in responses, enabling UXers to gauge satisfaction and identify areas for improvement quickly

4. Kraftful for user feedback analysis

Kraftful has AI capabilities specifically designed to enhance user feedback analysis for product development. All you have to do is select and integrate the data source, and Kraftful does all the work for you. With Kraftful, you can pull data from your app reviews, support tickets, call transcripts, and website reviews.

Here’s a breakdown of how Kraftful utilizes AI-powered text analysis:

• Sentiment analysis of user feedback — Kraftful can automate repetitive tasks like categorization and sentiment analysis. The AI can identify positive, negative, and neutral sentiments within user comments, helping product teams faster understand overall user satisfaction and areas of concern
• Topic modeling that goes beyond simple keyword searches — The AI of Kraftful utilizes topic modeling to uncover hidden patterns and recurring themes within user feedback and interview data. This helps product teams identify unexpected trends and user pain points that might’ve been missed in traditional analysis, empowering product teams to make data-driven decisions
• Automated categorization of user feedback —Kraftful also offers AI for UX research to categorize user feedback into predefined categories like bugs, feature requests, or usability issues. This helps save time and effort for product teams when analyzing feedback

Bonus: Insight7 for a custom vocabulary

Here’s a bonus tool that uses AI to better your UX research — Insight7 . Insight7 offers industry-specific accuracy and customization for your UX research, just like Kraftful, but with a cherry on top.

For users in legal, financial services, and healthcare, where precise transcript accuracy is critical, Insight7 offers a ‘custom vocabulary’ feature. With this, you can upload domain-specific terminology to ensure the transcripts capture the nuances of your industry jargon.

Additionally, Insight7 provides pre-built templates to enhance framing insights for various research areas like market research, marketing communications, and customer research.

Things to note when using AI for UX research

Using AI for UX research can offer massive benefits, but you should be aware of the limitations and considerations involved:

• While AI is a powerful tool, it cannot be taken at its face value. It can’t replace the critical thinking and understanding of research methodologies that a skilled researcher brings to the table. Always review AI suggestions and calculations critically and ensure they align with your research goals
• AI algorithms are trained on data sets, which can sometimes be biased. Be mindful of potential biases in the data used by AI tools
• The quality of data provided to the AI tool directly impacts the quality of AI analysis. Product teams need to ensure they gather clear, concise, and unbiased user feedback to get the most out of the AI’s capabilities

If you can leverage these AI tools strategically while maintaining your research expertise, you’ll be able to significantly accelerate your research process. You’ll be equipped to gain deeper user insights faster and make data-driven decisions that lead to user-centered design and successful product experiences.

However, it’s important to remember that AI is a powerful assistant, not a replacement for your expertise.

The ability to understand user needs, interpret research findings creatively, and translate insights into actionable design solutions remains the domain of skilled UX researchers and designers.

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12 Best UX Analytics Tools for User Research [2024]

15 min read

Giving customers what they want is tricky without the right tool in your arsenal. Luckily, UX analytics tools are available and accessible for understanding user behavior and crafting the optimum user experience.

Do you want to revolutionize your business with UX analytics? Here are 12 of the best user experience analytics tools for user research in 2024!

1. Userpilot

• Rating: 4.6 on G2.

Userpilot is a digital adoption and growth platform for digital products good for user onboarding, feature adoption, and churn reduction for web apps.

Its UX tools excel at gathering insights from quantitative and qualitative data. Userpilot also possesses powerful tools in customer engagement, conversion, and customer retention.

Key features

Here’s a brief overview of Userpilot’s UX analytics tools:

• User segmentation : The segmentation feature in Userpilot lets you segment users based on attributes to define and predict user behavior. Userpilot keeps track of such attributes as name, ID, plan, web sessions, device type, and sign-up date. It also tracks complex attributes like company data, tagged features, custom events, in-app experiences, and user feedback.

• Funnel analysis : Userpilot’s funnel analysis tool keeps track of user actions throughout every phase of the funnel. You can analyze each step of the user journey to pinpoint choke points and track user behavior . Funnel analytics also help you monitor the performance of onboarding checklists or resource center modules.

• Event tracking : Userpilot allows teams to tag UI interactions (hovers, clicks, or form infills) and track them as events using the no-code event tracking tool . You can also group events to make a custom event that reflects a behavior you want to define (for example, feature usage) .The tool lets you check the tag data from the individual user or account level.
• Analytics dashboards : Teams can track vital metrics and generate meaningful user insights with Userpilot’s pre-built dashboards. Keep track of key product metrics like product usage, user activation, feature engagement, and more. These dashboards are automatically available without any setup required.
• Scalable user feedback : Get actionable user feedback using Userpilot’s feedback tools to your advantage. You can analyze user sentiment at scale using contextual in-app surveys with user feedback widgets, gather useful insights from user interactions via color-coded heatmaps , and much more.

• Integrations : Userpilot has various third-party app integrations, allowing for a larger dataset for analysis, more nuanced data for generating insights, and streamlined workflows for increased efficiency. Enjoy integrations with apps like Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Analytics, and more.

Here’s an overview of Userpilot’s pricing plans :

• Starter : The Starter plan comes at $249/month with an annual and includes features like segmentation, product analytics, reporting, user engagement , NPS feedback, and customization. The platform also lets you create a free account to test it without commitment.
• Growth : The Growth plan starts at $749/month and includes features like resource centers , advanced event-based triggers, unlimited feature tagging, AI-powered content localization , EU hosting options, and a dedicated customer success manager.
• Enterprise : The Enterprise plan uses custom pricing and includes all the features from Starter + Growth plus custom roles/permissions, access to premium integrations , priority support, custom contract, SLA, SAML SSO, activity logs, security audit, and compliance (SOC 2/GDPR).

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2. Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

• Rating: 4.5 on G2.

Google Analytics is a freemium web analytics tool under the Google suite. It’s a great tool for gathering customer insights into user behavior, boasting tools bolstered by Google’s own machine-learning models. You can collect valuable insights into how users interact, predict future user interactions , and go granular into user activity that leads to data-informed decisions.

Key features:

Here’s a summary of Google Analytics’s UX analytics tools:

• Predictive insights : Using Google’s advanced machine learning models, Google Analytics can scrutinize behavioral data to forecast future behavior, like predicting if users drop or close a deal. Additionally, you can use the data to segment users according to their predicted behavior and send relevant messages their way at the appropriate times.
• Funnel exploration : The funnel exploration tool under Google Analytics’s exploration suite is an amazing visualizer for mapping out the effectiveness of a conversion funnel. Identify friction points that hamper conversions and optimize for a smoother user flow through the funnel.
• Engagement reports : With engagement reports, you can understand what drives engagement inside your platform. You can find reports that track all relevant events — from user actions to system errors, identify contributors to successful conversions, and monitor pages and screens that grab the most engagement.

Google operates a freemium pricing model. Most of its features are available for free, with premium features locked behind Google 360 for enterprises.

3. Mixpanel

Mixpanel is a product analytics tool for web and mobile apps that is perfect for product managers looking for robust report visualization. The visualization tools are superb in representing data intuitively.

You can attach these reports to dashboards that are neatly organized and data-rich. Each report can also be broken down further into segments that show nuances and idiosyncrasies from user behavior.

Here’s a rundown of Mixpanel’s UX analytics tools:

• Dashboards : Mixpanel’s dashboards are highly customizable, delivering effective data at a glance. You can create unlimited dashboards according to your preferences: product usage, marketing stats, etc. You can also see all of your dashboards in a single view and jump between different dashboards whenever needed.
• Cohorts : Cohorts are an effective way of grouping your users into helpful segments that you can investigate further with Mixpanel’s behavioral analytics tools. Additionally, you can use cohorts to create personalized content per cohort.
• Trends report : Mixpanel has a multitude of reports you can use to visualize and communicate your data. Among them, the trends report allows you to spot trends and patterns of customer experiences that you can leverage or mitigate for a cleaner UX.

Mixpanel offers its Growth plan at $28/month for 10K events. The price scales up as the number of events also increases. Mixpanel also offers a free plan and a premium plan for enterprises.

UXCam is a user behavior analytics tool built especially for mobile applications. UXCam possesses analytics tools both for product and customer experience. Under customer experience , you find fantastic tools like heat maps, session recordings, user paths, and issue analytics.

Here’s a brief overview of UXCam’s UX analytics tools:

• Heatmaps : UXCam’s heatmaps show where and how user interactions unfold over your mobile interfaces. Discover hotspots that show what users look for or where they look at first, and get more granular insights by seeing user actions in that hotspot. Create an interface design from the data to take advantage of your audience’s unique user behavior.
• Session recordings : The session recordings tool will record user sessions to demonstrate user experience . See friction points as users experience them, pinpoint usability issues, and foster a deeper understanding of user experience that leads to optimization.
• Journey analysis : Journey analysis puts you in the shoes of your users by showing a top-down view of what they go through when they interact with your platform. Identify journeys that break the established pattern, discover happy paths to be replicated, and point out bottlenecks that lead to churn.

UXCam operates a quote-based model for both of its pricing plans. The Growth plan is limited to 3,000+ monthly sessions, while the Enterprise plan will depend on the quote. UXCam also offers a free plan for a maximum of 3,000 monthly sessions and a 14-day free trial.

• Rating: 4.3 on G2.

Hotjar is a popular UX analytics tool best known as a website heatmaps and behavioral analytics platform. Hotjar is great for teams looking for a qualitative analytics tool.

The heatmaps and scrollmaps feature present a bird’s-eye-view of user engagement with your product, and its session replay tool zooms in directly into user experience through user recordings.

Here’s a summary of Hotjar’s UX research tools:

• Heatmaps and scroll maps : Hotjar’s heatmaps tool indicates hotspots of user interaction. Those hotspots reveal what users interact with most, good or bad. The scroll maps feature shows how far users scroll and where they stay the most.
• Live video user interviews : Hotjar offers live user interviews to analyze UX more directly. Conduct usability tests on your digital product and observe how users navigate them. Gain vital data from user testing, discover if users think the product has a steep learning curve, etc.
• Real-time user feedback : Get answers directly from the source with Hotjar’s user feedback tool. A feedback button remains constantly overlayed on your webpage that’s readily accessible. Additionally, their feedback ties in directly to Hotjar’s session replay tool, where you can view their session to assess what led to their bad review.

Hotjar’s Observe suite offers three paid plans (starting at Plus’ $32/month billed annually, up to Scale’s $171/month billed annually), a free plan for up to 35 sessions daily, and a 15-day free trial.

6. Contentsquare

• Rating: 4.7 on G2.

Contentsquare is a digital experience platform for customer retention, conversion, and satisfaction. Contentsquare has tools for digital experience analytics, monitoring, and feedback. It lets you use heatmaps, user journey analytics, frustration scoring, feedback collection , and more. You will get access to a retention analysis tool that can observe user paths and replicate them in the future.

Here’s a rundown of Contentsquare’s UX research platform:

• Retention analysis : With retention analysis, Contentsquare can analyze retention rates per segment. Discover how many users return, observe their paths, and replicate paths to other user journeys.
• Zone-based heatmaps : The zone-based heatmaps tool reveals how users interact with all of the elements on your website. For example, after A/B testing , you can analyze specific zones to see which variant worked best and by how much.
• Frustration scoring : Contentsquare’s frustration scoring surfaces bad experiences that make the most impact, reducing the time your team consumes combing through every user session with bad reviews. You can let AI uncover the issues for you, allowing your team to focus on addressing areas that cause the biggest frustrations.

Contentsquare uses a custom pricing model for its digital product. You can book a free demo by contacting their sales team.

7. Optimizely

• Rating: 4.2 in G2.

Optimizely is a digital experience platform for improving customer experiences throughout the entire marketing lifecycle. The A/B testing feature is one of its impressive UX tools.

Using sequential testing, Optimizely can uncover statistically significant results faster, allowing for quicker data-driven decisions. Optimizely also features personalization tools that customize content that best engages with specific segments.

Here’s a brief overview of Optimizely’s user experience analytics tools:

• A/B testing : Collaborate with your team to craft the best experiment, and then use Optimizely’s stats accelerator to gather statistically sound results. Then, optimize the distribution of the successful variants to the relevant segments.
• Audience builder : Create cohorts from your audience that share the same attributes and create tailor-fit experiments for their specific cohorts. Create cohorts using pre-built templates or make your own by combining disparate attributes.
• MAB + Stats accelerator : Optimizely lets you maximize yield or minimize time when running your experiments with its multi-armed bandit (MAB) and stats accelerator. Get statistically significant results within a few days instead of weeks, allowing you to make smarter decisions faster.

Optimizely employs a quote-based pricing model for all of its modules. You can request a quote by contacting their sales team.

8. Omniconvert

Omniconvert is a UX research and CRO platform for customer conversion and retention. It’s a great tool for conducting surveys, with a list of survey templates you can utilize or customize to gather relevant data for your team. You also get access to a segmentation tool to analyze UX from a user level.

Here’s a summary of Omniconvert’s user experience research tools:

• RFM segmentation : Segment your customers using RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary Value) analysis to pinpoint your most valuable customer base. You can focus on this segment to make the most out of your marketing investment.
• Customer survey platform : Omniconvert’s customer survey platform provides solutions for getting direct feedback from your customers. Choose from a set of survey templates , or create your own. Schedule when you send the survey, target the right audience and place it where it’s noticeable but not distracting.
• Web personalization : Personalize user experiences in real-time. Omniconvert’s personalization tools collect data and use it to craft personalized experiences, taking into account everything from name and device type to website behavior.

Omniconvert offers its Explore suite and its Reveal suite separately.

• The Explore suite, housing its CRO platform, offers two pricing plans: Platform, priced at $273/month billed annually, and Enterprise, available on request.
• The Reveal suite, housing its customer analytics platform, offers two pricing plans: Scale, priced at $9,999/year, and Enterprise, available on request. Omniconvert provides a free plan for its Reveal suite.

You can get a 30-day free trial for either of its suites.

9. Mouseflow

Mouseflow is a digital experience analytics tool for optimizing web UX. Mouseflow’s tools are specialized for analyzing and optimizing UX for websites. You get access to qualitative tools like session recordings and heatmaps, as well as more quantitative tools like conversion funnels and form analytics. You can also gather direct feedback via the user feedback tool.

Its best tool, friction score, delves into friction points to help optimize the product and prioritize users that have a high possibility of churning.

Here’s a rundown of Mouseflow’s UX analytics tools:

• Friction score : Mouseflow’s friction score provides more nuance than other tools that only identify friction points. Friction score quantifies frustration by monitoring actions correlating to friction (rage clicks, error clicks, rage hovers, etc.) and calculating an average score. Prioritize users with high friction scores and transform churn moments into revenue-driving opportunities.
• Conversion funnel optimization : Maximize user experiences and conversion opportunities with the conversion funnel optimization tool. Create a funnel analysis, and analyze the UX of dropped users by watching their session recordings. Identify happy paths, and discover campaigns that hinder conversions.
• User feedback : The feedback tool sends feedback to users in the heat of the moment. Ask for feedback as soon as they trigger abnormal actions like rage clicks or error clicks, ensuring your feedback is fresh and accurate.

Mouseflow offers four paid plans (beginning with Starter’s $31/month billed annually, up to Pro’s $399/month billed annually). Mouseflow also offers a separate plan for Enterprises, a free plan, and a 14-day free trial for all plans.

10. Smartlook

Smartlook is a product analytics and visual user insight tool under Cisco, bringing qualitative and quantitative data analytics into a single, powerful platform. It’s a great tool for uncovering customer insights into user experience across platforms. It features heat maps and session recordings in its toolbox. It also features crash reports that replay user sessions that crashed or glitched out.

Here’s a brief overview of Smarlook’s user experience insights tools:

• Retroactive funnels : Unlike typical funnel analysis that waits for current data, the retroactive funnel tool takes existing data to create its funnel analysis. Use data from as recent as yesterday to as long as the past 12 months, and discover key insights behind user drop-offs.
• Cross-platform analytics : Smartlook’s analytics tools work across web and mobile apps, consolidating user experiences of all platforms into a singular place to analyze and optimize. Find heatmaps and session replays, create funnels, or visualize behavior flows for any or all platforms.
• Crash reports : The crash reports tool combines crash analytics with session recordings to make resolving crashes easier. Connect crashes to user sessions that show the user interactions preceding it. Look at your analytics to find where crashes happen most often, and address accordingly.

Smartlook offers its paid plan, Pro, for $55/month. There’s also an enterprise plan available on request, a free plan with basic tools, and a 30-day free trial for the Pro plan.

nto buyers.

Plerdy is a conversion rate optimization platform built to leverage user experience with search engine optimization. It combines user experience with search engine optimization, attracting visitors and seamlessly converting them into buyers.

Here’s a summary of Plerdy’s user experience analytics tools:

• A/B testing : Plerdy’s A/B testing tool is simple but powerful. Create an experiment, specify your URLs, create the variants, and set the marks for success — Plerdy will be in charge of the rest. Users would be delighted to know that Plerdy’s A/B test tool is packaged free for any plan.
• Website feedback : Gather qualitative feedback directly from users with just a few clicks. Set up different surveys that measure different attributes like effort (CES), loyalty (NPS), satisfaction (CSAT), etc. Deploy surveys with Plerdy’s no-code builder, and have Plerdy collect and analyze the data in a flash.
• Pop-up software : Create pop-ups that are eye-catching and attention-grabbing without the annoying emotions tied into them. The no-code builder makes it accessible even for non-technical users and can be used for either collecting crucial feedback or showcasing alternatives or CTAs.

Plerdy offers three pricing plans (starting at Startup’s $21/month billed annually, up to Thrive’s $70/month billed annually), a free plan, and a 14-day free trial for any of Plerdy’s paid plans.

12. Adobe Analytics

• Rating: 4.1 on G2.

Adobe Analytics is a business intelligence platform within the Adobe Creative Suite focused on web analytics for optimizing the customer experience. You can segment your audience, gather data from multiple sources online and off, predict actions, identify anomalous behavior, and share all this data seamlessly to the Adobe Experience Cloud.

Here’s a rundown of Adobe Analytcs’s user experience solutions:

• Multichannel data collection : Adobe Analytics can capture data from multiple channels to create a statistically robust report on your users’ behavior. Gather data from the web, mobile apps — even offline data — or other digital marketing systems like email.
• Advanced segmentation : Adobe Analytics’ advanced segmentation allows you to create and analyze unlimited segments with unlimited, statistically significant differences. Use advanced AI to automate every analysis and uncover deep insights that can best address the segment’s needs.
• Flow analysis : View customer journeys and see where they come from and where they go once they leave your app or website. Identify exit screens and paths that lead to conversions, and design around it to keep your customer engaged and satisfied.

All of Adobe Analytics’ pricing plans employ a custom pricing model.

How to choose the best UX Analytics tool?

To determine the right UX analytics tool for your business, make sure they fulfill these criteria:

• Functionalities : Look for qualitative features like heatmap visualizations, session replays to observe user experiences, user feedback collection, one-on-one interviews for usability testing, etc., as well as quantitative analytics tools that do funnel, path, or cohort analysis, segmentation, experimentation, event tracking, predictive analytics, etc.
• Ease of use : Tools with steep learning curves hinder its efficacy. Look for tools that are easy to use, intuitive to navigate, require little onboarding, possess an expansive knowledge base, and employ a dedicated support team to resolve issues.
• Cost-effectiveness : Tools should provide the best functionalities in proportion to the costs they bring. Smaller companies might require cheaper alternatives than Enterprises, but both require tools that deliver the most bang for their buck.
• Integrations : Companies often already possess several SaaS tools doing different things. Look for UX analytics tools that integrate with your entire tech stack.

UX analytics tools FAQs

What are ux analytics tools.

UX analytics tools collect and analyze user behavior data to understand the customer experience.

There are various use cases for UX analytics tools: Product managers use UX analytics tools to monitor product usage; UX designers use it to optimize user experiences; and digital marketers use it to reach specific people at relevant times.

Why do you need a UX analytics tool?

Businesses that employ UX analytics tools gain a competitive advantage in customer conversion , retention, satisfaction, and loyalty .

UX analytics tools help you engage and convert customers by making processes more convenient and customer effort low.

The same tools boost retention and loyalty by pushing relevant messages at reasonable times, sending reminders and notifications, encouraging renewals and upgrades, and delivering support.

These tools also help increase satisfaction by allowing customers to express their frustrations, participate in improvements, and uncover friction points and high-risk exit pages that teams can troubleshoot and optimize to streamline the customer journey.

From improving experiences to optimizing flows, UX analytics provide the gateway to positive customer experiences.

Are you ready to revolutionize your digital product’s user experience? Sign up for a free Userpilot demo today and reap the rewards of UX analytics!

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