The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition
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I agree with your main point, but I have a small objection to this phrase. I don't think principles of design tells you to not care about usability/function. In fact, a good design is aesthetics AND function, as argued in "The Design of Everyday Things"[1].
So in this case, the designers are simply not doing their job. They've been infatuated with their principles of aesthetics, that they didn't follow the actual principles of design. Which happens when designers blindly copy the latest trend.
The reason I'm bringing this up is that one might interpret the phrase to mean that design is not about function, which isn't fair to many great designers out there.
[1]: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Don-Norman/dp/0465050654
Don Norman also contributed to Apple's HIG, which is actually a very good free online resource: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guideline...
There might also be some good open courseware like this: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-compu...
> Deep Work https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/...
> Can't Hurt Me https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Hurt-Me-Master-Clean/dp/15445078...
> Talking to Humans https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Humans-Success-understanding-...
> Rich Dad Poor Dad https://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680...
> 4 Hour Workweek https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/...
> Steve Jobs https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Jobs-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1451648...
> The Design of everyday things https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expand...
> Siddhartha: A Novel https://www.amazon.com/Siddhartha-Novel-Hermann-Hesse/dp/055...
> The Four Agreements https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Fr...
> Rework https://www.amazon.com/Rework-Jason-Fried/dp/0307463745?dchi...
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expand...
However I’d suggest that coming from an engineering background, you might find joy in learning about user testing first as that’s usually a big eye-opener that helps you understand why the field of UX design is important.
A classic book to start with is “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug[0], which covers usability testing and even how to conduct a session yourself.
Then there’s “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman[1], whom many consider the ‘father’ of the modern field of UX. That one can be a bit dense though.
If you want to think like a designer, then learning about Design Thinking[2] is a good place to start.
Hope that helps!
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/d...
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expand...
[2] https://www.ideou.com/pages/design-thinking
https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expand...
https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expand...
https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/d...
I think it is oversold, but the book "Design of Everyday Things"[1] goes over this for many common items. There is a long section on doors with many interesting points to consider.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Revised-Expand...
It's not specific to software, but I feel like anyone working with UX should read this first: https://toptalkedbooks.com/amzn/0465050654
My day job is WebGL + UI; for UI I'd recommend:
Also take a look at what industrial design courses are available.
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