UX Research and Design Books
Whether you’re starting in UX research or aiming to refine your practice, these books — highly recommended by the Nielsen Norman Group — offer a strong foundation in discovery, problem framing, mapping, customer experience, and emotional design.
Each title here is not just theory; it’s a practical resource you can return to throughout your career.
Practical Design Discovery — Dan Brown
A Book Apart, 2017
At just 130 pages, this concise guide demystifies the discovery phase — the crucial step where you clarify what problem you’re solving before building anything. Brown walks you through defining problems, planning research activities, common discovery methods, and documenting your work so stakeholders align around clear goals.
What makes this book stand out is its actionable structure — you can apply lessons immediately, even in fast-moving projects.
About the Author:
Dan Brown is a veteran UX designer, co-founder of EightShapes, and a respected voice in information architecture and design strategy. He’s known for creating practical frameworks that help teams collaborate more effectively.
Creative Problem Solving: An Introduction — Scott G. Treffinger, Isaksen, and K. Brian Stead-Dorval
Prufrock Press, 2006
This slim 80-page volume introduces the fundamentals of creative problem solving in an accessible, straightforward style. It’s especially valuable for UX professionals because it offers a repeatable process for framing and defining problems — a step often skipped in rushed projects.
Chapter 4 is a highlight, with clear strategies to shift from vague challenges to actionable problem statements.
About the Authors:
Scott G. Treffinger was a leading authority on creativity and gifted education. Alongside his co-authors, he has developed widely used models for structured creative thinking applied in both education and business contexts.
Mapping Experiences — Jim Kalbach
O’Reilly Media, Inc., 2016
A comprehensive guide to using journey maps, service blueprints, and diagrams to create shared understanding between teams and deliver better user experiences. Kalbach explains when to use each mapping method, how to collect and organise data, and how to turn research into visual artefacts that drive design decisions.
This is an essential reference for anyone working in service design or cross-functional UX projects.
About the Author:
Jim Kalbach is a noted speaker, teacher, and author in UX, information architecture, and strategy. He has led design efforts for companies such as Citrix, Elsevier, and SONY, and is recognised for his clear, practical approach to complex design problems.
Outside In: The Power of Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business — Harley Manning & Kerry Bodine
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012
Based on extensive research from Forrester, this book shows how customer-centricity drives long-term business success. Manning and Bodine share case studies of organisations that improved loyalty, reduced costs, and increased revenue by focusing relentlessly on customer needs.
It’s a bridge between UX research and business strategy, making it valuable for designers, researchers, and executives alike.
About the Authors:
Harley Manning is a VP and research director at Forrester, focusing on customer experience. Kerry Bodine is a customer experience consultant, speaker, and co-author who has helped major brands transform their customer strategies.
Emotional Design — Don Norman
Basic Books, 2003
In this classic, Norman explores how products make us feel — and why emotional impact is as important as usability. He introduces the three levels of design: visceral (appearance), behavioural (function), and reflective (meaning), and explains how each shapes user perception.
The lessons here remain highly relevant, reminding UX practitioners that delight and connection are part of good design.
About the Author:
Don Norman is one of the most influential figures in design, author of The Design of Everyday Things, and co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group. His work has shaped modern UX by integrating psychology, design, and usability.
Final Thoughts
These books offer a balance of practical methods and strategic insights. From discovery and mapping to customer strategy and emotional design, they provide frameworks you can apply to real-world projects immediately.