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30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers

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As requested and suggested by a few loyal Design Sojourn readers, I have compiled what I think are the essential books that Industrial Designers should either own or read.

Now I have one disclaimer, and that is I have intentionally left out the design yearbooks or the ever popular coffee table picture book collections. Simply put, these books don’t do much for you except provide visual eye candy. In fact I would go as far as advising you to dump them!

The reason is that if you are looking at such books for inspiration, you will likely be recreating the same looks in one form or another. Not only that, because it is a publication, it takes time to get printed and out there. So by the time you are reading it, it is already outdated.

So going forward, I have divided the books into 3 categories, namely Thinking, Process and Designer Skills. So without further adieu here is the list, in no particular order of importance, for you to enjoy!

Edited: I’ve added direct links to Amazon so its easier for you to get more information. Do note it’s an affiliate link that won’t cost you anything more.

Thinking

1) The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

Not only can it be a great source of information on usability and product ergonomics, it is also a fantastic source of learning how to be sensitive to the product’s user experience. If it is not a textbook or required reading for your design school, make it so!

2) The Laws of Simplicity (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life) by John Maeda

Celebrated former MIT Media Labs professor and now Head of the Rode Island Institute of Design, shares his principles of design in this book. However most of it can be found in his equally beautifully simple website: Laws of Simplicity.

3) Fab: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop–from Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication by Neil Gershenfeld

Also an MIT professor, Neil spends most of his time as The Director of The Center for Bits and Atoms. While not really about Industrial Design, Gershenfeld’s vision of the future in manufacturing, will change the way we design and make things. The impact to our future of our careers is so important that I recommend that all Industrial Designers read this book as soon as possible.

4) Designing Design – Kenya Hara

Part design theory, part philosophy and part culture, Japanese designer Kenya Hara shares in this book his thoughts and unique approach to design. A beautiful book design that is a reflection of his theories and is on my must read list. Unfortunately, to date, I can’t seem to get my hands on one as it is sold out every where, including Amazon.

5) Universal Principles of Design by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler.

This great book contains a collection of design principles that makes it an essential “cheat sheet” for designers wanting to look at a design problem from different angles.

6) Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart.

I can’t emphasis enough the importance of sustainable design and this book will get you ahead of the majority of designers already out there. If not, it will at least encourage you to start taking baby steps in that direction.

7) It’s Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be: The World’s Best Selling Book by Paul Arden

Well it might not be the self proclaimed “World’s best selling book” it does have plenty of insights on how Designers can compete in today’s over saturated creative industry. It is a nice and quick read that you could chew through in 2 train rides. However I do suggest you take twice as long and spend a few minutes in between to digest Paul’s thoughts.

The Lovemarks Effect: Winning in the Consumer Revolution by Kevin Roberts

There are quite a number of books about branding or how to go about it, unfortunately most of it tell the same story. What I believe is more important is the future of branding in today’s market of consumers suffering from information overload. Personally, I prefer the second book, which describes creating the Lovemark effect, as it has a greater gelling with Industrial Designers trying to create equally positive experiences with their products. For more information check out the official Love Marks Website.

9) Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas by Seth Godin.

Written in a “bite size” format this book, from Marketing guru Seth Godin, explores how our marketing environment has changed with the influence of the internet. I’m about half way, and looking to finish it.

10) Design (Tom Peters Essentials) by Tom Peters.

While Tom is not a designer and often seems to come across ranting to many people, this book is a neat little design guide targeted to Business leaders or owners. While much of it might not be new to a designer, it does give a huge insight on how to pitch your design work in a language that the business people can understand. That itself is worth its weight in gold.

11) Journals from the Design Management Institute by DMI members.

While not technically a book, I encourage designers to channel some of their library funds into a DMI membership so that they can get access into some of the best and latest Design Management thinking out there. I cannot begin to articulate how much I have learned through their Journals.

12) The Creative Priority : Putting Innovation to Work in Your Business by Jerry Hirshberg

A great read for Industrial Designers and Auto fans. The Creative Priority, written by the founder of Nissan Design International, was one of the first books I read about managing the innovation and creative process with in an organization. I particularly found how he managed hyper-creative design professionals very insightful and the basis of my designer management practices today.

13) Designing Interactions by Bill Moggridge.