Books You Should Read Before Your First Work Anniversary as a UX Researcher/Designer
One of the biggest transitions I experienced as a UX researcher and designer was graduating from academia to join the industry. In this post, I'll be sharing some of the books I read (or wish I had read :-)) and found valuable during my first year at work. These have helped me tune my practical UX technical skills, project and time management skills, as well as my soft skills working with colleagues and stakeholders.
1. The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley.
If I could only read one UX book, this would be the one. This book offers a wonderful collection of low-cost and yet effective methods in both user research and design to help the single-person UX team which is often the case even within an organization where UX is well established. My biggest take-away from this book wasn't any specific methods or tips. Rather, it was the mentality of asking "What would I do if I only had the resources to do one thing".
2. The Moderator's Survival Guide: Handling Common, Tricky, and Sticky Situations in User Research by Donna Tedesco and Fiona Tranquada.
This book was authored by, Fiona Tranquada, one of my previous UX colleagues at MathWorks. We covered the book in a book club and found it extremely helpful. Moderating is challenging. It's an art that is acquired through planning, practice, and reflection. This books describes a series of challenges in moderating usability sessions and offer advice on how to handle them. Hopefully, you will no longer freak out because you have a plan of attack ready when things aren't flowing quite as expected.
3. Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal.
This is an awesome book that offers a practical framework on planning and conducting interviews and field studies. There are tips on getting stakeholders on the same page prior to interviews, how to work with your fellow interviewers before an interview and on site, and how to analyze data and share insights with clients. While a lot of books zero in on interviewing methodologies and techniques, this books takes a broader approach by including aspects like all the people and processes around the interviews themselves so that the entire experience is a success.
4. Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager by Kory Kogan, Suzette Blakemore, and James Wood.
From time to time, I find myself playing the role of a project manager, without the official title. This book caters to those who find themselves in this position without the depth of knowledge of a project manager or position power to influence a project. But still, you can make a positive impact and this books illustrates how through a series of concrete steps and encouraging case studies.
5. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity by David Allen and James Fallows.
Drowning in endless things to do? This book will help you gain not only productivity but also a sense of clarity. The steps are easy to follow and make total sense after I read them. Wish I had read it sooner!
6. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher, William L. Ury, and Bruce Patton.
This books has been around for decades. The time-tested wisdom imparted here has truly changed the way I approach situations. The biggest take-away here is that position bargaining rarely works so give it up. Instead, focus on shared interests and developing your own best alternatives.
1. The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide by Leah Buley.
If I could only read one UX book, this would be the one. This book offers a wonderful collection of low-cost and yet effective methods in both user research and design to help the single-person UX team which is often the case even within an organization where UX is well established. My biggest take-away from this book wasn't any specific methods or tips. Rather, it was the mentality of asking "What would I do if I only had the resources to do one thing".
2. The Moderator's Survival Guide: Handling Common, Tricky, and Sticky Situations in User Research by Donna Tedesco and Fiona Tranquada.
This book was authored by, Fiona Tranquada, one of my previous UX colleagues at MathWorks. We covered the book in a book club and found it extremely helpful. Moderating is challenging. It's an art that is acquired through planning, practice, and reflection. This books describes a series of challenges in moderating usability sessions and offer advice on how to handle them. Hopefully, you will no longer freak out because you have a plan of attack ready when things aren't flowing quite as expected.
3. Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights by Steve Portigal.
This is an awesome book that offers a practical framework on planning and conducting interviews and field studies. There are tips on getting stakeholders on the same page prior to interviews, how to work with your fellow interviewers before an interview and on site, and how to analyze data and share insights with clients. While a lot of books zero in on interviewing methodologies and techniques, this books takes a broader approach by including aspects like all the people and processes around the interviews themselves so that the entire experience is a success.
4. Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager by Kory Kogan, Suzette Blakemore, and James Wood.
From time to time, I find myself playing the role of a project manager, without the official title. This book caters to those who find themselves in this position without the depth of knowledge of a project manager or position power to influence a project. But still, you can make a positive impact and this books illustrates how through a series of concrete steps and encouraging case studies.
5. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity by David Allen and James Fallows.
Drowning in endless things to do? This book will help you gain not only productivity but also a sense of clarity. The steps are easy to follow and make total sense after I read them. Wish I had read it sooner!
6. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher, William L. Ury, and Bruce Patton.
This books has been around for decades. The time-tested wisdom imparted here has truly changed the way I approach situations. The biggest take-away here is that position bargaining rarely works so give it up. Instead, focus on shared interests and developing your own best alternatives.
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