you are here » home » recommended reading
Principals of Beautiful Web Design
by Jason Beaird
My Review »
As I strive to be a freelance web designer, there is always one nagging doubt that haunts me… I never had a formal design education. While I enjoy doing design work and to a certain extent “have an eye for it”, I always feel that I’m not doing it as it should be done.
This book is an excellent introduction to the areas of design involved in website production. It has given me more confidence in the knowledge and experience I have attained in the real world. Jason manages to cover the foundations of good website design practices while inspiring you to constantly build on these skills.
As you would expect from a graphic designer the layout of the book is great and very easy to read. The friendly language used also adds to the overall experience. If you’re looking to develop your design skills… start here.
Web Redesign 2.0: Workflow that Works
by Kelly Goto and Emily Cotler
My Review »
Written by authors who really know their field, this book is full of good information on how to develop your own website design processes. It covers in detail all the main areas of each phase. There are plenty of real world examples drawn from the experience of both the main authors and the expert contributors. However, I personally feel the book is let down by its layout. The landscape format of the book means that the flow of the main content is often broken up as you jump back and forward to read the pull-out tips and articles. If you develop large websites and want to improve your work processes then this book is a must. I do still recommend it if you deal with smaller sites but be prepared for more detail than you may need.
Don't Make Me Think
by Steve Krug
My Review »
This is a must read for experienced web designers / developers. I read this book while lying beside a swimming pool in Cyprus. It is short and well written enough to be read without feeling like you're studying a technical manual. The real genius is that it all sounds so blindingly obvious you wonder why you haven't thought about it before. This book will change your perspective on the web design process and make you realise your designs are only as good as their usability.
Build Your Own Website the Right Way
by Ian Lloyd
My Review »
If there is one book I would recommend to anyone with an interest in creating a website then this would be it. The book is an excellent introduction to not only XHTML and CSS but also the main features that make up a website. In a light-hearted, easy-to-read way, it covers topics such as use of graphics, form creation, website hosting options and even blogging. And if that's not enough, it ends by giving you pointers on what you could go on to learn. Most importantly for a beginners guide to web design, it gives an excellent grounding in creating websites using web standards... no table based design here...