Top 5 web design books!
Read our reviews of the Top 5 web design books every self respecting web designer should read!
1. Don't Make Me Think
"Don't Make Me Think" refers to the way people use the web: they don't read they scan. That means that your site needs to be as organised as possible, clear, clean and easy to navigate.
Having an efficient navigation system and laying out your content to clearly reveal the embedded hierarchy should go a long way towards achieving this goal.
One of the main points the author wants you to get is that having external users to test your site will give you valuable insights on how you can make it work for them. We have implemented this into our web workflow and now hire a full time q/a tester that tests out all of our websites.
2. The Zen of CSS Design
"Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall. Follow the stream, have faith in its course. It will go its own way, meandering here, trickling there. It will find the grooves, the cracks, the crevices. Just follow it. Never let it out of your sight. It will take you....". Famous Zen Saying by Sheng-yen
The Zen of CSS Design is a superb book suitable for the shelf of any web designer. The book is chock full of inspirational websites as seen on CSS zen garden. Code-wise it is a bit thin on the ground. It's not really for people who want to learn CSS web design from scratch more of a book to learn advanced CSS styling techniques. Zen Garden also contain many helpful hints to resolve browser issues (mostly ie).
3. Web Workflows that Work
Anyone who has managed the process of developing or redesigning a Website of any significant size has learnt the hard way the complexities, pitfalls, and cost risk of such an undertaking.
Web Workflows that work is a good reference to have in your library if you're a web designer or web developer. The process map makes a useful project management template to start with which you can customize for your own projects. It takes you through the different stages of design, from idea to reality. Thoroughly recommended.
4. CSS Mastery
CSS Mastery by Cameron Moll and Simon Collison is a fantastic book for those wishing to take their CSS skills to the next level. It begins with a brief recap of CSS basics such as the importance of meaningful markup, how to structure and maintain your code, and how the CSS layout model really works.
With the fundamental basics out of the way, each subsequent chapter details a particular aspect of CSS-based design. Through a series of easy-to-follow tutorials, you will learn practical CSS techniques that you can implement into your design workflow. Browser inconsistencies (think internet explorer) are the most annoying task CSS developers have to deal with. You'll be glad to know CSS mastery contains two whole chapters dedicated to CSS hacks, filters, and bug fixing. You'll also delve into image replacement; professional link, form, and list styling; pure CSS layouts; and much more.
5. Web Design Index by Content
Contains stunning web design images for use as a graphic resource, or inspiration. Design illustrations are stored in high resolution format on the enclosed CD-ROM.
Web Design Indexes are international bestsellers. Since its first edition in the year 2000, the annual Web Design Index has developed into one of the most important publications in its field. Year after year, it gives an accurate overview of the state of the art in web design. Every Web Design Index contains 1002 outstanding web pages. With each web page, the URL is indicated, as well as the names of those involved in the design and programming. Selection for the Web Design Index is based on design quality, innovation, and effectiveness, and the books offer examples of all conceivable forms and styles.