Unlock your potential in User Research, Usability, Information Architecture, UI/UX Design, Content Strategy, and Experience Strategy by discovering authors who can provide you with valuable insights and knowledge.

Their expertise can help you gain a deeper understanding of these areas and enable you to improve your skills and knowledge in your profession.

#Donald Norman

Donald Arthur Norman is a well-respected American researcher, professor, and author who has contributed considerably to design. He directs The Design Lab at the University of California, San Diego. His books on design, especially The Design of Everyday Things, are highly regarded for their insightful content.

Norman’s work highlights the challenges even the most intelligent individuals face when using everyday objects like shower controls in a hotel or navigating an unfamiliar television set or stove.

In his groundbreaking book, The Design of Everyday Things, first published in 1988, Norman provocatively argues that design flaws are not users’ fault but designers who ignore people’s needs and psychology.

This revised edition of the book incorporates timeless principles of psychology and aligns them with the ever-changing new technologies. It serves as a compelling call for good design while reminding us how and why some products satisfy while others only disappoint.

The Design of Everyday Things combines an operating manual for designers and a manifesto on the importance of designing for people.

It remains highly relevant today, even more so than when it was first published. Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO and author of Change by Design, has endorsed it, highlighting its significant role in the design field today.

#Alan Cooper

Alan Cooper, a highly esteemed American software designer and programmer, was born on June 3, 1952. He is widely recognized as the “Father of Visual Basic”.

He has written two highly acclaimed books, “About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design” and “The Inmates Are Running the Asylum: Why High-Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity”.

Cooper founded Cooper, a consultancy that uses Goal-Directed design methodology and personas as practical tools to create high-tech products.

In 1995, Cooper published his first book, “About Face: The Essentials of User Interface Design,” introducing a comprehensive set of practical design principles for software design.

The book was primarily directed towards programmers, encouraging them to prioritize user experience and design intuitive and user-friendly software.

Today, the book is in its fourth edition, “About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design,” and is widely considered a foundational text for professional interaction designers.

Cooper’s contributions to interaction design extend beyond his software design principles. He also introduced the concept of software application posture, which describes how an application presents itself to users.

With websites, Cooper discusses “informational” and “transactional” postures in his book, “About Face.” Overall, Alan Cooper’s work has dramatically influenced interaction design and helped shape how software and technology are developed with the user in mind.

#Jesse James Garrett

Jesse James Garrett, a highly respected User Experience Designer, is based in the bustling city of San Francisco, California.

He co-founded Adaptive Path, a reputable consulting firm specializing in strategy and design. Among his most notable creations is a widely popular diagram called The Elements of User Experience, which he first published in 2000.

This diagram gained immense popularity in the web design community and was later published as a book.

Garrett is the author of this book, which outlines a conceptual model of user-centered design. A second edition of the book was published in 2010, solidifying Garrett’s place as a leading voice in the field.

Although the Elements model was initially intended for web design, its influence has extended beyond the digital realm into other areas, such as software development and industrial design.

Another significant contribution of his is the creation of the first standardized notation for interaction design, now known as the Visual Vocabulary.

With such impactful contributions to the field of User Experience Design, it’s no wonder Jesse James Garrett is highly regarded by his peers and beyond.

#Leah Buley

Leah is an accomplished design strategist whose expertise lies in the future of business and personal finance. Working for Intuit, she tirelessly spreads her UX knowledge within organizations through engaging speeches and insightful writing.

Her extensive experience in numerous industries, including media, mobile, financial services, education, and non-profit, has given her a unique perspective on the power of UX design.

Before joining Intuit, Leah worked as an experience designer for Adaptive Path, where she developed collaborative approaches for UX design.

In her previous roles, she successfully led initiatives to promote user experience design practices across the entire firm, including as a user experience team lead at companies such as Barclays Global Investors.

For those seasoned UX practitioners looking to elevate their organization or transition to user experience, The User Experience Team of One is the ultimate guidebook.

This must-read book provides many practical approaches that deliver significant results with fewer resources and time than standard UX deliverables.

The User Experience Team of One is an invaluable resource that will help you take your UX design skills to the next level.

#Donna Spencer

Donna Spencer is an accomplished design consultant with over two decades of experience.

Her expertise in design encompasses all facets of the field, from devising strategies to delivering exceptional results, and she takes immense pleasure in working on diverse projects across various industries.

Donna possesses a unique talent for unravelling complicated employee experience issues, making her a globally recognized top-notch UX practitioner with a reputation as a sought-after conference speaker.

Donna has authored three books on information architecture, card sorting, and writing for the web, cementing her position as an authority in the field. She is the founder of UX Australia and has successfully managed the event for an impressive nine years.

Donna’s book is the go-to resource for anyone looking to enhance their information architecture skills. Drawing on her vast experience, Donna outlines straightforward steps that readers can follow to understand IA better.

Upon completing the book, readers are guaranteed to feel confident and empowered enough to undertake their IA projects.

Donna provides practical advice and real-world examples on organizing content, crafting clear descriptions, and making it easy for users to locate what they need.

#Susan Weinschenk

Susan is a highly accomplished behavioural scientist with over 30 years of experience. She holds a PhD in Psychology and is widely recognized for her expertise in applying behavioural science to design technology, and business.

Susan is a sought-after speaker, consultant, teacher, and writer who has significantly contributed to behavioural science.

Susan’s academic journey began at Virginia Tech, where she started her college education before transferring to Northeastern to earn her undergraduate degree in Psychology.

She pursued her master’s and PhD at Pennsylvania State University, cementing her reputation as a top-tier behavioural scientist.

Susan holds the CEO and Chief Behavioral Scientist positions at The Team W, Inc. In addition to her leadership roles, she is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin.

She calls Wisconsin, USA, home and enjoys spending her free time reading, watching movies, and singing in a jazz band.

If you’re a designer, you must check out Susan’s book, “100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People.”

This book is packed with practical examples and real scientific insights to help you create more intuitive and captivating designs for print, websites, applications, and products that align with how people think, work, and play.

Trust me, this book is a must-read for designers who want to take their work to the next level!

Read more articles exploring the dynamic interplay between design, user experience, artificial intelligence, and technology here.