For anyone working in GUI design, marketing or web/software development, this book has some really useful conceptual information to help you create usable and perceptive designs. The authors, William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler, cover almost every design concept (most of which you’re probably familiar with) such as the 80/20 rule, Ockham’s razor and the Fibonacci sequence. Clear and informative visual examples of each concept are provided as well as useful facts about their use (did you know that Le Corbusier derived two Fibonacci sequences based on key features of the human form to create his famous Modulor? Le Corbusier developed the Modulor to discover mathematical proportions in the human body and used his findings to improve both the appearance and function of architecture.)

If you need help with enhancing usability, you’ll refer to this book often. From the ‘Expectation Effect’ – how user expectations affect perception and behaviour – to the ‘Rule of Thirds – creating aesthetic positions for the primary elements of design – there are 100 principles to guide you into making sensible and realistic design decisions. It will also help you to appreciate good design and see instantly where others have failed.

The authors certainly don’t tell you how to do your job; the value here is in understanding the principles of design and not the techniques. If you’re after a single point of reference for common design guidelines (that work!), this is the book to buy. Brilliantly indexed both alphabetically and by category, you’ll easily find the answers you’re looking for to solve that nasty usability issue. By understanding the key concepts you’ll find that the quality of your work improves and the feedback you receive is positive.

It’s essential reading for anyone who works in or is studying design.