In order to excel at anything – particularly over the long-term – I believe it’s critical one construct a knowledge “framework” which can represent / encapsulate topics that you’ve learned and those yet to be explored / understood. At the base of this framework is a solid knowledge “foundation”.
As it relates to understanding good design, I feel the time is right to build my own “design foundation”. While classes and video tutorials have definitely helped in this regard, there are two books that fit well into this “foundation”.
The first is called The Universal Principles of Design and is written by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler. In my opinion, this is a key reference guide (or “rulebook”) for all things design. One of the primary drivers behind its creation is to ensure that all designers (regardless of specialization) have easy access to a common set of design principles.
While the principles are listed alphabetically, they are also categorized into the following five categories:
- How can I influence the way a design is perceived?
- How can I help people learn from a design?
- How can I enhance the usability of a design?
- How can I increase the appeal of a design?
- How can I make better design decisions?
As I get further into the text, I am sure that I will pull out specific extracts for further expansion.
The second text is by John Maeda and is called The Laws of Simplicity. I purchased this book not necessarily to contribute to the “foundation”, but to gain a better glimpse into Maeda’s mind. After reading the first twenty pages, it’s clear that “simplicity” is a fundamental design principle that warrants investigation and awareness.