industrial design thesis process book

DRM, a Design Research Methodology

• © 2009
• Lucienne T.M. Blessing 0 ,
• Amaresh Chakrabarti 1

Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

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Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

• Comprehensive list of research methods applicable across the disciplines in which design is important
• Shows readers how to reflect on their own processes and methods for designing, using this understanding to devise new and more effective ways to design
• Demonstrates methods of doing design research which will increase its industrial significance and academic standing by increasing procedural rigour and systematizing improvements in methods
• Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

Front matter, introduction, drm: a design reseach methodology, research clarification, descriptive study i: understanding design, prescriptive study: developing design support, descriptive study ii: evaluating design support, writing up: publishing results, summary and conclusions, back matter.

• Design Development and Evaluation
• Design Support Development
• Engineering Design
• Engineering Design Research
• Industrial Design Research
• Research Methodology
• Research Methods
• computer-aided design (CAD)

About this book

Authors and affiliations.

Lucienne T.M. Blessing

Amaresh Chakrabarti

About the authors

Bibliographic information.

Book Title : DRM, a Design Research Methodology

Authors : Lucienne T.M. Blessing, Amaresh Chakrabarti

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-587-1

Publisher : Springer London

eBook Packages : Engineering , Engineering (R0)

Copyright Information : Springer-Verlag London 2009

Hardcover ISBN : 978-1-84882-586-4 Published: 30 June 2009

Softcover ISBN : 978-1-4471-5774-8 Published: 26 November 2014

eBook ISBN : 978-1-84882-587-1 Published: 13 June 2009

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XVII, 397

Topics : Engineering Design , Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD, CAE) and Design , Industrial and Production Engineering , Control and Systems Theory

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10 Must read books for industrial designers

One of the most important parts of product development is industrial design . Industrial design is so significant today and has a real impact on consumers’ purchasing decisions. Industrial designers adhere to conclusions when designing a specific product for their customers to satisfy the wants and needs of consumers. The ten industrial design books listed below will provide a solid foundation , encourage to view design in new ways and serve as inspiration for your upcoming work.

Designing Design | Kenya Hara | Industrial Design Books

Using various examples from his work, Kenya Hara in Designing Design clarifies the significance of “emptiness” in both the visual and philosophical traditions of Japan and its application to design. “To understand something is not to be able to define or describe it. Instead, taking something we think we already know and making it unknown thrills us afresh with its reality and deepens our understanding of it.” Hara says of his design philosophy . Designing Design helps the reader comprehend this ideology and expands their horizons of thought.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Design-Kenya-Hara/dp/3037784504.

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things | William McDonough & Michael Braungart

A thorough investigation of how designers should and must create products that don’t harm the environment includes more than simply the three concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle . Architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart describe a combination of design and science in Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things that eliminates the idea of waste while providing society with long-lasting benefits from safe materials, water, and energy in circular economies. The book contains a manifesto calling for a new industrial revolution and has been referred to as “essential reading for business hotshots and environmental activists.”

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Cradle-Remaking-Way-Make-Things/dp/0865475873 .

The Design of Everyday Things | Donald A. Norman | Industrial Design Books

The book was written by designer Don Norman and published in 1988. Don A. Norman is a famous psychologist and pioneer in studying how humans think. The book is about UX design. The method design teams employ to produce products that offer customers meaningful and pertinent experiences is user experience (UX) design. Regardless of a designer’s degree of experience, this book provides priceless advice. The book provides a fundamental understanding of what design is, what it does, and why effective design is important.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.in/Design-Everyday-Things-Don-Norman/dp/0465050654 .

The Laws of Simplicity | John Maeda

In this book, John Maeda shares his principles of design . To show how to need less while gaining more in business, technology, and design. The Laws of Simplicity provide ten life lessons for sanity. But he goes beyond organisation and simplicity, addressing time savings, the value of knowledge in making things easier, and even the value of complexity in understanding simplicity, which every industrial designer should embrace.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Simplicity-Design-Technology-Business/dp/1531881491.

Thinking: Objects Contemporary Approaches to Product Design | Tim Parsons | Industrial Design Books

For students, recent graduates, industrial designers, and anybody else with an interest in modern product design, Thinking: Objects is a “text and image book.” It covers factors including globalisation, technology , the media, and the need for a sustainable future that impacts contemporary product design. It focuses on how objects use form to convey value and meaning, provides designers with tools to make their designs, and shows readers how to incorporate these ideas into their work. The book, which is richly illustrated, aims to assist readers in finding their path in a complex industry.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Objects-Contemporary-Approaches-Product/dp/2940373744 .

Process: 50 Product Designs from Concept to Manufacture | Jennifer Hudson

Author, writer and researcher Jennifer Hudson specialise in contemporary architecture and design. This book thoroughly examines the design and production methods used to create 50 contemporary domestic design objects. It included textiles, tableware, lighting, and furniture and was chosen from all across the world. Each product is chosen for its major use of new technology, unconventional or complex production methods, unique materials, and, in some cases, for its creative concept.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Process-2nd-Product-Designs-Manufacture/dp/1856697258 .

Design for the Real World | Victor Papanek

Since its initial publication in 1971, Design for the Real World has been translated into more than twenty different languages. It has grown to be the most widely read book on design worldwide and is a mandatory text in many architectural and design schools. Victor Papanek explored how design could reduce pollution, crowding, starvation, obsolescence, and other modern ills. In this book, he examines how designers have attempted to combat tawdry, hazardous, frivolous, and useless products, once again offering a blueprint for sensible, responsible design in this resource- and energy-poor world.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Real-World-Victor-Papanek/dp/0500295336 .

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People | Susan Weinschenk | Industrial Design Books

When creating new products, industrial designers must be creative in their designs and how they incorporate existing technologies. Therefore, reading books is essential because finding answers to everything is easy. You might need help with the question. This book is a step-by-step manual for improving design projects’ effectiveness, conversion rates, and usability. The book provides a manual every designer needs by fusing relevant science and research with real-world experiences. With it, it is possible to create more engaging and intuitive print, web, mobile, and other product designs that reflect how people think, work, and play.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Things-Designer-People-Voices-Matter/dp/0321767535 .

Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals | Rob Thompson

This book aims to better inform designers about what takes place in a manufacturing process. The book is divided into four sections: Forming, Cutting, Joining, and Finishing. Over seventy manufacturing processes are thoroughly explained, along with details on their costs, speeds, and environmental effects. The sections also include analyses of the typical applications, design opportunities, and considerations each process offers. The step-by-step case studies that go with it examine how a reputable foreign supplier makes a product or component.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Manufacturing-Processes-Design-Professionals-Thompson/dp/0500513759.

Design, Creativity, and Culture: An Orientation to Design | Maurice Barnwell | Industrial Design Books

Design, Creativity & Culture offers an “orientation to design” and a clear synthesis of the relationships between the design process and the multicultural, global environment. The book offers examples and illustrations from a wide range of known topics, including the Big Bang, The Matrix, Twitter, cave wall art, Modernism , and popular culture. The book discusses the full range of design disciplines, drawing on references to design history, the design process , cultural studies, media studies, visual culture, political culture, and information technologies. It provides examples from architecture, interior, product, graphic, and fashion design from various cultures around the world.

To order, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Creativity-Culture-Orientation/dp/1907317406 .

Reference List:

• Rian Design (2014). The Laws of Simplicity / John Maeda. [online] Lawsofsimplicity.com. Available at: http://lawsofsimplicity.com/.
• Parsons & Charlesworth. (n.d.). Thinking:Objects – Contemporary Approaches to Product Design. [online] Available at: https://parsonscharlesworth.com/thinkingobjects-contemporary-approaches-to-product-design/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2023].
• design.britishcouncil.org. (n.d.). Read | Books | Maker Library Network | Architecture Design Fashion | British Council. [online] Available at: https://design.britishcouncil.org/projects/makerlibraries/books/process-50-product-designs-concept-manufacture/ [Accessed 14 Jan. 2023].
• William McDonough. (2013). Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things (2002) | William McDonough. [online] Available at: https://mcdonough.com/writings/cradle-cradle-remaking-way-make-things/.
• Industrial Designers Society of America – IDSA. (2014). Design Creativity & Culture. [online] Available at: https://www.idsa.org/content/design-creativity-culture [Accessed 14 Jan. 2023].
• www.designculture.it. (n.d.). Designculture • Kenya Hara. [online] Available at: http://www.designculture.it/interview/kenya-hara.html.
• Mackay, S. (2012). Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals. Proceedings of the ICE – Construction Materials, [online] 165(2), pp.122–122. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/41944824/Manufacturing_Processes_for_Design_Professionals [Accessed 14 Jan. 2023].

İnci is an architect who is passionate about interdisciplinary discussion in the field of architecture.In her point of view architecture is not only about aesthetics and art but is an understanding and constant thinking of creating space for living thing.She loves to research,read,learn and write about different perspectives of architecture.

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Industrial design: year 4, industrial design thesis.

DES470 INDUSTRIAL DESIGN THESIS is a year-long capstone project providing students with the opportunity to develop a specific focus within design. ​In the fourth year of the BDes program, studio courses take two distinct paths to applying acquired knowledge: personal and professional. In the first semester, students conduct extensive research and identify a self-generated complex design problem. Students perform a thorough design investigation through a personal lens, gaining an understanding of the variety of areas of practice within the discipline. They produce professional quality functional and/or aesthetic prototypes of the final design and are guided to present their ideas effectively through verbal and visual arguments. Students document their design process for professional portfolio, collectively evaluate the success of their final projects, and exhibit thesis results in the Year End Show.

A List of Must-Read Industrial Design Books

•   Product Design
•   last updated Jun 15, 2018

Whether you’re a new student looking to learn or a seasoned professional wanting to touch up your skills, books can help. Many great minds have put pen to paper, writing inspiring books for industrial designers. Some are written specifically for product designers while others are more general in nature.

To stay inspired is to be open to new ideas. Just looking at examples isn’t going to help you create your best designs. Which is why it’s good to read all types of materials, not just industrial design books. In this list, you’ll find some really inspiring stories, tips and tricks for product designers, and some more concrete product design books filled with practical tips.

Well-Designed: How to Use Empathy to Create Products People Love by Jon Kolko

Design expert Jon Kolko lets us in on the thing that successful companies like Nest use to their advantage. He gives advice on tapping into the empathetic part of your being to design products that resonate with people’s emotions. The key, he says, is not to add more features but to evoke a response and engage with the user.

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

Every day we interact with plenty of designs that have the same functionality no matter here you are in the world, like a door or a phone. Professor Don Norman brings to attention these intuitive designs and asks us to think about what would happen if someone messed with them. Have you ever come across a door you couldn’t figure out how to open? You won’t think about product design the same way after reading this.

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

While not about industrial design, Steve Krug gives some timeless advice on designing intuitively. Web designers swear by this book. It’s a pretty short read with plenty of examples and a conversational, fun tone.

Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull

You might not have heard the name, but you’ve probably heard that quote before. Ed Catmull is the president of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He has some great advice on how to foster creativity not only independently, but also in a team. It’s an inspiring and very useful read for creatives in leadership positions who want their team to generate the best ideas possible.

The Laws of Simplicity (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life) by John Maeda

This is a pretty quick read, but crucial nonetheless. Jon Maeda gives us his 10 laws and three properties of product design, followed by examples and personal anecdotes. It’s filled with great advice and tips for designing with simplicity in mind.

Designing Design by Kenya Hara

Kenya Hara is a world class Japanese designer, have designed the opening and closing ceremony programs for the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. It’s a wonderfully written monograph outlining Hara’s thoughts on design and how he infuses Japanese culture into his work. In the first section of the book, he tells us how he would redesign daily products to improve functionality. It’s a must-read for any serious designer.

Universal Principles of Design by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler

Look no further than this book to broaden your design skills. Whether you’re a designer, engineer, or architect, you’ll find something useful here. It’s a cross-disciplinary reference of 100 different principles of design with plenty of examples of the principles being applied to modern examples.

Design (Tom Peters Essentials) by Tom Peters

A very short read filled with nuggets of wisdom related to design, leadership, and innovation. If you’re a product designer or even just work in the industry, you’d probably benefit from reading this. He lets you in on why he puts his emotions and passion behind his work. Prepare to be inspired.

The Creative Priority: Putting Innovation to Work in Your Business by Jerry Hirshberg

Jerry Hirshberg, founder and president of Nissan Design International, shares some of the things he’s learned while in the field. He reveals how he designed his organization around creativity rather than just using it as a principle of design. Perfect for the business-minded designers.

Designing Interaction by Bill Moggridge

While Bill Moggridge himself is an inspirational designer you should follow, this book isn’t really about him. He spends its entirety delving into other case studies, shining a light on other designers who’ve changed the way we interact with the world. The book includes interviews with Will Wright, the creator of The Sims; Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google; and the creators of the mouse and desktop. It’s illustrated with over 700 images and has inside interviews you won’t find anywhere else.

Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step by Edward De Bono

By reading this book, you’ll level up your creativity. It’s about lateral thinking, which is the opposite of how we’re taught to think in school. We’re told to approach problems head on, but when this doesn’t work, what do we do? Edward De Bono is here to give you techniques to think laterally.

Process: 50 Product Designs from Concept to Manufacture by Jennifer Hudson

If you’re looking for guidance with the product design process, Hudson’s book can help. It looks at 50 domestic design objects and shines a light on the creative processes as well as the manufacturing work behind them. It includes in depth information about the projects and has colorful images and detailed sketches. The designs are all significant in their field, whether it be furniture, textile, or tableware.

Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals by Rob Thompson

This isn’t just a book with a few design tips. It’s a resource that all designers should have in their repertoire. It looks at the production techniques and materials that are affecting the design industry today. There are 1,200 photos and illustrations in the book to support the case studies, making it quite a read.

Product Design and Development by Karl. T. Ulrich

If you’re about to kickstart the product development process for your new invention, give this book a read first. It leans more on the technical side, so if that’s not your cup of tea, you may want to skip this one. There is some pretty valuable information though, ranging from marketing advice and design help to manufacturing and prototyping.

Managing the Design Factory: A Product Developer’s Toolkit by Donald G. Reinersen

Are you stuck in the product development pipeline? Looking for advice on how to finally get your product to the marketplace? This book is full of practical, useful tips that you can start putting to work for you right away. Rather than offering a set of rules, the tools he gives are applicable to your specific situation.

Presentation Techniques: A Guide to Drawing and Presenting Design Ideas by Dick Powell

While a bit dated, Powell goes over some drawing techniques that it pays to know. Even if you don’t practice manual sketching much, knowing the best-practices just in case will be an asset to your career.

Sketching: Drawing Techniques for Product Designers by Koos Eissen

A more updated book full of sketching techniques for product designers. It’s a great resource for learning the terminology behind industrial design sketching. There are also practical tips and tricks that can be applied to your everyday sketches.

Architecture: Form, Space, and Order by Francis D. K. Ching

While an architecture book by nature, Ching does an excellent job at teaching the reader basic design principles. If you’re new to product design, this is a definite must-read as it details elementary design concepts and advanced principles. It’s a simple read full of practical tips you can use in every day life.

Elements of Design: Rowena Reed Kostellow and the Structure of Visual Relationships by Gail Greet Hannah

Rowena Reed Kostellow was an industrial design teacher at the Pratt Institute. Her teachings have influenced the product design industry greatly. Through the book, you can learn what she has to teach. It’s an instructive book that allows students to follow along with Kostellow’s design exercises. There’s also commentary from Kostellow herself and examples of how her students used her teachings to become leaders in their field.

Basic Visual Concepts and Principles for Artists, Architects and Designers by Charles Wallschlaeger

This textbook-like book is full of exercises and informative information for designers and architects. It’s a pretty dry read, but if that doesn’t bother you, you’ll be able to learn the basics of design as well as advanced principles.

Hopefully you’re inspired to pick up one (or all) of these great books. They’re bound to help you along the way. If you happen to need help with the next step — engineering and manufacturing — Cad Crowd can help. We can connect you with the best engineers and manufacturing services in North America. Contact us for a free quote !

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Industrial Design: Library Resources

Welcome back, the library is open on tuesdays and thursdays from 10:00am-6:00pm for the spring 2024 semester. library materials are available for check out. additionally we have a wide array of course reserve materials that are available for student use within the library. .

Librarians are also available to assist students and faculty remotely Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00am-5:00pm PST. 

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Search all of the journals and magazines in Academic Search Premier, Art Source, and OmniFile Full Text Select with only one search!

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Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video platform for public libraries and universities that offers viewers a large collection of award-winning films and documentaries. The Academy of Art University subscribes to a subset of available films on the Kanopy platform focused on Art, Design, and Film studies.

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Use the  Course Reserves  page on the Library website to search for required textbooks.

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• Design Management Institute The Design Management Institute (DMI) is an international membership organization that connects design to business, to culture, to customers—and to the changing world.
• Pantone Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, is the world-renowned authority on color and provider of color systems and leading technology for the selection and accurate communication of color across a variety of industries.
• Sweets Product Marketplace Sweets is the building product source for the design and construction professional: Architects, Contractors, Subcontractors, Designers, Engineers, Facility Managers and Building Owners. Sweets is like no other building product database - with comprehensive product information, CAD details, BIM objects, specs, catalogs, galleries, green product information CEUs and more on over 100,000 products.
• ThomasNet ThomasNet.com is like no other supplier discovery resource out there. And it can help you meet your unique sourcing challenges in ways you never could before -- whether its adding quality certified suppliers to the supply chain, meeting diversity goals, identifying local job shops, finding specific products or accelerating the design process.
• US Patent and Trademark Office As a mechanism that protects new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity, the USPTO is at the cutting edge of the nation's technological progress and achievement.

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Home > Center for Arts & Language > Thesis Writing

Thesis Writing

This collection presents thesis writing resources developed by the RISD Center for Arts & Language, RISD faculty, the Office of Graduate Studies, and RISD alumni.

View HIGHLIGHTS | The RISD Graduate Thesis Book Exhibition . HIGHLIGHTS features 37 recent Master’s thesis books that are exemplary both overall and for their “highlights”—particular qualities of research, writing, documentation, and design. It accompanies the publication of the first Book of Thesis Books, a guide in which annotations illuminate the many virtues of each book.

A Guide to Thesis Book Design

Marcus Peabody and Center for Arts and Language

57 pages. "This guide is more basic and specific than other design manuals. Used in isolation it should tell you all you need to produce your book, even without prior graphic design knowledge. It could also be a starting point for a deeper dive into book design: other manuals that deal more thoroughly with elements such as book binding or typography are mentioned along the way for further reference." – from the introduction. "This book is set in Brandon Grotesque and Miller Text. Written and designed by Marcus Peabody (GD MFA 2019). Edited by Jen Liese and Meredith Barrett (A&L). Additional design and typesetting by Everett Epstein (GD MFA 2020)." – Colophon

The Book of Thesis Books

Elizabeth Leeper, Jennifer Liese, and Center for Arts & Language

89 pages : color illustrations ; 18 x 23 cm."This guide is intended to help future thesis writers understand the range of approaches to and content in RISD thesis books, locate some especially strong examples in the Library's vast thesis collection, and imagine and plan their own theses." - from the introduction. "Introduction by Jennifer Liese" - Colophon. Contents: Academic thesis -- Monograph -- Project document -- Mosaic essay -- Artist's book. "Designed by Elizabeth Leeper (MFA Graphic Design 2017). Set in Parry and Parry Grotesque, by Artur Schmal, and printed by Lulu."--Colophon.

The Master's Written Thesis

Anne West, Graduate Studies, and Center for Arts & Language

91 pages : illus. ; 26 cm; 2nd Edition. "This guide to thesis development is best used in discussion and negotiation with your Graduate Program Director and other thesis advisors. It may also be used as part of a workshop structure to explore in conversation with others the ideas and possibilities most appropriate to your own work." – Anne West, from the Introduction. "This remarkable handbook is a navigational instrument offered to assist each graduate student through the development of an independent, distinctive process of writing about—and with—one’s work." – Patricia C. Phillips, from the introduction. "The first edition of this handbook was produced in 1996, under the supervision of Graduate Dean Christina Bertoni. It was written to address the needs of graduate students preparing their written thesis and with the greatest concern for reducing thesis anxiety. Two reprints followed. With this second edition we have taken this guide through a vigorous and enthusiastic overhaul. The amplification of this guide parallels the scope of graduate study at RISD, which has enlarged considerably since our first effort over a decade ago. We hope that the results of this effort will be discussed in the context of departmental workshops and as such will strongly support graduates in achieving their personal and academic goals." – Anne West, from the acknowledgments. "Printed by Kase Printing, Inc. in Hudson, New Hampshire A print partner of Brown University Graphic Services Paper: Finch Fine Bright White Antique, 80lb. text and 100lb. cover Typeface: Galaxie Polaris by Chester Jenkins in 2008. Design: Mary Banas. Photography: Marta Labad unless otherwise noted." – Colophon

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30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers

Now I have one disclaimer, and that is I have intentionally left out the design yearbooks or the ever popular coffee table picture book collections. Simply put, these books don’t do much for you except provide visual eye candy. In fact, I would go as far as advising you to dump them!

The reason is that if you are looking at such books for inspiration, you will likely be recreating the same looks in one form or another. Not only that, because it is a publication, it takes time to get printed and out there. So by the time you are reading it, it is already outdated.

So going forward, I have divided the books into 3 categories, namely Thinking, Process and Designer Skills. So without further adieu here is the list, in no particular order of importance, for you to enjoy!

Edit : I’ve added direct links to Amazon so it’s easier for you to get more information. Do note it’s an affiliate link that won’t cost you anything more.

Not only can it be a great source of information on usability and product ergonomics, it is also a fantastic source of learning how to be sensitive to the product’s user experience. If it is not a textbook or required reading for your design school, make it so!

Celebrated former MIT Media Labs professor and now Head of the Rode Island Institute of Design, shares his principles of design in this book.  However, most of it can be found in his equally beautifully simple website: Laws of Simplicity .

Part design theory, part philosophy and part culture, Japanese designer Kenya Hara shares in this book his thoughts and unique approach to design. A beautiful book design that is a reflection of his theories and is on my must-read list. Unfortunately, to date, I can’t seem to get my hands on one as it is sold out everywhere, including Amazon.

This great book contains a collection of design principles that make it an essential “cheat sheet” for designers wanting to look at a design problem from different angles.

I can’t emphasise enough the importance of sustainable design and this book will get you ahead of the majority of designers already out there. If not, it will at least encourage you to start taking baby steps in that direction.

Though it might not be the self-proclaimed “World’s best-selling book”, it does have plenty of insights on how Designers can compete in today’s over-saturated creative industry. It is a nice and quick read that you could chew through in 2 train rides. However, I do suggest you take twice as long and spend a few minutes in between to digest Paul’s thoughts.

There are quite a number of books about branding or how to go about it, unfortunately, most tell the same story. What I believe is more important is the future of branding in today’s market of consumers suffering from information overload. Personally, I prefer the second book, which describes creating the Lovemark effect, as it has a greater gelling with Industrial Designers trying to create equally positive experiences with their products. For more information check out the official Love Marks Website .

Written in a “bite-size” format this book, from Marketing guru Seth Godin, explores how our marketing environment has changed with the influence of the internet. I’m about halfway and looking to finish it.

While Tom is not a designer and often seems to come across ranting to many people, this book is a neat little design guide targeted to Business leaders or owners. While much of it might not be new to a designer, it does give a huge insight on how to pitch your design work in a language that the business people can understand. That itself is worth its weight in gold.

11) Journals from the Design Management Institute by DMI members

While not technically a book, I encourage designers to channel some of their library funds into a DMI membership so that they can get access into some of the best and latest Design Management thinking out there. I cannot begin to articulate how much I have learned through their Journals.

A great read for Industrial Designers and Auto fans. The Creative Priority, written by the founder of Nissan Design International, was one of the first books I read about managing the innovation and creative process with in an organization. I particularly found how he managed hyper-creative design professionals very insightful and the basis of my designer management practices today.

These days Industrial Designers will find it hard press to find any product they work on that does not have an interface. Furthermore, as a result of digital technology, interaction design via either the hard keys and that of the graphic interfaces is becoming an integral part of the design process. This book shares the work of many designers and how they made a difference.

The classic and often a tough read due to the very academic language he uses. But regardless the exercises he advices are just priceless! I just now need to get into my copy a little more!

Probably one of my favorite business books, especially the part on business negotiation. No, I did not need to go to business school with this book and neither should you. Check this book out, if you have problems convincing management why they should go with your design.

This book is good in a scary way, especially in a corporate environment where you need to get things done. It can be applied for good or bad, but I leave that decision to you. If it is too big, you can get the concise edition , which focuses more on the Laws rather than the historical context they were derived from.

I have to admit that while this book does sometimes comes across as a sales pitch, the depth of coverage of IDEO’s culture and design process can be a great source of learning. Also, some designers might not find any of the information to be groundbreaking as it is targeted to buyers of design, but it does hammer home that these processes are what makes IDEO one of the world’s best design consultancies.

A great resource that shows you how products are developed from a sketch idea all the way to the final product, however, there seems to be a little more emphasis on the Industrial Design phases and how they turned an idea into a final product, rather than the down stream development work.

A fantastic resource and in my opinion another “must buy”. Unlike Design Secrets which focus on the creation process, this book is all about getting to the finishing line, something many design stories miss out. I find that innovation and inspiration can be found in every aspect of the product development process, this book shows you how these 50 products found theirs during the manufacturing stage.

Suitably inspired by the last book? Well, this book gets you into more detail. By the clever use of pictures, technical illustrations and descriptions, design opportunities and considerations, over seventy manufacturing processes are explained. This book intends to give designers a greater understanding of what actually happens during a manufacturing process.

What better way to get “sustainable design” into the core of your product, be getting your design inspired by nature, and making sure it is also is able to replenish itself. For more details on Biomimicry, check out our extensive article on this revolutionary design process .

22) Product Design and Development by Karl T. Ulrich and Steven D. Eppinger

Now into its 4th edition, this is one of the few supplemental books that I bought that focused on Industrial Design as part of a bigger process. This is something that you don’t get to see much of at design school even the more multi-disciplinary focused ones. The tendency at school is to focus on the design and creation process, and this book’s coverage of the entire product development process plugs in a lot of the gaps. While a little textbook-ish at times, it still is a great reference guide for designers finding that they have to wear many hats.

Do you need more good stuff on product and project management? Take a look at this book’s collection of successful of design process models. This is on my books to read, and will get to it as soon as I finish my other 5 that I’m juggling!

Designer Skills

Yep, it’s that Dick Powell . I believe this became an instant classic as it was probably the first of its kind in the sketching or presentation category. This all-rounder book covers all presentation techniques in general, starting from sketch, to marker rendering, and finally to the presentation boards. I actually got a chance to speak to Dick about his iconic book, and after his long groan, he told me that every Industrial Designers he has met has read it. You should too.

26) Sketching: Drawing Techniques for Product Designers by Koos Eissen and Roselien Steur

This book houses a great collection of sketching and drawings contributed by Industrial Design professionals from all over the world. Not only that, there is a great collection of drawing tutorials like varying the line widths, vanishing points, and shading etc. at the beginning of the book.

If you are interested in more recommendations for sketching books, check out our earlier post that covered Good books on Design Sketching .

Something slightly off the beaten track, but I think also equally important. Already into the third edition, Francis Ching’s beautifully hand lettered book for his Architecture students, remains one of the best examples of teaching the principles of design. My first edition copy, completely yellow with age, is one of my all time favorite books. I got it as a gift from my parents when I told them that I wanted to be an Architect when I grew up.

A must buy for all Industrial Designers as it is the reproduction of Rowena’s Form theory class at the Pratt Institute of design, which I actually got accepted to but never went. (Long story that one) Basically, it teaches designers how to be sensitive to the manipulation and control of forms so that they can solve complex design problems.

This fantastic resource that covers Visual principles in general and a great reference guide for all designers.

This is probably one of the best books on Lightning and Rendering I have read as it does not focus on any program in general but instead on fundamental techniques of lightning. With techniques similar to what photographers or movie makers use, you will never have to wonder why your CAD rendering looks so odd.

I hope you enjoy this list as much as I did to compile it! I’m sure some of my suggestions would be familiar to you, but I hope you would have uncovered some gems here as well. Also if I have missed out any of your favorite’s books, please do not hesitate to let me know what they are by leaving a comment?

48 Comments

Have someone read this? https://uxstudioteam.com/product-design-book/ Opinions?

Brigitta Puskas

Yeah, I ordered this book recently! I think it provided a very nice overview of the whole product design process, and what I really found useful were the case studies. It’s cool cause it’s written by the CEO of this design company, so they really do this every day, and have really hands-on insights.

D2innovación

Excellent list. Thanks Could you recommend some text about design and sustainability?

Well a great list. I want to start learning sketching, sketching of inventors or engineers kind of thing. Is there any tutorial based book that you may recommend ?

Bhaven Chauhan

Hi I read this article when it was first published… I definitely agree that ‘Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals’ is one of the best ID books, but I feel like now it would be considered quite behind, as there have been quite a few advances in materials and manufacturing techniques since then. You’ve updated your section on books for design sketching – is it possible for you to do the same for this – or recommend the latest book on manufacturing/materials/processes that’s just as good? Thanks, Bhaven

Hey DT! I’m doing architecture(B.Arch) currently but i my heart is more into industrial design. I try to educate myself from where ever possible…So is there an additional degree required for Industrial design? I’m like being Autodidact! Thanks, Jashan

I do always read every list of reccommended titles for design students / designers. I’m glad to see that our school of design library has every single book listed here. (and more) keep up the good work.

another very important design-section from your side, this will help us a lot.!!! ..thank you so much for sharing this 🙂

Vikash Kumar

Hey it was really a nice collection. Thanks for sharing with us.

Well, what schould I say … Great job done… Thanks in name of all designers for this “library” of essency in design ideas in one place. Serggio B

Thank you very much for the contribution, many of these books I must confess I did not recognize. Above all I love being able to see the list of books by John Maeda and Neil Gershenfeld within essential!!!

Component Joe

Fantastic list! Agree on the Paul Arden title… you will need some time to digest his words between chapters!

excellent list, very useful. I have nº21 “Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine M. Benyus”, but it didn´t like me a lot. I´ll try with other of this list thanks

Peter Wooding

Juicy food for thought and….debate. Looks like a great list.

shruti kale

Hey great help!!! Thanks a lot

Great list – thx for sharing!

Shashikant Tewary

It is a power pack 30!

alan manley

…and i agree with Sara Nordman; Designers are Wankers is a great book and also should be somewhere in and around this list. And a great title for a book!

Great list, i own some of these and wish i had the rest! I would also like to include for the first time audience to Product Design; Toothpicks and Logos by John Heskett. Brilliant book, the reason i got into design.

Jen Castors

An amazing list of absolute classics.

Hi PieterC, Thanks for your recommendation! Because of it I was browsing “Made to stick” the other day!

I would like to add “Made to stick” by Dan Chip: why some ideas survive and other dies. Another really good book to see how industrial design works is Monkey Business (about how they created the brand Kipling) – don’t know if it’s available in English.

@Andrew – One of my favorites as well! @Sara – I hope we are all not that bad! I’m looking for this book as well.

Product Design

What a superb list! Thank you so much for this. I already have several of these books but there were a few on the list which I hadn’t heard of. Ive read a few reviews on these and they sound excellent, Ive ordered them and have high hopes!

Sara Nordmann

I also love “Designers are Wankers.”

Andrew Durham

Buckminster Fuller.

Hey cybrpnk, thanks for stopping by, if in doubt the library is also a good place. Just photocopy the stuff or pages you might need.

saw the Rob Thompson manufacturing processes book in kinokuniya the other day…definitely have to pick one up…ordered it…cause they only had the shelf copy…:( other than that…i’ll be needing to save up a lot more to afford all these books…argh…need more design books…

Martin Owen

Pirsig’s “Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance” is important – of help you think of “quality” and what it means. Marquez “Los cientos annos de soler” (“one hundred years of solitude”)- because the ways products are consumed is not always the way you think they will be consumed. The way Macondo develops and the ways some technologies are greeted (telecopes, ice making, light, cinema) are not what the designer may expect. Yes they are novels – but the fictive mind has much to teach us too! Great list and it needs Papenek

De Web Times

Hi, this is a excellent list for reference.Have already read some, but the rest will really help a lot. Thanks again.

Wow. I hope, I have all. Great reference. Thanks

thirty three: “The Substance of Style: How the Rise of Aesthetic Value is Remaking Commerce, Culture, and Consciousness” by Virginia Postrel.

@Matt Thanks for the link, I will check it out! @Masha and @Lucas, thanks for your comments and please keep in touch!

Good one Matt. I agree, this is an essential collection and a gateway to many other great industrial design books out there and more to come.

and what about Papanek ‘Design for the Real World’ ??

Don’t forget Thoughts on Interaction Design, with a free pdf, at http://thoughtsoninteraction.com/contents.php …

Hi all, and thanks for the great feedback! I will do my best to answer each in kind. @Jim Rait, yes Tom’s PSF 50 is a good one, and I have heard of Bill Buxton’s Sketching User experience as well. The PSF 50 can be downloaded at Tom Peter’s website as a PDF. On working with a master, that is ideal, but unfortunately many of us can’t so perhaps this book could be a distant replacement? Also that idea of pulling it all into one book is great, perhaps this looks like a ID community book coming together? @David Airey: YES! That is a great book, we have recently covered it here as Design Sojourn as well. This will be one of my soon to buy books as well. Not to mention the gorgeous pictures! @Niels: Thanks for the suggestion! It looks fun as books off the beaten track interests me. They are a source of a lot of my inspiration. @larry Rosenthal: Thanks for this great suggestion. Im sure there are many other classics such as Doblin’s work that don’t get cataloged. @Vallabh Narola: Thanks for your kind feedback and please keep in touch. @David: Best of luck and do let me know if you uncover any other good books?

I have read 2 of those books, own one and I think im gonna go to the library near me and the rest =] Thanks DT

We should take key chapters from each and assemble into an ensemble book as O’Reilly does with his! Then we could stop our booksheleves collapsing!

Vallabh Narola

Excellent Books. These books sharpen Designers’s imagination skills. Thanks a lot !

larry Rosenthal

good to see Rowena there… more lessons in that book then youd know for design as craft. and anyone interested in real design history and information design should search hard for JAY DOBLINS “Information Design” i think by IIT press from around 1985 or so. a simple book with simple illustrations that outlined and pegged every “web announced interactive whatever from whomever of today”;) its not even a blip on Google which shows you the inherent problem with information design,design, and its execution today by most. i just tried to find it or a link to a mention of it.. nothing. well, at least within the first page of google- clemont mok is cited, offering his influence by Doblin. the book- his work- should not be forgotten or replaced by the fad of google-info design. c3

Nice collection. I read a few of them and they definitely need to be here. What about ‘the inmates are running the asylum….. of Alan Cooper?

David Airey

Hi DT, These books are great for so many more people than just industrial designers. I particularly enjoy the late Paul Arden’s “It’s not how good you are. It’s how good you want to be.” A superb read.

Good list… I would add two books that, I think, make design ventures fit into the world of commerce a little more easily… The Professional Services Firm 50 by Tom Peters and Sketching User Experiences by Bill Buxton. Just don’t ask which two to leave out!… ok 25 and 26! Why those? Because skills should be learned at the side of a master.. competences stemming from points of view need to be reflected on as we read.. or?

Hi All, Wow this amazing, it is my first Article that has had so many replies so quickly! Thanks for taking the time to leave your comments as well as sharing your book suggestions.

Excellent list! Thanks DT.

The best list of books a Designer should read/own I have seen in a long time. The only addition I can think of off the top of my head would would be adaptive paths new book – subject to change.

Thanks a lot! Great reference.

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