By: Michael Bassett (neatdesign.ie) is a designer living and working in Dublin, Ireland. Michael holds a Dip. Elec Media but is mainly self-thought with over 12 years experience.
9 Must Read Books for Web Design Freelancers
Ok so I have to admit it I haven’t read all of these books word for word but trust me if you are trying to make the jump from graphic designer to web designer or if you just want to hone your already blisteringly good web design skills the following books are a must and a wonderful resource for your book shelf. So in no particular order.
1. Don’t Make Me Think – Steve Krug
“People won’t use your Web site if they can’t find their way around it.”
This book is all about the usability of web sites, the author uses simple language and illustrations to explain how you can test sites yourself and ensure you are using the best possible methods when designing.
2. CSS The Missing Manual – David Sawyer McFarland
“Being a web designer means dealing with the unknown”
As the title suggests this book is all about CSS. Simple clear instructions and examples, the book is a wonderful resource, which you will be picking up time and time again for reference.
3. Sexy Web Design – Elliot Jay Stocks
“The more attractive an item looks, the longer people will want to look at it..”
I love this book. This book is all about visual design and how we really should strive to make interfaces as visually pleasing as possible. If you want methods and inspiration to make your web design sexy.. read this book.
4. The Principles of Beautiful Web Design – Jason Beaird
“A typical web site visitor will enter and leave a web site in a matter of seconds.”
Again focusing on the visual aspect of web design lots of examples of web sites, layouts, colours, textures, typography.. and more.
5. Web Standards Solutions – Dan Cederholm
“This book is designed to give you ammunition—ammunition to bring web standards solutions to your own projects”
Web Standards Solutions really tries to take it all on in one book. It deals with a lot of coding but won’t overload your brain. Again a must have reference book when designing.
6. Designing With Web Standards – Jeffrey Zeldman
“No one reading this book can afford to design today’s websites with yesterday’s piecemeal methods.”
The second edition of the already very successful book by Jeffrey Zeldman is absolutely jam packed with info. The book is written in a friendly manner, which allows for an easy read. Third edition is out now.
7. How to be a Rock Star Freelancer – Cyan & Collis Ta’eed
“decide what you want to tell the client and what questions you need to ask. You may wish to make a few notes to ensure you remember everything.”
Starting out as a freelance designer? then buy this book, this book will put you on the right path. It’s a very interactive book; in that, it makes you ask questions of yourself which you wouldn’t normally ask. Do I really want to go freelance? gulp!
8. The Smashing Book – The Smashing Magazine
“Creating the look and feel of a product is not the primary aim of visual interface design, merely a component”
Anyone who regularly logs on to thesmashingmagazine.com knows what this is all about. For those that don’t The Smashing Magazine is a fantastic online resource for any designer and look now they have gone and published a book.
9. .net magazine.
Ok so this is not a book but it is something you should try to keep an eye on. The fact is the web is constantly changing and so are the design and coding processes which make it. So try to keep up to date and regularly purchase a magazine .net issue 198 is on sale now.
About the Author
Michael Bassett is a designer living and working in Dublin, Ireland. Michael holds a Dip. Elec Media but is mainly self-thought with over 12 years experience. Along with working for DMOD Architects Michael and his wife Sharon O’Reilly run their own design studio neat design. You can follow Michael on twitter@neatd and check out his website http://www.neatdesign.ie. Oh and thanks for reading.
Comments
If you have any recommendations for books yourself or would like to see updates to this article, why not post a comment and let it be known. Also, if you’re interesting in contributing yourself simply email info@freelanceireland.ie
Michael Bassett is a designer living and working in Dublin, Ireland. Michael holds a Dip. Elec Media but is mainly self-thought with over 12 years experience. Along with working for DMOD Architects Michael and his wife Sharon O’Reilly run their own design studio neat design. You can follow Michael on twitter@neatd and check out his website http://www.neatdesign.ie. 
