The following list represents some of the excellent books out there on design research methods. While some are standards in the field from other disciplines, many are part of a surge of new design sources that have emerged in recent years.
Designing for the Digital Age
Goodwin, Kim. Designing for the Digital Age: How to Create Human- Centered Products and Services. Indianapolis, IN: Wiley, 2009.
User and Task Analysis for Interface Design
Hackos, JoAnn T & Redish, Janice C. User and Task Analysis for Interface Design. NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1998.
Just Enough Research
Hall, Erika. Just Enough Research: Second Edition. New York: A Book Apart, 2010.
Universal Methods of Design
Hanington, Bruce & Martin, Bella. Universal Methods of Design: 125 Ways to Research Complex Problems, Develop Innovative Ideas, and Design Effective Solutions. Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers, 2019.
The Pocket Universal Methods of Design
Hanington, Bruce & Martin, Bella. The Pocket Universal Methods of Design, Revised and Expanded: 125 Ways to Research Complex Problems, Develop Innovative Ideas, and Design Effective Solutions. Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers, 2022.
Contextual Design
Holtzblatt, Karen and Beyer, Hugh. Contextual Design: Design for Life. Morgan Kaufmann, 2016.
The Little Book of Design Research Ethics
IDEO. The Little Book of Design Research Ethics. IDEO, 2015.
Design Research Through Practice
Koskinen, I., Zimmerman, J. et al. Design Research Through Practice From the Lab, Field, and Showroom. Elsevier / Morgan Kaufmann, 2011.
101 Design Methods
Kumar, Vijay. 101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization. Wiley, 2012.
Observing the User Experience
Kuniavsky, Mike. Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner’s Guide to User Research. San Francisco: Elsevier / Morgan Kaufmann, 2012.
Design Research: Methods and Perspectives
Laurel, Brenda. Design Research: Methods and Perspectives. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003.
Watching Closely: A Guide to Ethnographic Observation
Nippert-Eng, Christena. Watching Closely: A Guide to Ethnographic Observation. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.
Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights
Portigal, Steve. Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights: 2nd Edition. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media, 2023.
Real World Research
Robson, Colin. Real World Research: A Resource for Users of Social Research Methods in Applied Settings, 3 rd edition. Wiley, 2011.
Convivial Toolbox
Sanders, Liz & Stappers, Pieter Jan. Convivial Toolbox: Generative Research for the Front End of Design. Amsterdam: BIS Publishers, 2013.
A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research
Sommer, Robert & Sommer, Barbara. A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research: Tools and Techniques, 5th edition. NY: Oxford, 2001.
Validating Product Ideas Through Lean User Research
Sharon, Tomer. Validating Product Ideas Through Lean User Research. Brooklyn, NY: Rosenfeld Media, 2016.
A Designer’s Research Manual
Visocky O’Grady, Jenn & Visocky O’Grady, Ken. A Designer’s Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and Understanding What They Really Need. 2nd edition, Beverly, MA: Rockport, 2017.
Inquiry by Design
Zeisel, John. Inquiry by Design: Environment / Behavior / Neuroscience in Architecture, Interiors, Landscape, and Planning. NY: Norton, 2006.
