30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers

File under: Design Articles

Written by Brian Ling (Design Sojourn)Jul 03, 2008

68 Comments

172

TweetTweet

Design…

Image Source: Books by ijsendoorn.

If it suits your fancy please do Digg, Stumble and share? Thanks in advance!

As requested and suggested by a few loyal Design Sojourn readers, I have compiled what I think are theessential books that Industrial Designers should either own or read.

Now I have one disclaimer, and that is I have intentionally left out the design yearbooks or the ever popularcoffee table picture book collections. Simply put, these books don’t do much for you except provide visualeye 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 samelooks in one form or another. Not only that, because it is a publication, it takes time to get printed and outthere. So by the time you are reading it, it is already outdated.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!

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

Thinking1) The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

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

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

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

3) Fab: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop–from Personal Computers to Personal Fabricationby Neil Gershenfeld

Also an MIT professor, Neil spends most of his time as The Director of The Center for Bits and Atoms.While not really about Industrial Design, Gershenfeld’s vision of the future in manufacturing, will change theway we design and make things. The impact to our future of our careers is so important that I recommendthat all Industrial Designers read this book as soon as possible.

4) Designing Design – Kenya Hara

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

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

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

6) Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and MichaelBraungart.

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

7) It’s Not How Good You Are, Its How Good You Want to Be: The World’s Best Selling Book by PaulArden

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

8) The Lovemarks Effect: Winning in the Consumer Revolution by Kevin Roberts

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

9) Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas by Seth Godin.

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

10) Design (Tom Peters Essentials) by Tom Peters.

While Tom is not a designer and often seems to come across ranting to many people, this book is a neat littledesign guide targeted to Business leaders or owners. While much of it might not be new to a designer, it doesgive 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 DMImembership so that they can get access into some of the best and latest Design Management thinking outthere. I cannot begin to articulate how much I have learned through their Journals.

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

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

13) Designing Interactions by Bill Moggridge.

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

14) Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step by Edward De Bono.

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

15) What They Don’t Teach You At Harvard Business School: Notes From A Street-Smart Executiveby Mark H. McCormack.

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

16) The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.

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

17) The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America’s Leading Design Firm by TomKelley.

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

Process18) Design Secrets: Products 1 and 2: 50 Real-Life Product Design Projects Uncovered by Lynn Hallerand Cheryl Dangel Cullen, and edited by Industrial Designers Society of America.

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

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

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

20) Manufacturing Processes for Design Professionals by Rob Thompson.

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 manufacturingprocesses are explained. This book intends to give designers a greater understanding of what actually happensduring a manufacturing process.

21) Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine M. Benyus

What better way to get sustainable design into the core of your product, be getting your design inspired bynature, and making sure it is also is able to replenish itself. For more details on Biomimicry, check out ourextensive 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 IndustrialDesign as part of a bigger process. This is something that you don’t get to see much of at design school eventhe more multi-disciplinary focused ones. The tendency at school is to focus on the design and creationprocess, and this book’s coverage of the entire product development process plugs in a lot of the gaps. Whilea little textbook-ish at times, it still is a great reference guide for designers finding that they have to wearmany hats.

23) Managing the Design Factory by Donald G. Reinertsen.

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

Designer Skills24) Presentation Techniques by Dick Powell.

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

25) Creative Marker Techniques: In Combination With Mixed Media by Yoshiharu Shimizu

While Dick Powell’s book is an all rounder, this book specifically focuses on marker rendering andillustration techniques. If I recall, it also brings into the equation techniques using computer programs. Thereality is rendering in Photoshop or Illustrator is no different from old schools markers.

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 professionalsfrom all over the world. Not only that, there is a great collection of drawing tutorials like varying the linewidths, 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 coveredGood books on Design Sketching.

27) Architecture: Form, Space, & Order by Francis D. K. Ching.

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 examplesof teaching the principles of design. My first edition copy, completely yellow with age, is one of my all timefavorite books. I got it as a gift from my parents when I told them that I wanted to be an Architect when Igrew up.

28) Elements of Design: Rowena Reed Kostellow and the Structure of Visual Relationships by GailGreet Hannah.

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

29) Basic Visual Concepts And Principles For Artists, Architects And Designers by CharlesWallschlaeger and Cynthia Busic-Snyder.

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

30) Digital Lighting and Rendering (2nd Edition) by Jeremy Birn.

This is probably one of the best books on Lightning and Rendering I have read as it does not focus on anyprogram in general but instead on fundamental techniques of lightning. With techniques similar to whatphotographers 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 compiling it! I’m sure some of my suggestions would be familiar toyou, but I hope you would have uncovered some gems here as well. Also if I have missed out any of yourfavorite’s books, please do not hesitate to let me know what they are by leaving a comment?

If it suits your fancy please do Digg, Stumble and share? Thanks in advance!

Love this post? Subscribe to The Design Sojourn Newsletter, for free, and get the latest content deliveredright to your inbox with our 110% NO-SPAM Policy!

You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook as well.

Related Posts You Might Find Interesting:eBooks vs. BooksEssential Websites for Industrial DesignersThis is NOT the End of AppleHow to Make Silicone Moulds and Resin Cast StuffHow Industrial Design has Changed in the Last 10 Years?

Comments

68 Comments

Nico Jul 03, 08 – 11:46 am

Thanks a lot! Great reference.

Melbid Jul 03, 08 – 12:00 pm

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

cat Jul 03, 08 – 5:33 pm

Excellent list! Thanks DT.

DT Jul 03, 08 – 6:34 pm

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.

Jim Rait Jul 03, 08 – 8:31 pm

Good list… I would add two books that, I think, make design ventures fit into the world of commerce a littlemore easily…The Professional Services Firm 50 by Tom Peters and Sketching User Experiences by Bill Buxton. Just don’task which two to leave out!… ok 25 and 26! Why those? Because skills should be learned at the side of amaster.. competences stemming from points of view need to be reflected on as we read.. or?

David Airey Jul 03, 08 – 9:48 pm

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 superbread.

Niels Jul 04, 08 – 5:11 am

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

larry Rosenthal Jul 04, 08 – 9:07 am

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 whateverfrom whomever of today”;)

its not even a blip on Google which shows you the inherent problem with information design,design, and itsexecution 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

Vallabh Narola Jul 04, 08 – 1:40 pm

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

Jim Rait Jul 04, 08 – 4:58 pm

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

David Jul 05, 08 – 10:06 pm

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

DT Jul 08, 08 – 2:27 pm

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 aswell. The PSF 50 can be downloaded at Tom Peter’s website as a PDF. On working with a master, that isideal, but unfortunately many of us can’t so perhaps this book could be a distant replacement? Also that ideaof 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. Thiswill 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 sourceof a lot of my inspiration.

@larry Rosenthal: Thanks for this great suggestion. Im sure there are many other classics such as Doblin’swork 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?

Creative roundup 08 July 2008 | David Airey :: Graphic and Logo Designer Jul 08, 08 – 6:50 pm

[…] of Design Sojourn, recommends 30 essential books for industrial designers. Some excellent choices inthere. I have divided the books into 3 categories… Thinking, […]

Matt Jul 09, 08 – 8:28 pm

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

masha Jul 11, 08 – 5:36 pm

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

Lucas Jul 14, 08 – 7:06 am

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

DT Jul 14, 08 – 5:43 pm

@Matt Thanks for the link, I will check it out!

@Masha and @Lucas, thanks for your comments and please keep in touch!

links for 2008-07-14 « thedysh Jul 14, 08 – 8:30 pm

[…] Design Sojourn | Strategic Industrial Design Blog

Jesse Jul 15, 08 – 12:06 pm

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

Dise Jul 15, 08 – 8:35 pm

[…] en cuenta. Muestra de lo que se puede encontrar en las estanter

Rini Jul 19, 08 – 12:28 am

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

De Web Times Jul 21, 08 – 11:49 am

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

Martin Owen Jul 22, 08 – 5:08 pm

Pirsig’s “Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance” is important – of help you think of “quality” and what itmeans.

Marquez “Los cientos annos de soler” (“one hundred years of solitude”)- because the ways products areconsumed is not always the way you think they will be consumed. The way Macondo develops and the wayssome 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

Books on Industrial Design and resources « Creative{’}s Crossing Jul 28, 08 – 4:00 pm

[…] on Industrial Design and resources 28 07 2008 suggestions from design […]

cybrpnk Jul 30, 08 – 1:22 pm

saw the Rob Thompson manufacturing processes book in kinokuniya the other day…definitely have to pickone 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 designbooks…

DT Jul 30, 08 – 2:30 pm

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

30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers « Moondoloco Aug 10, 08 – 9:41 pm

[…] Essential Books for Industrial Designers 10Aug08 Click for the list Filed under: Design, Literature, Tips[…]

Andrew Durham Aug 11, 08 – 5:45 pm

Buckminster Fuller.

Sara Nordmann Oct 20, 08 – 5:21 am

I also love “Designers are Wankers.”

Product Design

Oct 20, 08 – 10:19 pm

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

Del.icio.us op 27 oktober 2008 | Michel Vuijlsteke’s weblog Oct 28, 08 – 5:02 am

[…] – Design Sojourn | Strategic Industrial Design Blog

Del.icio.us op 28 oktober 2008 | Michel Vuijlsteke’s weblog Oct 29, 08 – 5:01 am

[…] – Design Sojourn | Strategic Industrial Design Blog

DT Oct 29, 08 – 9:33 pm

@Andrew – One of my favorites as well!

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

PieterC Nov 27, 08 – 3:16 pm

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 createdthe brand Kipling) – don’t know if it’s available in English.

DT Dec 19, 08 – 11:19 pm

Hi PieterC,

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

25 fantastic design articles from 2008 | David Airey Dec 27, 08 – 7:03 am

[…] 30 essential books for industrial designers I have always seen books as a “window to someone’spersonality”, and for me this post was not only a reflection of my multi-disciplinary and varied interests, but away that I could share a little about myself with my readers. […]

The Ultimate Web Developer Dec 29, 08 – 11:54 pm

[…] 30 Essential Books For Industrial DesignersSome useful books for web-developers are in the list as well.[…]

Bookmarks about Books Jan 02, 09 – 5:15 pm

[…] – bookmarked by 6 members originally found by peety on 2008-12-06 30 Essential Books for IndustrialDesigners http://www.designsojourn.com/30-essential-books-for-industrial-designers/ – bookmarked by 1[…]

Dine. Travel. Design. » Blog Archive » inspiration search: sites, blogs, and links Feb 17, 09 – 11:08 pm

[…] 30 books from DesignSojourn […]

30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers « 1 Design Per Day Feb 22, 09 – 6:03 am

[…] 30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers By 1designperday like to be an industrial design pro?

Jen Castors Mar 04, 09 – 7:14 pm

An amazing list of absolute classics.

alan manley Mar 21, 09 – 1:34 pm

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

alan manley Mar 21, 09 – 1:37 pm

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

Shashikant Tewary Mar 25, 09 – 12:50 pm

It is a power pack 30!

mike sch. Jun 02, 09 – 5:09 pm

Great list – thx for sharing!

shruti kale Jun 12, 09 – 3:32 pm

Hey great help!!!Thanks a lot

smow Blog » Blog Archive » (smow)offline: designer bookkeeping Jun 13, 09 – 12:06 am

[…] recommending their chums books, but first design observer portrayed their reading tips and then designsojourn brought out their “30 Essential Books for Industrial […]

(smow)offline: designer bookkeeping « smowblog – in english Jun 17, 09 – 1:17 am

[…] recommending their chums books, but first design observer portrayed their reading tips and then designsojourn brought out their “30 Essential Books for Industrial […]

Peter Wooding Jun 18, 09 – 10:14 am

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

day 22 – summer reading « this gun is for hire Jun 20, 09 – 9:47 pm

[…] June 21, 2009 30 essential books for industrial designers […]

smow Blog » Blog Archive » Smow offline: Designer Jun 22, 09 – 9:35 pm

[…] die ihre Lieblings-Schm

IDSA Kansas City » RESOURCES: Essential Design Books Jul 17, 09 – 4:37 am

[…] Design Sojourn posted a really great list of book recommendations for Industrial Designers. It has adiverse selection of topics ranging from theory to execution. Subscribe to comments Comment | Trackback |Post Tags: […]

rinitis Nov 22, 09 – 4:36 am

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 listthanks

Component Joe Apr 06, 10 – 4:19 pm

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

designmun1 » Blog Archive » 30 Lbros esenciales en el diseño industrial Jun 02, 10 – 4:10 pm

[…] Más información en designsojourn. […]

30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers « CHARLES PERRETTI Jul 18, 10 – 4:50 pm

[…] designsojourn.com/30-essential-books-for-industrial-designers […]

Anny Jul 25, 10 – 9:19 am

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!!!

Basic Guidelines to Product Sketching Web Burning Blog Nov 12, 10 – 8:07 am

[…] 30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers […]

Serggio B Jan 25, 11 – 6:49 am

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

Vikash Kumar Mar 03, 11 – 4:50 pm

Hey it was really a nice collection.

Thanks for sharing with us.

chaitanya Mar 17, 11 – 4:37 am

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

Good Books on Design Sketching (Updated March 2011) | Design Sojourn Apr 05, 11 – 11:10 pm

[…] For more great books on design, check out our awesome article: 30 Essential Books for IndustrialDesigners. […]

Patricio May 09, 11 – 10:39 pm

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.

Jashan Oct 01, 11 – 11:12 pm

Hey DT!

I’m doing architecture(B.Arch) currently but i my heart is more into industrial design. I try to educate myselffrom where ever possible…So is there an additional degree required for Industrial design? I’m like beingAutodidact!

Thanks, Jashan

Bhaven Chauhan Jul 18, 12 – 11:54 pm

Hi

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

Thanks,Bhaven

The 30 Most Important Books for Product Designers | ArtisanArt Jun 25, 13 – 9:39 pm

[…] eyes open to ideas, rather than literal pieces of design. And that makes Design Sojourn’s list of the 30most important books for industrial designers particularly useful. That link has short descriptions of eachbook on the list, from Kenya […]

Ahmad Ali Jul 01, 13 – 6:14 am

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

Basic Guidelines to Product Sketching Mar 06, 15 – 6:22 pm

[…] 30 Essential Books for Industrial Designers […]

Leave a comment

A note about commenting: We value your comments as they provide different perspectives that we can learnfrom and/or improve our products as we see this blog as a platform for interaction and exchange with ourfriends. However, whilst we welcome constructive criticism, we do not tolerate offensive and disrespectfulcomments. Postings deemed inappropriate will be removed.

Finally, to avoid auto deletion from spam filtering, we kindly ask that you use your personal name or initialsinstead of your business name. Thank you and I hope you enjoy being part of the design conversation!

Name (required)

Email (required, will not be published)

Website

Submit Comment

Notify me of follow up comments via e-mail

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

CategoriesAbout Design SojournDesign ArticlesDesign LeadershipDesign ProcessDesigning DesignersEntrepreneurshipFeatured ArticleIndustrial DesignSpaces for Ideas

Recent Writings90% of All Content is BS so Don’t be LazyIs this the End of Windows?The Most Important Skill All Design Thinkers Must HaveDealing with FeedbackAdopting the Simulation Mindset in DesignWe are Hiring12 Thoughts on Implementing Design Thinking in Your OrganizationWhat is the Design Agency of the Future?When is Design Led Innovation Not Right for You?

[ Check out the Archives for more stuff on Strategic Design! ]

We provide consulting, facilitation and training services in the areas of:

1) Design Strategy and Research 2) Design Thinking 3) Design Led Innovation

Favorites

Popular Articles10 Essential Tips for Creating that Killer Portfolio30 Essential Books for Industrial DesignersTips on how to improve your drawing abilityGood Books on Design Sketching (Updated October 2011)Do I have to be able to draw well to be a good designer?

A collection of resources for designers interested in startups by Designer Fund: designerfund.com/bridge/a-desig… via @JShoee pic.twitter.com/W8MXC5Zkp1

Retweeted by Brian Ling

John Maeda @johnmaeda

Show Photo

Melina Papadopoulos @opprette

29 Sep

8h

Tweets FollowFollow

Sé el primero de tusamigos en indicar que legusta esto.

Design…5140 Me gusta

Me gusta esta páginaMe gusta esta página

Strategic Partners

Site DisclaimerAll opinions expressed on this blog are solely the author's own and should not be attributed to hisbusiness partners or clients.

Affiliations

All content is Copyright © 2005–2015 Design Sojourn.

Site Version 5.0. Painfully Hosted at MT.

Design Sojourn Search

ABOUTCONTACTCLIENTS

Case StudiesA*Star (Agency for Science, Technology and Research)Dell Inc.Design Singapore CouncilDesign Thinking SGKhoo Teck Puat HospitalNgee Ann PolytechnicYanko Design

SERVICESDesign EngageInnovation and Capability Voucher (ICV)Workshops and Seminars

PRODUCTSStoryBook SketchbookExpandable SketchbookShipping InformationiPoor T-Shirt (Sold Out!)

ARTICLESResource ArticlesArchivesSubscribe to Design SojournWhat is RSS?

Store