Do reading books on User Experience help designers? Is it the ultimate way to learn?
The UX field is a constantly evolving field. One must be on their toes at all times to learn about design trends and best practices.
That being said, when it comes to UX design, to each their own. Every designer has their style, ideologies, thinking processes, methods, etc.
Books on UX can help designers gain a deeper understanding of user needs, providing key insights into user research, personas and journeys, user-centric design, case studies, and learning about the history of design.
However, please keep in mind that sometimes the books can be too advanced for you at the moment and could only be helpful to you a few years down the line.
Books are just one of the many resources at a designer's disposal. Real-world experience, collaborations with other designers, developers, and product managers, and constant research and learning are crucial in gaining experience in UX.
Therefore, an individual must consider their needs and interests. If you are new to UX design, perhaps starting with a book that gives you an overview of the surface-level understanding of the world of UX design would be a good start.
If you are an experienced UX designer looking for specific information and a specific area in UX design, you should choose books that focus on that particular area of interest. Some books help UX designers communicate effectively with stakeholders, clients, and end users.
As I mentioned above, reading books on UX can help designers in many ways. However, it is important to remember that practical experience and real-world feedback are essential for improving design skills and creating great user experiences.
Other ways to dive into the world of UX design are to experiment by giving yourself UX exercises and trying out multiple techniques, solving real-world problems, and analyzing what works best for the end user. Reaching out to other UX designers, and attending conferences on UX, online forums, blogs, podcasts, and discussion threads is also an effective way to gain experience.
The sky is the limit in learning about the world of UX design. It is a vast ocean in which there is room to learn, sometimes even unlearn.
Unlearning is a golden opportunity to grow and constantly improve as a designer. One of the things to unlearn is the belief that there is only one right way to do UX.
Be open to new ideas, in some cases even the so-called outdated ideas. It is okay to make mistakes, take failures in your stride. What better way to learn than through failures? Trial and error is part and parcel of this journey.
Another aspect is to throw your biases out the window as they can influence your design and cloud your judgment. Being your enemy also helps when you build a more effective product.
The more you are out of your comfort zone, the better it is to sharpen your skills and grow.
So read, learn, unlearn, blog, discuss, set yourself exercises, and most importantly, practice, practice, and practice designing to enhance your skills!