Top Interaction Design books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Interaction Design books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Interaction Design

Understanding the concepts of Interaction Design starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction

A revision of the #1 text in the Human Computer Interaction field, Interaction Design, the third edition is an ideal resource for learning the interdisciplinary skills needed for interaction design, human-computer interaction, information design, web design and ubiquitous computing.
The authors are acknowledged leaders and educators in their field, with a strong global reputation. They brin…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Designing Interactions

Digital technology has changed the way we interact with everything from the games we play to the tools we use at work. Designers of digital technology products no longer regard their job as designing a physical object—beautiful or utilitarian—but as designing our interactions with it. In Designing Interactions, award-winning designer Bill Moggridge introduces us to forty influential designers …

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

UI is Communication: How to Design Intuitive, User Centered Interfaces by Focusing on Effective Communication

User interface design is a challenging, multi disciplinary activity that requires understanding a wide range of concepts and techniques that are often subjective and even conflicting. Imagine how much it would help if there were a single perspective that you could use to simplify these complex issues down to a small set of objective principles. In UI is Communication, Everett McKay explains ho…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Emotional Design: Why We Love (or Hate) Everyday Things

Emotions are inseparable from how we humans think, choose, and act. In Emotional Design, cognitive scientist Don Norman shows how the principles of human psychology apply to the invention and design of new technologies and products. In The Design of Everyday Things, Norman made the definitive case for human-centered design, showing that good design demanded that the user's must take precedence…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Design of Everyday Things

The fault, argues this ingenious -- even liberating -- book, lies not in ourselves, but in product design that ignores the needs of users and the principles of cognitive psychology. The problems range from ambiguous and hidden controls to arbitrary relationships between controls and functions, coupled with a lack of feedback or other assistance and unreasonable demands on memorization.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Rocket Surgery Made Easy

It's been known for years that usability testing can dramatically improve products. But with a typical price tag of $5,000 to $10,000 for a usability consultant to conduct each round of tests, it rarely happens.
In this how-to companion to Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Steve Krug spells out a streamlined approach to usability testing that anyone can easily a…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional Interaction Design Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Interaction Design, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web and Beyond

The Elements of User Experience cuts through the complexity of user-centered design for the Web with clear explanations and vivid illustrations that focus on ideas rather than tools or techniques. Jesse James Garrett gives readers the big picture of Web user experience development, from strategy and requirements to information architecture and visual design. This accessible introduction helps …

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

Augment your Interaction Design books

There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor. What used to be impossible to find is now just two clicks away! All mentors are vetted & hands-on!

Only 1 Spot Left

The UX job market is tough, but I’m here to help. 📈 92% of my mentees get interviews within a month of updating their portfolios. 📊 76% land roles at design-mature, name brand companies. (*Stats updated Dec. 2024, based on data from the past 2 years) As your mentor, you’ll …

$550 / month

Only 2 Spot Left

Student or Junior UX Designer? I can help you refine your CV and portfolio, create new case studies to showcase your skills, and more generally help you grow as a designer. Additionally, I can share valuable insights and advice to help you navigate the workplace, whether you're just starting or …

$80 / month

Only 5 Spot Left

Hi! I am a technology (EdTech) founder with a background as an award-winning UI/UX and visual designer with experience working at Fortune 500 companies and top creative agencies. Following a decade-long corporate career, I took on an entrepreneurial path and founded Path Unbound, a UI/UX design school dedicated to training …

$220 / month


👋 Hello, I'm Juliette! I am a Principal Design Leader at Moderna driving our software for individualized cancer treatment, supply chain, and manufacturing. Prior to this, I spent 8 years as a Design Manager at Microsoft where I brought version-0 emerging technology products to life (Mixed Reality, Computer Vision, Large …

$120 / month

Only 4 Spot Left

I am a Design Strategist with a passion for crafting tangible and intangible solutions that transform into products, services, and experiences. I have vast experience in facilitating different types of design-related workshops, curriculum and immersive learning experiences. My teaching style is based on leveraging the mentee's curiosity to learn new …

$120 / month

Only 1 Spot Left

Hi, I'm Annalisa! :) With 10 years of experience in product design, I specialize in creating user-centric solutions for B2B and SaaS products. I've had the privilege of working with a range of brands, from large corporations to innovative startups, from B2B to B2C. My focus is on refining design …

$80 / month

Browse all Interaction Design mentors

Still not convinced? Don't just take our word for it

We've already delivered 1-on-1 mentorship to thousands of students, professionals, managers and executives. Even better, they've left an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for our mentors.

Find a Interaction Design mentor
  • "Naz is an amazing person and a wonderful mentor. She is supportive and knowledgeable with extensive practical experience. Having been a manager at Netflix, she also knows a ton about working with teams at scale. Highly recommended."

  • "Brandon has been supporting me with a software engineering job hunt and has provided amazing value with his industry knowledge, tips unique to my situation and support as I prepared for my interviews and applications."

  • "Sandrina helped me improve as an engineer. Looking back, I took a huge step, beyond my expectations."