Recommended list of 100 essential books for Product Design:
Methodolgy, Issues, History, Firms, Designers, Media, Materials

How? Design Process:


Design Methods
by John Christopher Jones
'seminal work on design methodology - to find a method that suits a particular design situation'
Amazon.com


Product Design: Fundamentals and Methods
by Roozenburg and Eekels
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc; New Ed edition, 1995
'presents the foundations of the design process'
Amazon.com


Product Design and Development
by Karl T. Ulrich and Steven D. Eppinger
McGraw-Hill 1995, 2000, 2004
' shows how to bring together the marketing, design, and manufacturing functions'
Amazon.com


By Design - Why There Are No Locks on the Bathroom Doors in the Hotel Louis XIV and Other Object Lessons
by Ralph Kaplan
Publisher: Fairchild; 2nd edition, 2005
Amazon.com


Product Design: A Practical Guide to Systematic Methods of New Product Development
by Mike Baxter
Amazon.com


Access by Design
by George A. Covington & Bruce Hannah, IDSA
Amazon.com


Design Secrets: Products: 50 Real-Life Projects Uncovered
- Industrial Designers Society of America
Edited by Kristina Goodrich
Publisher: Rockport Publishers June 2001
'50 interesting design projects are illustrated in detail from concept to completion.'
Amazon.com


Design Secrets: Products 2: 50 Real-Life Projects Uncovered
- Industrial Designers Society of America
by Lynn Haller, Cheryl Dangel Cullen
Publisher: Rockport Publishers (October 1, 2004)
'Fifty design projects are shown in detail from concept to completion - that uncovers the whole design process'
Amazon.com


The Art of Innovation - Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm
by Tom Kelley
'Great stories behing IDEO's innovative approch to problem solving'
Amazon.com


Creating Breakthrough Products: Innovation from Product Planning to Program Approval
by Jonathan Cagan, Craig M. Vogel
Publisher: Financial Times Prentice Hall; 1st edition (January 15, 2002)
'identify the key factors associated with successful products - a revolutionary approach to building tomorrow's great products.
Amazon.com


Creating Breakthrough Ideas: The Collaboration of Anthropologists and
Designers in the Product Development Industry
by Susan Squires (Editor), Bryan Byrne (Editor)
Publisher: Bergin & Garvey, 2002
'Brings out the importance of ethnographic research for product design'
Amazon.com


Design for Success: A Human-Centered Approach to Designing Successful Products and Systems
by William B. Rouse
Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 1 edition (January 8, 1991)
'guide to the successful design of products and systems that are market driven and user-oriented'
Amazon.com


Product Design - Practical Methods for the Systematic Development of New Products
by Mike Baxter
Publisher: Chapman & Hall (November 1, 1995)
Amazon.com


Competing by Design: Creating Value and Market Advantage in New Product Development
by Craig Erhorn, John Stark
Publisher: Wiley; New Ed edition, 1995
'shows how to take out inefficiencies out of designing, developing, and producing critical new products'
Amazon.com


The Right Fit: The Power of Ergonomics As a Competitive Strategy
by Clifford M. Gross
Publisher: Productivity Press Inc, 1996
'A non-technical introduction to incorporating the human factor into the design of products and workplaces.'
Amazon.com


Dictionary of 20Th-Century Design
by John F. Pile
Amazon.com


The Design Encyclopedia
by Mel Byers
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (July 1, 1994)
'covers elements of design in eastern and western Europe, Australia, North and South America and Japan.'
Amazon.com

Elements of Design
by Gail Greet Hannah
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press, 2002
'a study of the abstract visual relationships essential for the learning of industrial design - has exercises and student solutions''
Amazon.com


The Idea of Design
Edited by Victor Margolin and Richard Buchanan, IDSA
Publisher: The MIT Press, 1996
essays addressing the nature and practice of contemporary product and graphic design from journal 'Design Issues''
Amazon.com


Discovering Design : Explorations in Design Studies
by Richard Buchanan, Victor Margolin
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press, 1995
'essays on design as a subject of social, cultural, and philosophic investigation'
Amazon.com


What is a Designer: Things, Places, Messages
by Norman Potter
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Pr, 2002
'looks at the possibilities and limits of design'
Amazon.com


Universal Principles of Design
by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler
Publisher: Rockport Publishers, 2003
'many design concepts, methods and practices brought together from a variety of disciplines - a great reference book for designers'
Amazon.com


Design (Crash Course Series)
by Thomas Hauffe
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series, 1996
'a quick guide to understanding the process of design'
Amazon.com


Creating Value by Design: Thoughts and Facts
by Stefano Marzano
Publisher: Antique Collectors' Club, 1999
'essays on design process and methodology with examples of its applications'
Amazon.com


Language of Vision
By Gyorgy Kepes
Publisher: Dover Publications, 1995
'analysis of the effect of visual language on the structure of human consciousness, the elements of line and form are perceived, etc.'
Amazon.com


The Meaning of Things
by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1981
'study of the significance of material possessions and products in contemporary urban life'
Amazon.com


The Meanings of Modern Design: Towards the Twenty-First Century
by Peter Dormer
Publisher: Thames & Hudson, 1990
'thoughts about seeing and looking at our produced objects and environment'
Amazon.com


The Design of Everyday Things
by Donald A. Norman
Publisher: Basic Books; 1st Basic edition (September, 2002)
'on user-friendly design - raise your expectations about how things should be designed'
Amazon.com


In the Bubble: Designing in a Complex World
by John Thackara
Publisher: The MIT Press, 2005
'about a world based less on stuff and more on people - describes services designed to help people carry out daily activities in new ways'
Amazon.com


The World As Design : Writings on Design
By Otl Aicher, Wolfgang Jean Stock
'Publisher: Wiley-VCH; Reissue edition, 1994
'opinions, arguments and thoughts on design as related to existence in a humane fashion'
Amazon.com


The Hidden Dimension
by Edward Twitchell Hall
Publisher: Anchor; Reissue edition, 1990
'An examination of various cultural concepts of space -intimate, personal, social and public domains"
Amazon.com


The Poetics of Space
by Gaston Bachelard, Maria Jolas (Translator)
Publisher: Beacon Press; Reprint edition, 1994
'about space, our homes, how we live in them, and how dwellings and space affect us'
Amazon.com

Design Form and Chaos
by Victor Papanek


Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change
by Victor Papanek
Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers; 2nd Rev edition, 1985
'a classic book on sensible, responsible design in this world, making efficient use of resources and energy'
Amazon.com


The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture
by Frank Wilson
Publisher: Vintage, 1999
'explains the significance of the hand in terms of its historical, spiritual and physical manifestations'
Amazon.com


By Nature's Design -an Exploratorium Book
by William Neill (Photographer), Pat Murphy, Exploratorium (Organization)
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 1993
'about order and pattern in nature with wonderful and informative visuals'
Amazon.com


Geometry of Design: Studies in Proportion and Composition
by Kimberly Elam
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press, 2001
'exploring the visual relationships that have foundations in mathematics '
Amazon.com


On Growth and Form
by Darcy Wentworth Thompson, John Tyler Bonner (Editor), D"Arcy Thompson
'about the 'theory of transformation' that one species evolves into another by large-scale transformations involving the body as a whole'
Amazon.com


Power of Limits
by Gyorgy Doczi
Publisher: Shambhala; Reissue edition, 1981
'priciples of patterns and structures found in the both the natural and manmade world.
Amazon.com


Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice (Art and Imagination)
by Robert Lawlor
'Publisher: Thames & Hudson, 1989
'explores the meanings and symbolism of sacred geometry'
Amazon.com


The Fourth Dimension: Sacred Geometry, Alchemy, and Mathematics
by Rudolf Steiner, David Booth (Introduction)
Publisher: Steiner Books, 2001
'essays on the significance and concept of the fourth dimension'
Amazon.com


The Golden Ratio: The Story of PHI, the World's Most Astonishing Number by Mario Livio
Publisher: Broadway, 2003
'phi is seen through art and architecture, botany and biology, physics and mathematics'
Amazon.com


Skin: Surface, Substance, and Design
by Ellen Lupton, Jennifer Tobias, Alicia Imperiale, Grace Jeffers, Randi Mates
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press, 2002
'relationship between the inside and outside of objects, garments, and buildings, creating skins that both reveal and conceal, skins that have depth and complexity as well as their own behaviors and identities.'
Amazon.com


The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
by Thomas L. Friedman
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004
'about the patterns behind the most complex global developments in the connected flat world of tomorrow'
Amazon.com

 

History of Modern Design
by David Raizman
Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2004
'history of design from the eighteenth century to present day'
Amazon.com


The ABC's of Bauhaus, The Bauhaus and Design Theory
by Ellen Lupton, J. Abbott Miller (Editor)
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press, 2000
'The ABC's of Bauhaus traces the origins and impact of the Bauhaus in relation to design, graphic design, and typography'
Amazon.com


Bauhaus (World of Art)
by Frank Whitford
Publisher: Thames & Hudson, 1984 '
the story of bauhaus, its philosophy, people and its contributions'
Amazon.com


Bauhaus 1919-1933
by Magdalena Droste, Bauhaus Archiv
Publisher: Taschen, 2002
'its about the people, the works and the thoughts at bauhaus'
Amazon.com


The Ulm School of Design: A View Behind the Foreground
by Rene Spitz
Publisher: Edition Axel Menges, 2002
'provides the history of the Ulm School of Design, considered as a very influential educational institution'
Amazon.com


Ulm Design: The Morality of Objects
by Herbert Lindinger (Editor), David Britt (Translator)
Publisher: The MIT Press; 1st MIT Press ed edition, 1991
'about the school, curriculum, ideas and people by the professor of design at Ulm'
Amazon.com


Industrial Design
by John. Heskett
Publisher: Thames & Hudson; Reprint edition (February 1, 1985)
'has an overview of history, process and methods'
Amazon.com


American Design Ethic: A History of Industrial Design
by Arthur J. Pulos
Publisher: The MIT Press; Reprint edition, 1986
'history of American products and the philosophy behind their design, use, and manufacture points to the process'
Amazon.com


Objects of Design
by Paola Antonelli
Publisher: Museum of Modern Art, 2003
'features a wide variety of industrial and domestic artifacts by great designers of the modern period'
Amazon.com


Japanese Design : A Survey Since 1950
by Kathryn B Hiesinger, et al
Publisher: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1995
Amazon.com

The Streamlined Decade
by Donald J. Bush
Publisher: George Braziller, 1975
Amazon.com


Moving Beauty: A Century in Automobile Design
by Pierre Theberge (Editor), Luc Gagne (Editor), Musee Des Beaux-Arts De mont
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart, 1995
Amazon.com


A Century of Design: Design Pioneers of the 20th Century
by Penny Sparke
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series, 1998
'History of design through the works of designers and their works'
Amazon.com


Design of the 20th Century
by Charlotte J. Fiell, Peter M. Fiell
Publisher: Taschen America Llc 2001
'covers the influence of design in the 20th century'
Amazon.com


Landmarks of Twentieth-Century Design: An Illustrated Handbook
by Kathryn B. Hiesinger, George Marcus
Publisher: Abbeville Press; 1st ed edition, 1993
'study of international design, decade by decade, with essays on the trends, innovations, and significant objects of each period'
Amazon.com


Icons of Design: The 20th Century (Prestel's Icons)
by Volker Albus (Editor), Reyer Kras (Editor), Jonathan M. Woodham (Editor) Publisher: Prestel Publishing, 2000
'tells the story of 80 ordinary items which gained iconic status during the course of the 20th century'
Amazon.com


Industrial Design 19th To 21st
by Galeries Nationales Du Grand Palais (France), Jocelyn De Noblet (Editor), Jocelyn De Noblet (Editor)
Publisher: Flammarion, 1996
'a collection of essays on Industrial Design as Mirror of the Century'
Amazon.com


Designing the 21st Century
by Charlotte J. Fiell, Peter M. Fiell
Publisher: Taschen, 2001
'book on the future of product, furniture, lighting, ceramic, glassware, and textile design'
Amazon.com


Vision of the Future
by Stefano Marzano
Publisher: Uitgeverij V + K 1996
'future lifestyles, products and services in the domestic, public, personal and mobile domains'
Amazon.com

 

Alessi: The Design Factory (Academy Editions)
by Allesandro Mendini, Nonie Niesewand
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; Revised edition, 2001
'about the history of the company, its design ethos, its designers and products'
Amazon.com


Appledesign: The Work of the Apple Industrial Design Group
by Paul Kunkel, Rick English (Photographer)
Publisher: Graphis Pr, 1997
'history and documentation of Apple's innovative design products'
Amazon.com


Eames Design
by John Neuhart, Marilyn Neuhart
Publisher: Harry N Abrams, 1989
'about the history of the firm, about the Eames chair, with writings on its products and films'
Amazon.com

Frog: Form Follows Emotion
by Fay Sweet
Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications, 1998
'about some their innovative design ideas and products'
Amazon.com


IDEO: Masters of Innovation
by Jeremy Myerson
Publisher: te Neues Publishing Company 2001
Amazon.com


Olivetti
by Sibylle Kicherer, Sybille Kicherer-De Lucchi
Publisher: Rizzoli, 1990
Amazon.com

Innovation: Award-Winning Industrial Design
By Industrial Designers Society of America
'a variety of award winning peofessional and student works'
Amazon.com


The Digital Dreams : The Work of the Sony Design Center
by Paul Kunkel
Publisher: Universe, 1999
'look inside Sony's influential design center and their products'
Amazon.com

ABC of Design
by Lynn Gordon, D Joy
Publisher: Chronicle Books (May 1, 1996)
'provides introduction to some of the world's most important designers'
Amazon.com


Buckyworks: Buckminster Fuller's Ideas for Today
By J. Baldwin
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 1996
'wonderfully nontechnical introduction to and celebration of the Buckminister Fuller, his remarkable inventions, and their modern-day relevance'
Amazon.com


Work of Charles and Ray Eames
by Donald Albrecht
Publisher: Harry N Abrams, 1997
'The essays in this handsome and generously illustrated volume examine the Eameses' projects in the contexts of science, corporate patronage, and politics as well as those of modern design, architecture, and art.'
Amazon.com
 

Ettore Sottsass: The Architecture and Design of Sottsass Associates
by Andrea Branzi, Herbert Mushcamp
Publisher: Universe Books 1999
'with a brief overview on the long and varied career of Ettore Sottsass, this book offers welcome documentation of the graphic, product, and architectural designs of Sottsass Associates.'
Amazon.com

Karim Rashid: I Want to Change the World
by Karim Rashid
Publisher: Universe Books 2001
'comprehensive survey of Rashid's designs, his products and the philosophy behind them - by the prolific young designer practicing in America '
Amazon.com


Marc Newson
by Conway Lloyd Morgan
Publisher: Universe Books, 2003
'features Newson's dynamic body of work, combining personal archive of sketches and plans and traces the development of Newson's distinctive visual language, inspired by such idiosyncratic influences as the architecture of Richard Neutra, Aston Martin sports cars and the films of Stanley Kubrick.'
Amazon.com


Philippe Starck
by Philippe Starck
Publisher: Benedikt Taschen Verlag; Rev edition, 2000
Amazon.com


Industrial Design
by Raymond Loewy
Publisher: Overlook Press; Reissue edition, 1989
'half-century of Loewy's career is offered in a stunning visual presentation of his most famous design achievements together with his personal account of a life in design - Coca-Cola bottle, the Studebaker, the U.S. Post Office logo, streamlined trains and ocean liners, the Shell and Exxon logos, and the Lucky Strike package.'
Amazon.com


Richard Sapper (Design Briefs (San Francisco, Calif.).)
by Michael Webb, Marisa Bartolucci (Editor), Raul Cabra (Editor)
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2002
'A review of the many objects that Sapper has designed during his career. They range from his famous Tizio lamp to a newly released Zoombike that can be folded and carried onto a bus as easily as an umbrella.'
Amazon.com


Ron Arad
by Deyan Sudjic
Publisher: Gingko Press Inc. 2001
'features some of his most outstanding work including the Adidas sport cafes, the evolution of the Bookworm installed at the Cartier Foundation and the Tel Aviv Opera House.'
Amazon.com


Stuart Pugh - Creating Innovative Products Using Total Design
By Stuart Pugh, Don Clausing (Editor), Ron Andrade (Editor)
'allows the reader to benefit from Pugh's practical experiences that made him a legacy in product design and development. Stuart Pugh, the pioneer of the Total Design movement, created the framework for a structured & methodical design process being adopted today.'
Amazon.com

Chairs A-Z
by Charlotte Fiell, Peter Fiell
Publisher: TASCHEN America Llc, 2001

Danish Chairs
by Noritsugu Oda
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 1999

The Desklamp: An Appreciation
by Kate McIntyre, Guy Ryecart
Publisher: Aurum Pr Ltd, 1999

50 Lights: Innovations in Design and Materials
by Mel Byars
Publisher: Whitney 1998

The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance
by Henry Petroski

The Radio: An Appreciation
by David Attwood, Guy Ryecart
Publisher: Laurel Glen, 1998

50 Sports Wares
by Mel Byars, Aaron Betsky
Publisher: Whitney Library of Design, 1998

The Watch: An Appreciation
by Paul Clarke, Guy Ryecart, Paul Clark
Publisher: Aurum Pr Ltd, 1999

On/Off: New Electronic Products
by Mel Byars
Publisher: Universe Books 2001

1000 Extra/Ordinary Objects
by Carlos Mustienes (Editor), Isabelle Baraton (Editor), Oliviero
Toscani (Creator)
Publisher: TASCHEN America Llc, 2000

The Evolution of Useful Things
by Henry Petroski

Best of Designs in Plastics
by Doug Cleminshaw, IDSA


American Plastic: A Cultural History
by Jeffrey L. Meikle
Publisher: Rutgers University Press, 1997
'history of plastics from a socio-cultural point of view'
Amazon.com

Handbook of Plastic Materials and Technology
by Irvin I. Rubin


Handbook of Plastics, Elastomers, and Composites
by Charles A. Harper
Amazon.com


Materials and Design: The Art and Science of Material Selection in Product Design
by Michael Ashby, Kara Johnson
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1st edition (December, 2002)
'includes cases studies, exercises, and material maps'
Amazon.com

Handbook of Materials for Product Design
by Charles A. Harper

Approaches to Prototyping
by R. Budde