Universal Principles of Design book review

Book: Universal Principles of Design

Author: William Lidwell, Kristina Holden, and Jill Butler

I found the book to be precisely what I was looking for. All the essentials of universal design fundamentals are crammed into its brief and fascinating text.

The topics in the book are arranged alphabetically by the title Principles, though they all fall under the broader category of “design.” It covers psychological, architectural, human factors, and interaction design topics. Two pages cover each design principle, one with explanations and one with illustrations.

In the illustrations, samples from software, road signs, and mechanical devices are included. Such diversity is unusual; most books focus on a single topic.

Here's what I enjoyed

This book is an excellent resource. The universal principles are easy to understand and reference, with only two pages devoted to each. It's easy to read because of its consistent approach. Each principle is also accompanied by references to seminal works, allowing easy access to seminal design theory research.

Could it be any better?

Having finished the book, I wanted to learn more about the 100 principles. I look forward to reading a more detailed version of the book.