Ask HN: Design for a Software Guy?

5 pointshaseman3 comments

I've been writing software for more than 6 years now, and I've realized, somewhat painfully, that I can't design my way out of a paper bag. Are there any good resources out there about graphical design geared for a programmer? Are classes in 'Making Art with Photoshop' worthwhile? I understand the ideals of good user interface design, but when I go to mock up something for a personal app I hit a wall.

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I'm a designer and the two books I always recommend to non-designers and newbies are:

Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual (http://www.amazon.com/Design-Elements-Graphic-Style-Manual/d...)

and

The other is the complementary case studies book "Design Evolution" (http://www.amazon.com/Design-Evolution-Handbook-Principles-C...)

Also Graphically Speaking is useful if you want to know how a particular style is constructed (artistic, corporate, vintage etc.)and you need to be able to effectively communicate with other designers or clients. (http://www.amazon.com/Graphically-Speaking-Achieving-Designe...)

Excellent set of links! Thanks!

Sitepoint has great books about design. Although they are geared towards web design, most of the principles are universal. There's also the obvious recommendation, "The Non-Designer's Design Book."

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