Best Resources for Product Designers
Helpful resources for product designers
To stay ahead in the dynamic field of product design, leveraging a variety of resources is crucial.
Here are some top recommendations for books, webinars, podcasts, and blogs that every product designer should explore.
Best books for product designers
Reading books by industry experts can provide deep insights and practical knowledge about product design and management.
- “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman – This classic book offers deep insights into the principles of good design and human-centered design.
- “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” by Nir Eyal – Explores the psychology behind user habits and how to create products that keep users engaged.
- “Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams” by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden – Provides practical advice on integrating UX design with Agile methodologies.
- “Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love” by Marty Cagan – A comprehensive guide on product management and creating products that delight customers.
- “Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days” by Jake Knapp – A step-by-step guide to solving problems and testing ideas quickly.
Best webinars for product designers
Participating in webinars can offer real-time learning and insights from industry experts.
- Userpilot Webinars – Focused on user onboarding, engagement, and product growth.
- Nielsen Norman Group Webinars – Expert insights on various UX topics, including usability, user research, and interaction design.
- UX Design Institute Webinars – Covers UX design principles, methodologies, and career advice.
- Adobe XD Webinars – Tutorials and deep dives into design tools and best practices using Adobe XD.
- InVision Webinars – Discussions with industry experts on design, collaboration, and product management.
Best blogs for product designers
Following blogs can help you stay updated on the latest trends, tips, and best practices in product design and management.
- Userpilot Blog – Insights on user onboarding, product growth, and UX design.
- Nielsen Norman Group Blog – In-depth articles on usability, user experience, and design research.
- Smashing Magazine – Covers a wide range of topics, including UX design, web development, and product management.
- UX Collective – Community-driven platform with articles on UX design, product design, and industry trends.
- IDEO Blog – Shares stories and insights from one of the leading design firms.
These resources provide valuable knowledge and practical advice, helping you stay current and excel in your role as a Product Designer.
Best podcasts for product designers
Listening to podcasts is a convenient way to stay informed and inspired by industry leaders while on the go.
- “The Design Better Podcast” by InVision – Interviews with design leaders discussing the craft and business of design.
- “High Resolution” – In-depth conversations with design leaders from top companies.
- “The UX Podcast” – Discusses UX design, strategy, and how to integrate UX into business practices.
- “Product to Product” – A podcast for product people, by product people, covering various aspects of product management and design.
- “Product Love” – Focuses on product management and features interviews with product leaders.
Best certifications for product designers
While there aren’t many widely recognized certifications specifically for product designers, the following are often valued by employers:
- Google UX Design Professional Certificate (Coursera): This beginner-friendly program covers the fundamentals of UX design and provides a solid foundation for aspiring product designers. It’s well-regarded for its practical approach and job-ready curriculum.
- Interaction Design Foundation (IDF) Membership: While not a certification per se, an IDF membership offers access to a wide range of UX design courses and resources, including specialized courses on interaction design, user research, and information architecture. The IDF is highly respected in the UX design community and its courses are often cited as valuable learning resources.
- Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification: This certification program, offered by the renowned Nielsen Norman Group, covers a range of UX topics, including user research, information architecture, interaction design guidelines, and usability testing. It’s known for its rigor and focus on evidence-based design practices.
- Certified Usability Analyst (CUA): Offered by Human Factors International, this certification focuses on usability testing and evaluation, a critical skill for product designers. It demonstrates your ability to conduct effective usability tests and analyze user feedback to improve product design.
These certifications and memberships are not strictly “necessary” for product designers, but they can significantly enhance your credibility and demonstrate your commitment to professional development.
Best tools for product designers
Leveraging the right tools can greatly enhance productivity, creativity, and collaboration.
Here are ten essential tools for various aspects of product design:
- Best tool for User Onboarding and Engagement – Userpilot: Userpilot helps product designers create personalized in-app experiences and effective onboarding processes, improving user engagement and retention.
- Best tool for Project Management – Monday: Monday.com offers a visual and flexible platform for managing projects and tasks, aiding teams in efficient collaboration and keeping projects on schedule.
- Best tool for Product Management – Jira Software: Jira Software is a robust tool for tracking and managing development tasks, sprints, and releases, ensuring seamless collaboration between designers and developers.
- Best tool for Customer Experience – Zendesk: Zendesk provides comprehensive customer support solutions, enabling teams to manage customer inquiries, feedback, and support tickets effectively.
- Best tool for Customer Success – ClientSuccess: ClientSuccess helps manage and measure customer relationships, ensuring customers achieve their desired outcomes with the product.
- Best tool for UX/UI Design – Figma: Figma is a cloud-based design tool that allows for real-time collaboration, making it ideal for teams working together on UX/UI design projects.
- Best tool for UX/UI Design – Sketch: Sketch is a vector graphics editor focused on digital design, offering a wide range of plugins and integrations to streamline the design process.
- Best tool for UX/UI Design – InVision Studio: InVision Studio provides advanced prototyping and animation capabilities, enabling designers to create interactive and high-fidelity prototypes.
- Best tool for UX/UI Design – Adobe XD: Adobe XD is a powerful design and prototyping tool that offers seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, enhancing the overall design workflow.
- Best tool for Data Analytics – Tableau: Tableau provides powerful data visualization capabilities, allowing teams to analyze and present data in an intuitive and visually appealing way.
These tools collectively enable product designers to create user-centric designs, manage projects efficiently, and collaborate effectively with their teams.
Conclusion
Professional growth is a continuous journey, and investing in your development is key to staying competitive in the field.
We hope this guide has equipped you with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in your role.
Looking into tools for product designers? Userpilot is an all-in-one product platform with engagement features and powerful analytics capabilities. Book a demo to see it in action!
UX/UI Design and Research Teams Can Use Userpilot to:
- Recruit Users for Usability Tests with Usage Analytics and Segmentation
- Collect User Feedback with In-App Surveys
- Understand Product Usage with Product Analytics
