BOOKS
The Little Book of Gratitude: Give More Thanks
I've found that developing a practice of gratitude is key to strong innovation skills. Innovation and invention require optimism. Gratitude will get you there.
How to Win Friends & Influence People
This is an old school classic that is still a very strong guide to understanding and navigating relationships in a very honest and ethical way. If you have any interactions with other humans, this is awesome.
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
The right hemisphere of your brain is responsible for the majority of innovation and creativity. This book will introduce you to methods that will help you tap into that and, allow you to draw realistically as a wonderful byproduct.
I'm the 6th person worldwide certified to teach the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain method by the technique's inventor, Dr. Betty Edwards. This method is proven to enhance creative abilities. In the process, I can take anyone from stick figure drawing to realistic in under 40 hours of instruction. I'm getting ready to start teaching classes again. If you're interested, drop me a note on the contact page.
Hooked
Nit Eyal lays out the science behind why humans are attracted and become attached to certain things. This is the cheat sheet for designers looking to leverage best practices for getting people to need what you design. Nir does this under the agreement that you'll use this information for good.
The Design Of Everyday Things
This is best resource on the fundamental principles of great and meaningful design.
Get it.
Envisioning Information
This is the most design-oriented of Edward Tufte's books, Envisioning Information shows maps, charts, scientific presentations, diagrams, computer interfaces, and tons more. Tufte exposed the constraints of PowerPoint as contributing to the Space Shuttle disaster.
Make It So: Interaction Design Lessons from Science Fiction
The designers who create interfaces for film are freed from the rigorous constraints of designing for real users. We can learn from these blue-sky interfaces that are inspiring and even funny. There are lessons here that can make real-world designs more cutting-edge and successful.
Business Model Generation
As a designer, you are solving problems to make a business successful. If you don't understand how a business should be modeled, you're working from a deficit and may be producing work that is counterproductive.
This nicely designed book explains the most common Business Model patterns and helps you reinterpret them for your context. You will learn how to systematically understand, design, and implement a business model and understand your customers and core value proposition at a much deeper level.
Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace
Gordon MacKenzie was a creative leader who managed to thrive in a huge corporate environment. This is an encouraging read. It was originally self-published, it is now considered a business cult classic.
Graphic Artists Guild Handbook
Want to know what others are being paid? Here you go. This one came out in 2021. The next edition is due to be published later this year.
Stone Soup
This is deceptively simple story about getting fearful people to cooperate and work together to create something delightful.
RESOURCES
IDEO DESIGN KIT
Want to understand how IDEO does the magic that they to? Mindsets, methods, case studies, It's all here. They give it away for free!
AIGA American Institute of Graphic Arts
The workshops, conferences and speaker series the AIGA sponsors are worth the price of membership alone.
IFTF Institute for the Future
IFTF trains Futurists. They have been around since 1968 and were originally part of the RAND Corporation. I received my training and certification here.
TOOLS
Figma
This is the tool. Use it. Tools change all the time. I'm sure something better will come along at some point but, this is the one that works and does a fantastic job enabling designers to create, demonstrate and share great work.
Procreate
At last look this cost $13. No subscription!
Get an iPad, stylus and get drawing. This is great for storyboarding.