Web design learning methods have changed significantly over time. Sure, YouTube videos, blogs, and online courses have taken the spotlight. But I believe there’s still a lot you can learn from a well written and informative web design textbook. These books let you consume well-researched information. And best practices from those with in-depth web design knowledge. They are also an excellent way to learn or improve your web design skills at a cheaper cost.

Thus with over 109 books reviewed, here are the ten best web design books ever written. You can buy these books as hard copies or e-books. They cover web design elements like usability, typography, visuals, color, navigation, alignment, etc.

1. HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites, by Jon Duckett

For decades, the author of our first book on this list has been designing and building websites. HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites is packed with information on essential concepts. And also basic techniques of creating websites. With simple writing and lots of visuals, you’re encouraged to push through to learn more. Although it’s aimed at beginners, even experienced designers can use it as a refresher.

2. Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide To Html, Css, Javascript, And Web Graphics, by Jennifer Niederst Robbins

Another seasoned web design author writes the next web design book on the list. Nothing can beat the comprehensiveness and technical mastery you’ll learn from this book. It gives simplified details about modern versions of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. It also lets you know how these web languages ought to run web pages.

This book gives details on how to use and optimize web graphics. You can likewise learn how to create responsive designs for any device. Another aspect I love about this book is the regular quizzes. They help to test you on the useful techniques you’ve just learned.

3. Designing with Web Standards, by Jeffrey Zeldman with Ethan Marcotte

If you’re looking for something on professional-level techniques and concepts, this one is for you. Designing with Web Standards is a web design textbook that teaches you the how’s and why’s of HTML and CSS standards-compliant writing. You can also learn techniques on how to tackle common web design issues.

4. The Web Designer’s Idea Book: Inspiration from the Best Web Design Trends, Themes, and Styles Volume 4, by Patrick McNeil

Sometimes we have challenges coming up with excellent web design ideas. This web design book comes to the rescue. It has over 650 online resources where web designers can find several themes and suggestions.

It can help in designing colorful fashion sites or a professional paper writing sites Online Writers Rating. There are tons of themes and ideas in this book. The book touches on web design elements like responsive design, themes, types, and styles. Vol. 4 includes also has a separate chapter that explains web design basics for beginners.

5. Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, by Steve Krug

Steve Krug’s witty and charming style of writing is genius. It makes it easy to accept his practical advice and common sense approach. With each chapter, there is an “aha” moment as you progress. You can learn how to get familiar and skilled in web design processes. Also, it shows you how you can use the tools available to build a useful website. Although it’s a pretty old book, the concepts you can learn from it are timeless.

6. Mobile First, by Luke Wroblewski

As a web designer, you’ll understand the importance of developing mobile-friendly websites. Since mobile phone users have grown to over 5.15 billion globally. Luke Wroblewski has mastered the art of mobile experience. Haven worked at Yahoo and Google. Thus his wealth of knowledge is worth learning from. The writing style in this book is crisp as it explains the myriads of practical cases, using data.

There are valuable lessons to learn and examples to help you with mobile design patterns. The book lets you know why you should go mobile-first. And then it analyzes market growth, constraints, and capabilities. It also tells you how you can go mobile with design action, layout, and organization tips.

7. Communicating Design: Developing Web Site Documentation for Design and Planning, by Dan M. Brown

With so many aspects of web design, it’s vital to plan your design process properly. Dan M. Brown shows you how you can document all aspects of a web design process. Such documentation is to help you communicate designs to your design team. This book makes elements like wireframes, workflow charts, and project briefs easy to understand. Even for designers who work solo, you can learn from this book.

8. Responsive Web Design (Brief Books for People Who Make Websites), by Ethan Marcotte

Ever heard of the term “responsive web design”? It was coined by the author of our number eight book on web design. The term describes a new way of designing for the constantly evolving web. Ethan Marcotte’s teaches you how to approach designs, even with the complexities of change. With this, you can designs sites on any device even as they evolve.

9. Seductive Interaction Design: Creating Playful, Fun, and Effective User Experiences, by Stephen P. Anderson

Feel like you designed a beautiful website or app, yet user engagement is low? In this web design book, Stephen Anderson shows you how average users behave online. And likewise, tips on how to get them interested in your web or app content. Let’s say you need to design an essay writing review site like Best Writers Online. You can learn tips from this book on grabbing the attention of customers using intuitive visuals and rewards components.

Anderson structures the book around what he calls the “stages of seduction.” You can learn things on aesthetics, user behavior, and reaction to appealing visuals. And also learn how you can create an engaging app or website.

10. Eloquent JavaScript, by Marijn Haverbeke

For designers who want to advance their technical JavaScript, this is the book for you. It details on vital topics like functions, types, data, expressions, errors, or debugging. There is also a section that gives details on how JavaScript can be used to program web browsers. You can learn all about building a delivery robot, pixel paint program, etc.

Conclusion

Those are the ten best books on web design! They can help both beginners and experienced designers. Whether you’re looking for a head start or looking to improve your skills. These are books every web designer can learn from.

Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English.