Learn about what are the best web design books to read this 2022 that will help you in your web design and development gigs.

Web design and development requires both knowledge and skills in the part of the designer.  While designing can be saved by a good taste and eye, web development requires a certain level of knowledge technological know-how especially in aspect of coding. Trends also fluctuate from time to time and new innovations come around that is why it is crucial for a web designer and developer to invest on their knowledge and skillset.

Developing a basic foundation on coding, principles and elements of design, as well as best practices in building website structure will help designers improve and excel in their craft, as well as get a competitive advantage among other designers in the industry.  In this article, you will find six of the best web design books to read this 2022 for you and your designer friends.

If you are just starting to learn how to do coding, this book by Jon Duckett is good for you. HTML and CSS is basically the most common web language used in coding and while there are already a lot of books about them out there, this one stands out as it takes an entirely different approach in teaching. This book will give you a fun introduction to HTML and CSS; explain topics in a simple yet engaging way through information graphics and lifestyle photography; as well as help you progress through the chapter from start to finish through its unique structure and reading guide.

Another beginner-friendly book on web design and development is Jennifer Robbins' beginner's guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and web graphics. Unlike the first one which focuses only on HTML and CSS, this one gives you a wider knowledge by covering other topics like Java and web graphics. Robbins specifically wanted to guide readers on the whole concept of web design starting from the web and how web pages work up to the nitty gritty discussion on coding and web graphics. 

From coding, let's dive in to the complicated yet exciting task of web design. Every designer starts from the basics including the principles which in Brian Miller's book is tackled in a simple and beginner-friendly way. It tells you about the fundamentals of clear graphic communication within the concept of web design, mapped out in easy step-by-step guides. The format of the book is somehow similar to the cycle of a typical web project which includes planning, designing, and optimizing.

Aside from graphic design itself, designers and developers are also concerned with making their websites user-friendly. In this book by Jesse James Garrett, you will not learn how to "design" in its most literal sense but you will discover how to effectively build websites that are not just pleasing in the eye but also engaging with its visitors. Garrett emphasized the importance of subscribing to user-centered design and making sure that the needs and preferences of the audience are also taken into consideration in building and designing websites.

Another interesting book focused on improving user experience is Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think. Just like its title, this piece is a witty and practical reference on web and mobile usability whose goal is to guide designers in building websites that are not complicated for its users. Krug laid down the principles of intuitive navigation and information design which tells the readers the best way to make their websites effective. 

Last but not the least, this book written by Dan M. Brown is specifically for those who are part of or managing a web design and development team. Brown believes that good communication is vital not only between a designer and another designer or a design and his client but also between a designer and his team members. Topics covered in this reference are personas, concept models, site maps, flowcharts, wireframes, and usability plans. Knowledge on these things help designers and their teams track and monitor progress for their and their client's reference.

These books are just some of the must-read references on web design and development so you can always explore other books in case you are interested in learning more about this field. Again, it is advantageous and essential to build your foundation on the basics, the classics, and the new concepts in web design and development to further improve your craft. If you are not into reading, there are a lot of other ways to access information and learn in your preferred manner. Visual learners can rely on videos and tutorials while auditory learners can access audiobooks and podcasts instead of real books. In the end, whatever learning style you subscribe to, make sure that whatever knowledge comes into your mind is also being applied in practice. It is in that way that you make sure that you are really learning.