Designing for People

In 'Designing for People', Henry Dreyfuss lays the groundwork for human-centered design, championing the idea that products should serve people’s needs and enhance their experience. Through insightful case studies and engaging anecdotes, Dreyfuss reveals how understanding human behavior can lead to innovative and functional designs. He shares practical methods for observing and interpreting user interactions, emphasizing the importance of empathy in the design process. This book is not just a manual for designers; it's a fascinating exploration of the relationship between humans and the objects they use. Will Dreyfuss' principles inspire you to rethink the way we interact with the world?

By Henry Dreyfuss

Published: 2003

Designing for PeopleBook binding

Start Listening

Play Preview

You might also like →

An Essay on TypographyBook binding

An Essay on Typography

Eric Gill

The Designer's Dictionary of TypeBook binding

The Designer's Dictionary of Type

Sean Adams

Just My TypeBook binding

Just My Type

Simon Garfield

The Design of Everyday ThingsBook binding

The Design of Everyday Things

Don Norman

Don't Make Me Think, RevisitedBook binding

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited

Steve Krug

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about PeopleBook binding

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People

Susan Weinschenk

The Art of Game DesignBook binding

The Art of Game Design

Jesse Schell

Presentation ZenBook binding

Presentation Zen

Garr Reynolds

Rocket Surgery Made EasyBook binding

Rocket Surgery Made Easy

Steve Krug

Accessibility for EveryoneBook binding

Accessibility for Everyone

Laura Kalbag

Design for Real LifeBook binding

Design for Real Life

Eric A. Meyer, Sara Wachter-Boettcher

Expressive Design SystemsBook binding

Expressive Design Systems

Yesenia Perez Cruz

Beautiful EvidenceBook binding

Beautiful Evidence

Edward R. Tufte

Rules of PlayBook binding

Rules of Play

Katie Salen Tekinbas, Eric Zimmerman

Thoughts on DesignBook binding

Thoughts on Design

Paul Rand

Learning from Las Vegas, revised editionBook binding

Learning from Las Vegas, revised edition

Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Steven Izenour

Design is a JobBook binding

Design is a Job

Designing Your LifeBook binding

Designing Your Life

Bill Burnett, Dave Evans

Designing the ObviousBook binding

Designing the Obvious

Robert Hoekman (Jr.), Robert Hoekman

Design for HackersBook binding

Design for Hackers

David Kadavy

The Non-designer's Design BookBook binding

The Non-designer's Design Book

Robin Williams

Universal Principles of Design, Revised and UpdatedBook binding

Universal Principles of Design, Revised and Updated

William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler

UX Bites - Small Bites of Information about User Experience DesignBook binding

UX Bites - Small Bites of Information about User Experience Design

Gabriel Kirmaier

Book of IdeasBook binding

Book of Ideas

Radim Malinic

Mindful DesignBook binding

Mindful Design

Scott Riley

Designing ObamaBook binding

Designing Obama

Scott Thomas

A Primer for ForgettingBook binding

A Primer for Forgetting

Lewis Hyde

Lean UXBook binding

Lean UX

Jeff Gothelf, Josh Seiden

This is Service Design ThinkingBook binding

This is Service Design Thinking

Marc Stickdorn, Jakob Schneider

Value Proposition DesignBook binding

Value Proposition Design

Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur, Gregory Bernarda, Alan Smith

Book Collections you might like →

Bret Victor's Book Recommendations

Bret Victor's Book Recommendations

Bret Victor is a renowned American interface designer and computer scientist celebrated for his innovative contributions to interactive design and human-computer interaction. He is best known for creating dynamic, explorable explanations, which have significantly influenced the way educational content is presented and understood. Victor's seminal work, "Inventing on Principle," advocates for the integration of immediate feedback in creative processes, inspiring a new wave of interactive programming environments. As a former member of the Apple Human Interface team, he played a pivotal role in shaping modern user interfaces. Through his organization, Dynamicland, Victor continues to explore and expand the boundaries of immersive, collaborative computing environments.

View Collection
Coleen Baik's Book Recommendations

Coleen Baik's Book Recommendations

Coleen Baik is an American designer, artist, and entrepreneur, known for her work in the tech industry, including as a founding team member of Twitter. Baik played a key role in shaping the user experience and design of Twitter in its early days, contributing to its iconic interface. She is also the founder of Baik Art, a multidisciplinary art studio that blends technology and visual art. Baik is passionate about using design to create meaningful and user-centered digital experiences, and she frequently speaks on topics related to innovation, design, and creativity. Her work has made her a prominent figure in the intersection of tech and design.

View Collection
Andrew Chen's Book Recommendations

Andrew Chen's Book Recommendations

Andrew Chen is a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and thought leader in growth marketing, currently serving as a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Chen is known for his expertise in network effects, viral growth strategies, and marketplace dynamics, making him a sought-after advisor for startups looking to scale. Prior to joining Andreessen Horowitz, he worked in leadership roles at Uber, helping to grow the ride-sharing platform’s user base and develop key growth strategies. Chen is also a prolific writer, sharing his insights on growth, technology, and startups through his popular blog and newsletter, which has attracted a loyal following in the tech community. His work has helped shape how many startups approach user acquisition, retention, and product-market fit. As a venture capitalist, Chen focuses on early-stage companies in the consumer internet, SaaS, and marketplace sectors, and he has been involved in funding and advising several successful startups. His insights on technology and growth continue to influence both founders and investors alike.

View Collection
Daniel Burka's Book Recommendations

Daniel Burka's Book Recommendations

Daniel Burka is a prominent figure in the tech and design world, best known for his significant contributions to digital product design. As a design partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures), he has played a crucial role in shaping the user experience of numerous successful startups. Burka co-founded the design agency MetaLab, which has worked with top-tier clients like Slack and Coinbase. Additionally, his work at Digg as the Director of Design helped pioneer social media design trends in the early 2000s. While not primarily an author, Burka's influence extends into literature through his insightful writings and talks on design and innovation.

View Collection
Adam Savage's Book Recommendations

Adam Savage's Book Recommendations

Adam Savage is an American special effects designer, actor, and television personality best known for his work on the popular science entertainment show "MythBusters." He has made significant contributions to the popularization of science and engineering through his engaging presentations and experiments. Savage is also an accomplished author, with his book "Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It" offering insights into creativity, problem-solving, and the maker culture. His dedication to hands-on learning and DIY innovation has inspired a wide audience of all ages. Beyond his television and literary work, Savage continues to influence the maker community through his website, Tested.com, where he shares projects and tutorials.

View Collection
Adam Ho's Book Recommendations

Adam Ho's Book Recommendations

Adam Ho is a celebrated author known for his innovative contributions to contemporary fiction. His debut novel, "Echoes of Tomorrow," garnered critical acclaim and won the prestigious New Horizon Award for its imaginative storytelling and profound themes. Ho's work often explores the intersections of technology, identity, and human connection, earning him a dedicated readership and a place on numerous bestseller lists. In addition to his novels, he has published a collection of short stories, "Digital Dreams," which has been praised for its emotional depth and narrative ingenuity. Beyond writing, Ho is an advocate for digital literacy and frequently speaks at literary festivals and academic conferences worldwide.

View Collection
Bill Gates's Book Recommendations

Bill Gates's Book Recommendations

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, is a pioneering figure in the tech industry, having played a key role in the personal computer revolution. His work at Microsoft, particularly the development of Windows, transformed software and computing globally. Beyond his technology contributions, Gates is also a prolific author, with notable works such as "The Road Ahead" and "Business @ the Speed of Thought," which offer insights into the future of technology and business. Additionally, his philanthropic efforts through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have had a profound impact on global health, education, and poverty. Gates continues to influence both technology and literature with his forward-thinking perspectives and innovative ideas.

View Collection
Andy Budd's Book Recommendations

Andy Budd's Book Recommendations

Andy Budd is a renowned author and user experience (UX) designer, best known for his influential work in the field of web design. He co-authored "CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions," which has become a seminal text for web developers worldwide. As a founding partner of the consulting firm Clearleft, Budd has made significant contributions to advancing UX design practices. He is also a sought-after speaker at design conferences and an active advocate for the design community. Through his writing and leadership, Budd continues to shape the future of digital design.

View Collection

Frequently Asked Questions