12 Must-Read Design Thinking Books for CX Teams In 2025
These design thinking books combine foundational principles with modern strategies to help implement user-centered innovation and creative problem-solving. They offer valuable insights that enhance problem-solving approaches and foster innovation, making them essential resources for designers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders
12 Best Design Thinking Books Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best design thinking books I think are worth reading in 2025:
- Design Thinking and Innovation Metrics by Michael Lewrick
- Design Thinking for Business Growth by Michael Lewrick
- The Design Thinking Playbook by Michael Lewrick, Patrick Link, and Larry Leifer
- The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
- User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design Are Changing the Way We Live, Work, and Play by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant
- Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation by Tim Brown
- Design Thinking for Training and Development by Sharon Boller and Laura Fletcher
- Design Thinking: Understanding how designers think and work by Nigel Cross
- Introduction to Design Thinking for UX Beginners by Uijun Park
- This is Service Design Thinking: Basics, Tools, Cases by Marc Stickdorn and Jakob Schneider
- Design Thinking: A Guide to Creative Problem Solving for Everyone by Andrew Pressman
- Design Thinking: Integrating Innovation, Customer Experience, and Brand Value by Thomas Lockwood
Overview of the 12 Best Design Thinking Books
1. Design Thinking and Innovation Metrics by Michael Lewrick
Summary:
This book provides a comprehensive guide on integrating design thinking with innovation metrics to manage creativity and achieve business success. It emphasizes using OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to align creative processes with strategic business goals.
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What You'll Learn:
- How to apply design thinking principles to drive innovation within your organization.
- Techniques for measuring and managing creativity to enhance product development and business outcomes.
- Strategies for using OKRs to bridge the gap between creative teams and business objectives.
Why You Should Read It:
If you're looking to foster innovation in your business while ensuring that creative efforts align with measurable outcomes, this book offers practical tools and frameworks to achieve that balance. It's useful for leaders and managers seeking to integrate creative processes into their strategic planning.
Quote From The Book:
Design thinking without measurement is like setting out on a journey without a map. To create meaningful impact, innovation must be tracked, iterated, and aligned with business objectives.
About The Author:
Michael Lewrick is a best-selling author, award-winning design thinking and business ecosystem design thought leader. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
2. Design Thinking for Business Growth by Michael Lewrick
Summary:
"Design Thinking for Business Growth" explores design thinking to create and scale innovative business models. The book emphasizes a human-centered approach to problem-solving and collaboration across industries to foster innovation.
What You'll Learn:
- Practical frameworks for designing and implementing business ecosystems.
- Case studies of successful ecosystem initiatives.
- Exercises to better understand and apply design thinking principles.
- The importance of a growth mindset and using design lenses for innovation.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is essential for anyone looking to innovate and expand their business models using design thinking. It provides valuable insights and tools for aligning business strategies with customer needs and experiences, making it a must-read for leaders and managers.
Quote From The Book:
Design thinking is not just a methodology; it’s a mindset that empowers businesses to innovate and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
About The Author:
Michael Lewrick is a recognized expert in design thinking and innovation. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
3. The Design Thinking Playbook by Michael Lewrick, Patrick Link, and Larry Leifer
Summary:
The Design Thinking Playbook provides practical frameworks and innovative solutions for organizations undergoing digital transformation. The book focuses on applying design thinking across various industries, integrating proven methodologies and tools to overcome challenges, and creating user value through new design criteria.
What You'll Learn:
- How to apply Design Thinking to achieve digital transformation in teams, products, services, and ecosystems.
- The concept of Minimum Viable Ecosystems (MVEs) for developing digital processes and services, including Blockchain applications.
- Strategies for fostering innovation and building motivated teams within organizations.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is a comprehensive guide for organizations to enhance their innovative capabilities. Whether you are part of a team, managing products, or involved in service design, the insights and frameworks provided can help drive your digital transformation efforts effectively.
Quote From The Book:
Innovation happens at the intersection of people, technology, and business needs.
About The Author:
Michael Lewrick is a best-selling author and an international speaker for various universities. Patrick Link is a well-known editor of two Amazon bestsellers and a professor of Product Innovation and Larry Leifer is the founding Director of the Stanford Center for Innovation and Design Research.
- Connect with Michael Lewrick on LinkedIn.
- Engage with Patrick Link on LinkedIn.
- Learn more about Larry Leifer on his Standford Profiles.
4. The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
Summary:
The Design of Everyday Things explores human-centered design principles, illustrating how thoughtful design can make everyday products intuitive and user-friendly. It emphasizes the importance of making functions visible and using constraints intelligently to guide users towards the correct actions.
What You'll Learn:
- The core principles of good design and usability.
- How to identify and eliminate design flaws that lead to user errors.
- Techniques for creating products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is an essential read for designers, engineers, and anyone interested in creating intuitive and user-friendly products. It provides a comprehensive guide to understanding user interactions and the psychological principles behind effective design.
Quote From The Book:
The goal of design is to guide the user effortlessly to the right action on the right control at the right time.
About The Author:
Don Norman is a renowned design, usability, and cognitive science expert. Explore more about his work on his NN Group page
5. User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design Are Changing the Way We Live, Work, and Play by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant
Summary:
This book explores the evolution of user-friendly design and how it influences everything from digital interfaces to everyday objects. The authors provide actual examples of design failures and successes, explaining how design thinking has shaped modern experiences.
What You'll Learn:
- The history and evolution of user-friendly design.
- Insights into the principles that make products intuitive and easy to use.
- The role of design in shaping user behavior and societal norms.
Why You Should Read It:
For designers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, this book provides an insightful look into the power of user-centered design and how it shapes behavior.
Quote From The Book:
Good design is like a well-written sentence—clear, engaging, and effortless to understand.
About The Author:
Cliff Kuang is a user experience designer and an award-winning journalist and Robert Fabricant has been a product designer for over 25 years.
- Connect with Cliff Kuang on his LinkedIn and Instagram.
- Find more about Robert Fabricant and his work on his website.
6. Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation by Tim Brown
Summary:
"Change by Design" introduces the concept of design thinking as a methodology for driving innovation and solving complex problems within organizations. It emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach to design that aligns with business strategies to meet user needs effectively.
What You'll Learn:
- The principles of design thinking and how they can be applied to transform organizations.
- Techniques for fostering creativity and innovation within teams.
- How to implement design thinking processes to tackle real-world challenges and inspire innovation.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is ideal for leaders and innovators seeking to integrate design thinking into their organizational culture. It provides a comprehensive guide to using design as a strategic tool for innovation and growth.
Quote From The Book:
Design thinking is about more than aesthetics; it’s about solving problems in human-centered ways.
About The Author:
Tim Brown is the CEO and president of IDEO. Connect with him on LinkedIn and learn more about his work on his website.
7. Design Thinking for Training and Development by Sharon Boller and Laura Fletcher
Summary:
This book explores how design thinking can be applied to training and development to create effective learning experiences. It provides a framework for designing engaging learning journeys that produce tangible results, focusing on understanding learners and creating solutions that meet needs.
What You'll Learn:
- How to apply design thinking principles to the field of training and development.
- Techniques for designing learning experiences that are both engaging and effective.
- Strategies for aligning training initiatives with organizational goals to achieve measurable outcomes.
Why You Should Read It:
For professionals involved in training and development, this book offers valuable insights into creating impactful learning experiences. It provides practical tools and methods to enhance the effectiveness of training programs by focusing on the learner's journey.
Quote From The Book:
Learning experiences should not just transfer knowledge; they should inspire and empower learners.
About The Author:
Sharon Boller is an author and speaker on leadership and social responsibility of business and Laura Fletcher is an experienced learning consultant with 15 years in training and development.
8. Design Thinking: Understanding how designers think and work by Nigel Cross
Summary:
"Design Thinking: Understanding how designers think and work" offers insights into designers’ cognitive processes and methods used. The book explores how designers approach problem-solving and innovation and provides a detailed examination of the skills and mindsets that characterize design and thinking.
What You'll Learn:
- The fundamental principles of design thinking and its application in various fields.
- Insights into the cognitive strategies employed by designers during the creative process.
- How to apply design thinking techniques to enhance problem-solving and innovation.
Why You Should Read It:
For those looking to understand the inner workings of design thinking and how designers operate, this book provides a research-backed perspective on the discipline. It provides practical insights into how designers think and work.
Quote From The Book:
Design is not just about creating artifacts; it’s about finding new ways to improve the world around us.
About The Author:
Nigel Cross is a design researcher and educator at The Open University, U.K. He helped create the first distance-learning design courses in the early 1970s. Learn more about his work on his Amazon profile.
9. Introduction to Design Thinking for UX Beginners by Uijun Park
Summary:
This book is a foundational guide for UX beginners, offering a structured approach to design thinking. It emphasizes creating user-centered digital experiences through a step-by-step process involving UX design, UI design, and user research.
What You'll Learn:
- The basics of design thinking and how it applies to UX design.
- A five-step process for developing engaging digital experiences.
- Techniques for integrating user research into the design process to enhance user engagement and satisfaction.
Why You Should Read It:
Ideal for beginners in UX/UI design, this book breaks down complex design principles into easy-to-follow steps, making it a great starting point for aspiring designers.
Quote From The Book:
Great design is not about aesthetics; it’s about solving user problems effectively.
About The Author:
Uijun Park is an experienced product designer, UX/UI instructor, and writer based in the New York City area. Connect with him on LinkedIn and explore his work on his website.
10. This is Service Design Thinking: Basics, Tools, Cases by Marc Stickdorn and Jakob Schneider
Summary:
"This is Service Design Thinking" introduces readers to the principles and processes of service design, emphasizing a collaborative and user-centered approach. The book provides practical tools and methods to create effective and innovative service solutions across various sectors.
What You'll Learn:
- The foundational principles of service design and its importance in creating user-friendly services.
- Practical tools and techniques for implementing service design in real-world scenarios.
- Case studies that illustrate successful applications of service design thinking.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is a valuable resource for anyone involved in designing services, whether in business, public sectors, or non-profit organizations. It offers insights into improving service quality and user experience through thoughtful design practices.
Quote From The Book:
Good service design is invisible when it works, but painfully obvious when it fails.
About The Author:
Marc Stickdorn is the co-founder and CEO of More than Metrics, a startup that develops software for service design and Jakob Schneider is an award-winning design expert and co-founder of More than Metrics.
- Connect with Marc Stickdorn on LinkedIn and learn more about his craft on his website.
- Explore more of Jakob Schneider’s work on his website.
11. Design Thinking: A Guide to Creative Problem Solving for Everyone by Andrew Pressman
Summary:
This book is an accessible introduction to design thinking, offering practical guidance on applying its principles to solve complex problems creatively. It outlines the process of design thinking in an easy-to-understand manner, making it suitable for a wide range of readers, from students to professionals across various fields.
What You'll Learn:
- The fundamental concepts of design thinking and their application in problem-solving.
- Step-by-step guidance on implementing design thinking strategies in real-world scenarios.
- Techniques to foster creativity and innovation in personal and professional contexts.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is ideal for anyone looking to enhance their problem-solving skills through design thinking. It provides insights and practical tools for teams to tackle challenges creatively and effectively.
Quote From The Book:
Creativity isn’t just for designers—it’s a mindset that can drive innovation in any field.
About The Author:
Andrew Pressman is a professor and author of many highly praised books and articles. Learn more about his work on his Routledge profile.
12. Design Thinking: Integrating Innovation, Customer Experience, and Brand Value by Thomas Lockwood
Summary:
This book explores the integration of design thinking into business strategies to enhance innovation, improve customer experience, and build brand value. It presents a collection of insights and case studies from industry leaders who have successfully applied design thinking to achieve business objectives.
What You'll Learn:
- The role of design thinking in driving innovation within organizations.
- How to align design processes with customer experience and brand strategy.
- Case studies illustrating successful applications of design thinking in various industries.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is essential for business leaders, designers, and strategists, offering practical insights into how design can be integrated into business processes to create value for customers and organizations.
Quote From The Book:
Successful brands are not just designed; they are thoughtfully crafted through design thinking.
About The Author:
Thomas Lockwood is a prominent figure in design management and innovation. Connect with him on LinkedIn and explore his work on his website.
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