The value of design in business is being more pronounced than ever before. Uber just redesigned their logo to help reposition their company. Google updated their branding after nearly two decades.
This article lists a collection of design learning resources any entrepreneur should use to learn design basics, of course after reading through Startups, this is how design works, and my book on the same topic. These resources will help you understand the value of design in business.
Will knowing design basics mean you can do it all yourself?
Maybe, but that’s not the point. Like knowing basics of programming, of how software works, of how code works, it will help you to be a better leader and have realistic expectations for the designers on your team.
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Let’s now dive into the resources and links any design-conscious business owner should know.
Lynda.com Design Courses
Lynda.com has been around for a while and when I say a while, I mean like 100 years. They continue to deliver useful and up-to-date content on various topics, including design basics as well as design tools like Photoshop.
DesignLab
DesignLab offer a unique twist on the online courses; they assign you a personal design coach who will review your progress and give you pointers on your work. Highly recommended!
Thinking With Type
This renowned book by Ellen Lupton doesn’t need much introduction. It explains the complex ideas behind typography in an easy to read format, almost like an illustrated pop science guide. On the official website, you can read it for free.
What is Design Thinking
If you ever wondered about what design thinking means, you should watch this video a couple of times. In just 4 minutes, it manages to explain the concept in simple terms.
The Ultimate Guide to Conversion Centered Design
Unbounce is an authority in the space of conversions. Besides providing a great tool for building landing pages and sharing useful content on their blog, they also release awesome books like this one. If you’re looking to increase your revenue without additional marketing, give this free ebook a read.
Design Disruptors
I am really looking forward to this upcoming film by InVision. Judging by the copy on their landing page, the film will explore the relationship between startups and design and its place in this new economy.
Simplicity sells
This entertaining TED talk will try to persuade you to pay closer attention to your product’s ease of use. It will have you think whether your forms have too many fields to fill out and how good your error messages are. Worth giving it a watch.
How filmmakers manipulate our emotions using color
This short Youtube video will uncover the ways colour affects how we perceive movies and visual messaging.
Treehouse Design Courses
Treehouse is a younger player in the field of online courses and they regularly update their content. If you want to find out about Sketch app, go over creating a logo in 30 minutes, or learn design basics, this is the place to go.
Mackenzie Child Youtube Channel
Mackenzie Child is an example of the rare type called unicorns. Unicorns can design as well as develop their websites and are nearly impossible to find. On his Youtube channel, Mackenzie will teach you how to design and develop websites — and all for free.
Design the New Business
This 39 minute documentary will uncover the ways designers and entrepreneurs can work together to create better products and build better businesses.
The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web
Another typography book, but this time more hands-on. When I try to develop universal guidelines for graphic design, I often refer to the ratios suggested in this guide.
UX Design for Startups
This free ebook written by UX expert Marcin Treder will give you some insight into how you should approach user experience in your startup.
Breakthrough designs for ultra-low-cost products
Another TED talk in which you’ll discover three products that were re-designed to make it cheaper and more accessible for people of all backgrounds.
Objectified
Objectified is one of the feature-length films by Gary Hustwit (another one being Helvetica) in which he looks at the design process of everyday products and the relationship between the designers and the manufacturing process.
There you go. Have you got a favourite resource on design basics you want to share? Contact me and I’ll add it.
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