When comparing Don't Make Me Think vs Digital Design Essentials, the Slant community recommends Don't Make Me Think for most people. In the question“What are the best books to read on user experience and design?” Don't Make Me Think is ranked 1st while Digital Design Essentials is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Don't Make Me Think is:
The book understands it's goals and has a clear purpose. How to get people to understand, and accomplish their goals on the site. As suggested by the name, the book is to the point and doesn't waste time.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Short and focused
The book understands it's goals and has a clear purpose. How to get people to understand, and accomplish their goals on the site. As suggested by the name, the book is to the point and doesn't waste time.
Pro Clear examples
Many visuals and real world examples of good design are provided, making it an easy to understand and read book.
Pro Great as a reference
This book works as a great reference for explaining design decisions to clients or coworkers, as both explanations and examples are provided.
Pro Each topic includes a case study
Multiple case studies (over 100) are provided throughout the book to demonstrate the theory discussed.
Cons
Con Poor binding quality
There have been complaints with the quality of binding with the 2nd edition book.
Con Basic overview of web design
This book is most beneficial for beginners just starting out with web design and UX as it's not a resource with much depth. Someone with an understanding of design essentials may find this book fairly repetitive and common sense.