I picked up a copy of Designing Visual Interfaces on Jason Fried’s recommendation, and despite the fact that it’s about desktop software, not web software, it is really the best interface design book I’ve come across.

And don’t let the steep price tag scare you, it is well worth it. In fact, it is taking me a long time to read, because it is so packed with information. I’m only about halfway through, but still ready to declare it a winner.

Each chapter is structured the same way, with theory, principles, common errors, and techniques, and it really gives you the timelesse tools you need to see and think about interface design.

It’s like Tufte, but for software.

Update: Christina Wodtke read it 4 years ago, and liked it, too.