Work · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Mental Models

Aligning Design Strategy with Human Behavior

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Mental Models launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Don't Make Me Think, Revisited▲80

   A common sense approach to web usability

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   The User Experience Team of One▲64

   A Research and Design Survival Guide

   2015 · rosenfeldmedia.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Bottlenecks▲6

   Aligning UX Design with User Psychology

   2018 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Hacking UI: Victor Yocco▲65

   Applying psychological theory to digital design

   2016 · hackingui.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Designing for Behavior Change▲71

   Applying Psychology and Behavioral Economics

   2016 · oreilly.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   The Elements of User Experience▲64

   User-centered design for the web

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Designing Interactions▲91

   Interviews with influential designers

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Six Circles▲74

   An experience design framework

   2016 · userpathways.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   The Design of Influence: How to Craft Products that Move People▲93

   Use social psychology to design engaging digital experiences

   2015 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Designing For Emotion▲79

    On brand personality and delighting users

    2015 · abookapart.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    UX for Lean Startups▲89

    Faster, smarter user experience research and design

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    The Design of Business▲74

    Design thinking as a competitive advantage

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    The Science of Habit-Forming Products▲166

    (and how to build them)

    2016 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Design Collaboration for Product Teams▲76

    Building the foundation of brilliance

    2016 · uxpin.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Communicating Design▲68

    Developing web site documentation for design and planning

    2017 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    UX Strategy▲106

    How to devise innovative digital products that people want

    2016 · jaimelevy.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Inclusive Design Patterns▲79

    Dozens of practical examples and workflows

    2016 · smashingmagazine.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    The Interface▲66

    IBM and the transformation of corporate design

    2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    for / with / in▲54

    Experiments and conversations about design in the browser

    2015 · htmloutput.risd.gd · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Wake Annotations▲110

    A more powerful way to give design feedback

    2017 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Discussing Design▲68

    Improving communication and collaboration through critique

    2016 · oreilly.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Don't Make Me Think▲83

    A book about human-computer interaction and web usability

    2015 · sensible.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Ten Faces of Innovation▲64

    Beyond the Devil's Advocate

    2016 · its alternatives →

24. 24
    UX Design Process Best Practices▲76

    Documentation to move design forward

    2016 · uxpin.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →