The Design of Everyday Things: Donald A. Norman
The Elements of Typographic Style, by Robert Bringhurst
Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte,
Envisioning Information by Edward R. Tufte
Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative by Edward R. Tufte
Beautiful Evidence by Edward R. Tufte
Small Is Beautiful by E. F. Schumache
The Art of Color by Johannes Itten
Were I to teach a course, that would be the list of text books required (so you would own them after). First and only assignment---read them. Final and only exam---what did you learn and understand. Supply proof.