The Design of Everyday Things: Donald A. Norman<p>The Elements of Typographic Style, by Robert Bringhurst<p>Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte,
Envisioning Information by Edward R. Tufte<p>Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative by Edward R. Tufte<p>Beautiful Evidence by Edward R. Tufte<p>Small Is Beautiful by E. F. Schumache<p>The Art of Color by Johannes Itten<p>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.