For anyone that’s looking into design books for learning, this is a round-up of my recommendations. Everything will be linked in the description below.
Elements of a Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst
When it comes to typography, Elements of a typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst should essentially be your bible. This book has been around for decades, like since the late 1900s. Well, 1992 at least.
To this day, every strong graphic design program uses this book. I say it all the time that typography is what separates the strong designers from the mediocre ones. I can always tell which designers took the time to understand typography and which designers rely on copying trends.
This book explains the philosophy behind typography. Whether you are a complete type nerd, or just wanting a basic, yet strong foundation for type, this is the book to reference. Full transparency that it is a heavy read. You’re probably not going to read it through in one sitting, maybe not even two. Read parts or sections of it, spend time exploring what you’ve learned, and then take in the information over time.
Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton
If you’re looking for a more casual and fun approach to typography, Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton is absolutely wonderful. I actually met her at a lecture when I was in school. She’s a character and in the best possible way.
The book goes over the basics and some advanced type rules. The exercises are also helpful for putting things into context.
EPA Graphic Standards Manual
The NYCTA Graphics Standards Manual is pretty popular, but I really love the EPA Graphic Standards Manual. This book isn’t really a book that you read, but instead analyze the design and how well the system works.
The design of this is like liquid gold for me. Can we first start off by looking at this ghost deboss logo on the cover. And then… there are these beautiful gatefolds throughout. I’m sure not everyone cares about this, but I’m a sucker for high-impact printing. Printing like this is so hard to come around these days because everything is digital-focused.
Anyway, I think this book is a perfect example of how a grid system is implemented.
Grid Systems
Speaking of grids, Grid Systems is a book on… well, grids! If I had a dollar for every time I caught a designer not using a grid, I could probably pay my yearly rent.
Exposure in design is important and this book explore a breadth of examples on how grids work. Now, I don’t think you need to complicate your grids, but if you needed a book for further understanding, this is the one to buy!
Interaction of Color by Josef Albers
You have a book for type and grids, now you need a book for color. The Interaction of Color by Josef Albers.
This book can help you control color and create your own palettes.
I love parallels across creative fields. There’s a section in this book that compares approaching color similar to cooking. I love to cook, so this was a perfect example for me.
When you taste your cooking, you adjust accordingly… it needs more seasoning, so you add more seasoning. or it’s too salty, you can balance it out with acid. Same with color, it needs more saturation, so you add more saturation. It’s feeling too warm, so we balance it with cooler tones.
Any books by Edward Tufte
If you looked up information design and visual literacy, it should just be a photo of Edward Tufte. I believe he’s still the professor emeritus at Yale.
I would say his books are comprehensive and robust. If data is your thing, buy any and all of his books.
He has 8, listed here:
THE VISUAL DISPLAY OF QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION
VISUAL EXPLANATIONS: IMAGES AND QUANTITIES, EVIDENCE AND NARRATIVE
VISUAL AND STATISTICAL THINKING
THE COGNITIVE STYLE OF POWERPOINT: PITCHING OUT CORRUPTS WITHIN
ARTFUL SENTENCES: SYNTAX AS STYLE
If you are interested in his workshop, he now offers the course online, which is great because it’s accessible to more people. You can register here.
Design Annuals
Not all design books need to be read. You want to expose yourself to a lot of design, which is essentially just looking at things. When it comes to books, you can purchase design annuals. SPD is the Society for publication Designers. They round up the best in editorial design year over year.
I also have SPD Gold, which I love because it was designed by the legendary Carla Frank and I’m a huge fan of hers.
When it comes to editorial design, effectively, there’s no client, except for internal stakeholders. I find that editorial art directors and creative directors to have pie in the sky ideas, which should open up more ideas for you to think about in your work.
There is a significant amount to typography and photography to find concepts for your projects. The idea isn’t to copy. Most of the time, you’ll have to adjust anyway. Perhaps you see a design with a duotone effect. You can try a direction where the duotones are in cyan and red, which can maybe become 3-dimensional with those glasses. or just that idea alone, you can keep your images simple and do 3D typography.
Maybe you see a cover with a blurred vignette. This can inspire the concept perspective, because this is how we see with peripheral vision. In a digital capacity, your animations for images can close or open, just like our eyes. The idea to make things your own!
Use these design annuals as a way to see a full collective of design around the world. Creative block is a real thing and books like these can serve as a nice resource for you.
How-To by Michael Beirut
This How to by Michael Beirut. What is there to say about Michael Beirut other than the fact that he’s a legend in the industry. He’s a partner at Pentagram, previously he worked Vignelli and Associates, who designed the branding for the NYC subway system. He’s achieved more than most to say the least.
I’m sure we can all learn something from him and this book is the perfect resource to do that.
Just an Idea by Ruba Abu-Nimah
Ruba Abu-Nimah is the executive creative director at Tiffany’s. I went to her book signing the other week. Her book is simply photographs or pairings that relate to each other. Things like this can spark a lot of ideas for you by seeing how other designers see the world differently. Photography is a huge part of design and it can influence more concepts and ideas for you to explore.
A Notebook at Random by Irving Penn
Speaking of photography, looking into books from photographers. I have this book of Irving Penn, which I love. I would suggest looking into photographers books that you’re interested in. To name a few: Peter Lindbergh, Annie Liebowitz, Helmut Newton. Go back, because the older the better.
That’s my roundup of books.
What design books are you currently reading? Do you have any of the ones I mentioned and what are your thoughts on them?
Leave me a comment below. Keep on creating!
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