6 Must-Read Books for Graphic Designers
Want to level-up your graphic design game in 2023? While there is a wealth of information available online, it can be easy to overlook books as valuable resources for learning. There are hundreds of amazing graphic design books out there, which presents the question: where should you start? Below are 6 to get you started.
1. Book of Branding by Radim Malinic
Radim Malinic is a creative director and designer living and working in South West London. He runs Brand Nu, a multidisciplinary award-winning studio. Book of Branding is a creative guide for new businesses, start-ups and designers, which puts visual identity at the heart of brand strategy. The conversational, jargon free, tone of the book helps the reader to understand essential elements of the brand identity process. Offering first hand experience, insights and tips throughout, the book uses real life case studies to show how great collaborative work can be achieved.
2. How to by Michael Bierut
World famous design studio Pentagram’s Michael Bierut shares over three decades of his work in ‘How to use graphic design to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh, make people cry, and (every once in a while) change the world‘, his first career monograph.
How to… features 36 case studies that cover the creation of all types of work, from identity, logos and branding to environmental graphics, packaging, books and websites, often all in one project. Many famous clients are featured.
3. Work Hard & Be Nice to People by Anthony Burrill
In this book you will discover inspirational aphorisms and sound advice for the real world from graphic artist Anthony Burrill, inspired by his best-loved and most iconic typographic prints. With wise words on getting things done, success, creativity, difficult decisions, motivation, work, collaboration and happiness. This book is a refreshing and life-affirming guide.
4. 50 Best Logos Ever by various
To create great work, you need to know the great work that came before. In this inspiring book, leading branding and identity design experts come together to offer a definitive list of the 50 best logos ever. It’s a groundbreaking book that also explains how each example was created, bringing together a lot of useful and inspiring back stories in bite-size pieces.
5. How to Be a Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul by Adrian Shaughnessy
If you’re just starting out in your graphic design career, this book offers practical advice and guidance on the more theoretical and philosophical aspects of design. It includes concise guidance along with focused, no-nonsense strategies for setting up, running, and promoting a studio; finding work; and collaborating with clients. Social responsibility, ethics, and the rise of digital culture are also covered.
6. Why Fonts Matter by Sarah Hyndman
Type choice isn’t random, but there are so many fonts to choose from, where do you start? If you’re finding it a challenge, this book by graphic designer and typographer Sarah Hyndman may be of help. It explores the science behind font design, and uncovers why different styles provoke different reactions in people. Apparently, fonts have the power to even alter the taste of your food. An interesting read with insights you won’t find elsewhere.
References: https://dribbble.com/resources/graphic-design-books, https://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/books-graphic-designers-11135231
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