Strolling through my favourite bookshop in Dublin city centre recently I came across the graphic design section and couldn’t resist browsing through the wide range of books available. I saw many of my old favourites on the shelves, the books that have inspired, guided and encouraged my work over many years in the graphic design arena. And I thought it may be useful to make a quick list of some of my favourite reads for people working in the design industry. So here are my top seven favourites:
The BEST Practical Book
Know Your Onions Drew de Soto
This is an essential book for any starter graphic designer. It is a practical guide to working like a professional designer, from briefing and typography to production, branding, and running a studio. It’s a no nonsense manual that is packed with useful tips and advice.
This book is concise, funny, and honest. It distils years of studio experience into digestible advice. It is especially great for starter designers or freelancers who appreciate being told exactly how things work behind the scenes. Give this to the designer who needs help with checklists and workflows.
The BEST Branding Overview Book:
Branding: In five and a Half Steps Michael Johnson
This book is about brand strategy broken into a structured journey. It is comprehensive and accessible with gorgeous visuals throughout. It shows the stages of brand investigation and strategy right through to creative execution and the implementation of the branding. This book demystifys the process of branding.
Also the BEST Branding Overview Book:
(We couldn’t choose the best!)
The Brand Gap Marty Neumeier
This fast to read book should be in every graphic designer’s library. Complex ideas are broken down into easily digestible and memorable facts. This book, in fact, is also an essential for the marketeer, strategist or entrepreneur in your life. Simplicity and clarity explain complex ideas. Love it!
The BEST Logo Research Book:
Logo Modernism Jens Müller and R. Roger Remington
6,000 trademarks (from 1940-1980 approx) laid out in an accessible and easily accessible format. Love this book for the visual inspiration it brings: Lettermark logos, circular logos, square logos, line logos – endless versions of creative visuals to pore over and be inspired by. An unrivalled resource for graphic designers, advertisers, and branding specialists, Logo Modernism is equally fascinating to anyone interested in the sheer persuasive power of image and form.
The BEST Humorous Book:
A Smile in the Mind Beryl McAlhone & David Stuart
This very beautiful book is packed with witty examples of clever graphic design, making everyday messages unforgettable. Look, read, pause and smile. Love this book for inspiration and memorable visuals. Joyful!
The BEST ‘Go for it’ Book:
Feck Perfuction James Victore
This book is a pep-talk for creatives! Abandon perfectionism! Embrace the bold! Use your work to express boldly. Short chapters encourage the reader to take brave steps towards powerful visual statements. Motivation is abundant and hard to resist. Someone needing a reset or a push in the right direction? This is the book for them!
The BEST ‘Sound Advice’ Book:
How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul Adrian Shaughnessy
This book is gives excellent insight into dealing with the ‘day to day’ of a graphic design career. This is a no holds barred book which imparts advice in a measured, reassuring and realistic way. This book is a rite of passage for designers at any stage of their journey. Give it to the design student, the mid-career creative, or anyone trying to find purpose in their career. This book helps maintain to sanity while doing meaningful work!
So if you are lucky enough to have a graphic designer in your life (!) and with Christmas getting closer by the day, why not treat them to one of the above titles? These are books that will delight, inspire, challenge, and empower. They will also make you very popular with your graphic designer!
Win win!