Books are a source of knowledge, education, and inspiration. They have helped shape our world for generations. It is not surprising that people read them and consult them in their work and professional lives. The idea of this list is to give you easy access to the most influential and successful design books that have influenced designers’ thinking over time.
Graphic design books are excellent for designers, entrepreneurs, and students of the arts. It’s difficult to identify which titles are the best to read since popularity is dependent on factors like price and how well they’ve aged. Here are the most influential books that inspire readers of all levels.
Designers who are looking for inspiration, new ways of thinking, or just learning about graphic design can find it in these publications. Here we made a list of graphic design books that we believe will help you in your journey towards better design and keep your mind open to new ideas and perspectives. So if you’re ready, take a look at this list and start reading!
What is a Creative Graphic Design Book?
Graphic design books can be broken down into different categories. A creative graphic design book is an art book that introduces graphic design techniques. It is usually made up of pictures, shapes, patterns and illustrations.
Creative arts are highly diverse and allow for creativity to be expressed in many ways. Creative arts are visual representations of thoughts, feelings and ideas through art forms such as drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, architecture and more.
This creative arts book includes everything from hand-drawn sketches to digital graphics designed with Adobe Illustrator to photographs of people’s unique creative processes.
Graphic design books are great for people who are interested in learning more about the field of graphic design. These books can be used as reading list to find out about various aspects of the profession. If you want to get started on your graphic design career, it’s wise for you to start with graphic design books. They can give you essential information that will help inspire and guide your path.
How Graphic Design Books Can Help You Learn Visual Communication Skills?
Graphic design books are typically compilations of the best designers’ work in one place. They are great to learn about trend-setting designs and discover new techniques that you can apply in your next project.
Graphic design books can help you learn visual communication skills and build a portfolio. A visual communication skills is an essential skill for any designer. They help us express our ideas using images and shapes in a visually engaging way. Graphic design is the practice of visual communication.
Graphic designers design visuals such as signs, posters, websites, brochures or magazines to communicate with their clients or audience. Many graphic design books have been published over the years, so it is easy to find one that fits your needs. You should consider reading a graphic design book if you are a student or a new designer.
What Should you Look For in a Good Graphic Design Book?
With the rise in technology, graphic design has evolved at a rapid pace. Today, there is an overwhelming amount of information on the subject for both beginners and professionals.
- A good graphic design book should provide insight on what was happening in the industry and how to get started with graphic design or how to get work experience in this field. It should also include information about the history of graphic design which is becoming increasingly important for designers today.
- A good book on graphic design should have a lot of illustrations so you can see how different designers have created their own unique styles through graphics. Many illustrators work with a variety of media, so a good graphic design book should include examples using these different types of media as well as examples from more modern times. It should also contain some information on influential figures in the field of visual arts and those who have had an impact on contemporary art.
There are many books that exist on the history of graphic design, but there are a few that stand out as being particularly relevant and interesting. These books can teach you more about the history of graphic design and the different techniques that have been used to create distinctive styles.
Top 15 Graphic Design Books on Amazon Right Now
Creative graphic design books are the best resource for creative designers. They come with tools to assist you in creating inspiring images, techniques that you can learn, and beautiful examples of how to use color, shapes & lines creatively.
These 15 creative graphic design books will help you elevate your skill set and inspire you to create amazing artwork!
1. The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition
by Don Norman
The Design of Everyday Things is a captivating, provocative, and insightful book that explores design principles in their many manifestations.
The seminal work by Norman Douglas opens up our eyes to the myriad ways that design is embedded in the everyday.
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2. Thinking with type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students
by Eelen Lupton
The history of typography has been one of great thinkers and designers struggling to find new ways to communicate with the written word.
Ellen Lupton takes a look into the future and provides a deeper understanding of what we can expect from type in the coming years.
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![Thinking with type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Revised, Expanded)[ THINKING WITH TYPE: A CRITICAL GUIDE FOR DESIGNERS, WRITERS, EDITORS, & STUDENTS (REVISED, EXPANDED) ] By Lupton, Ellen ( Author )Sep-10-2010 Paperback](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51QNbULKwNL.jpg)
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3. Logo Modernism
by Jens Muller
Logo Modernism is a visual journey through the history of logo design, showcasing over 200 logos & showing the evolution of the logo from medieval times to the present day.
The book is structured so that readers can follow an individual logo throughout its lifespan.
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4. Grid systems in graphic design: A visual communication manual for graphic designers, typographers and three dimensional designers
by Josef Muller Brockmann
Grid systems are the basic structure of typography. This manual is an introduction to designing with grids, which can help you create more professional layouts for print or web design.
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5. Interaction of Color: 50th Anniversary Edition
by Josef Albers
Josef Albers is an influential German-American painter, printmaker, and art theorist who is widely regarded as one of the first modern artists. In particular, he is known for his theory of color which he developed with his wife and collaborator Hannah Höch.
This book takes a look at the ways in which color is used in artwork from 50 years ago to now.
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6. Graphic Design: The New Basics
by Ellen Lupto
When it comes to design, Ellen Lupton believes in a new kind of language that speaks to a new generation. With a focus on the basics, her latest book is an essential guide for young graphic designers.
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7. 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
by Michael Berut
Michael Bierute is a graphic designer, author, and professor at Yale. He argues the importance of design in our lives and its ability to influence social change.
He also discusses how it’s important not only to take into account the form but focus on people’s needs as well.
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8. Design Is Storytelling
by Ellen Lupton
Design is storytelling. The idea is not new, but what Ellen Lupton’s book does is explore how the principles of design can be used to make stories more captivating.
It discusses how design can help tell stories more clearly and help the reader understand who the protagonist is and what they’re trying to achieve.
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9. How to Be a Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul (New Expanded Edition)
by Adrian Shaughnessy
The goal of this book is to teach people how to be creative and successful in the graphic design industry without losing their souls. The author believes that designing is an important skill for anyone who wants to express themselves through their work and make a difference in the world.
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10. Non-Designer's Design Book, The
by Robin Williams
There are many books out there that are aimed at people who are not designers. This book is different, because the author, Robin Williams, is a designer himself.
He uses his own extensive experiences as a designer to help readers create their own work without having to worry about the technicalities of design.
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11. Keep Going: 10 Ways To Stay Creative In Good Times And Bad
by Austin Kleon
Austin Kleon is a writer and speaker who has written about the importance of creativity in a way that’s accessible to many different people. His book, “Keep Going,” is filled with practical advice and stories for anyone to use.
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12. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
by Austin Kleon
In this post-millennium book, Austin Kleon offers a refreshing look on creativity. He advises readers to let go of the fear of being judged and simply do what is in their hearts–and minds. Even if it’s not “good,” it is a step closer in the process.
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13. Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team
by Alina Wheeler
This book is a comprehensive and practical guide for anyone who is responsible for designing the branding of a company or organization.
The book covers topics such as how to create your company’s visual identity, developing a sense of brand personality and creating brand guidelines.
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14. Show Your Work: 10 Ways To Share Your Creativity And Get Discovered
by Austin Kleon
Being an artist can be tough, but it doesn’t mean you should give up your dreams of being recognized. There are plenty of ways to share your creativity and get discovered. Austin Kleon shares 10 ways to do just that in this article.
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15. Work for Money, Design for Love: Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions About Starting and Running a Successful Design Business (Voices That Matter)
by David Airey
This book explores the idea that we should work for money and design for love. It highlights the importance of focusing on your passion and what you really want to do with your life.
David Airey has been a member of the design profession for over 30 years, and he shares his insights on running a successful design business.
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Discover More Knowledge Through the Best Graphic Design Books!
There is no such thing as a graphic design book that can teach you everything you need to know about design. The best and most comprehensive books and online resources contain specific information on the topic they’re covering. To get started, we recommend that you follow some of the recommendations above
Designers who want to learn more about graphic design should start with some of these classic texts. All are still in print, have great writing, are easy to read, have tons of illustrations throughout, and are affordable.
The following graphic design books are some of the best to get readers motivated and inspired to create beautiful graphic designs. So, how many books do you know? or if I missed any book, let me know.
