Graphic design is an amazing option if you are looking for a career in the creative field. It isn’t just an interesting field that can help you satisfy and channelize your inner creativity but is quite rewarding as well. Moreover, the demand for graphic designers is at an all-time high, owing to the rapidly increasing demand for visuals and other creative content. Whether you already are a graphic designer or aspire to be one, keep reading on. Here, we share some graphic design books that are definitely worth a read.
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9 Best Graphic Design Books that You Must Read!
Here you go with the list…
1. Grid Systems in Graphic Design
Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Müller-Brockman- a graphic designer and a teacher is a guide that helps to understand and gain a sense of space using grids.
The book also offers the concept of the use of grids in three dimensional spaces. One of the best books for designers, ‘Grid Systems in Graphic Designs’ provides guidelines and rules for using grid systems that range from 8 to 32 grid fields. Thus, this book can be used as a guide for a number of projects.
This is a professional guide that covers all aspects of grid systems and gives the right directions and instructions to its users.
2. Logo Modernism
A book by Jens Müller, Logo Modernism is one of the best graphic design books. It is a must-have, especially if you are a logo designer or a logo enthusiast.
The book was published by Taschen in 2015. Logo Modernism focuses on the period from 1940 to 1980 and takes a look at a whopping 6000 logos to examine their modernist attitudes. The logos examined in the book range from those of airlines, art galleries to media and retail giants.
Its content is also divided into three parts namely Geometric, Effect and Typographic. Then these parts are subdivided into sections such as alphabet, squares etc.
3. Thinking with Type
Another one of the best graphic design books is ‘Thinking with Type’ by Ellen Lupton. ‘Type’ builds the foundation for any kind of design. Anything and everything that you need to know about the organization of letters in your design has been discussed in this book.
The book is divided into three sections namely letter, text and grid and each of these sections is accompanied by an essay explaining the main concepts.
Thinking with Type is a concise guide for any and every designer wishing to brush up his typographic skills.
4. The Elements of Typographic Style
Yet another one of the amazing books for graphic designers is ‘The Elements of Typographic Style’ by Robert Bringhurst. With this guide, the author, Robert Bringhurst, a renowned typographer and poet, brings clarity to the art of typography.
The book is a major typographic resource and essential for anyone using type in their design. It is one of the most useful resources combining practical, theoretical as well as historical information.
The book doesn’t just cover all the basics but also the finer points associated with typography.
5. Interaction of Color
Next on our list of best books for designers is ‘Interaction of Color’ by Josef Albers. It is regarded as one of the most prominent books on color theory that has ever been written.
It is often used as a handbook or a teaching aid for artists, students as well as instructors. Even after about 50 years post its publication, Interaction of Color remains a very essential resource on color.
This is definitely one of the best graphic design books that you need to add to your ‘must read’ list.
6. Designing Brand Identity
Designing Brand Identity was authored by Alina Wheeler and is a best-selling branding guide. The book thoroughly explains what brand identity design is and how it works.
It is the single most essential resource that you need to read to know everything about branding. The book has been split into three sections- brand fundamentals, process basics and case studies to give a better insight to designers as well as branding teams. The book takes you through a five-step process for brand development and implementation.
Published in 2017, its updated version includes coverage of social media cross channel synergy, SEO, crowdsourcing, mobile devices etc.
7. How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul
This book by Adrian Shaughnessey is one of the best books for graphic designers. Especially if you are a new graphic designer, you must read this book.
In ‘How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing your Soul’, Adrian Shaughnessey talks about gaining employment, setting up as a freelancer, pitching, dealing with clients and basically all the nitty-gritty of sailing through this profession.
If you wish to earn a livelihood in this career field then trust us when we say this is one of the best books for designers.
8. The Little Know-it-All
The Little Know-it-All: Common Sense for Designers is also one of the best books for graphic designers or books for designers in general.
The book provides all the information that a designer needs right from what is a meta tag, color, light and perspective to how social media influences a marketing mix and everything in-between.
It is like a handibook that every designer should own to thrive in their field. Divided into seven chapters, the book is full of essential practical information.
The book is also filled with graphics and illustrations, making it the perfect go-to guide for all designers.
9. Ways of Seeing
Ways of Seeing is yet another classic book for all designers. It is one of the best graphic design books as it helps a designer understand how people see things (or designs).
This bestselling book is by John Berger and was published in 2008 and it is based on a 1972 BBC TV series. It is one of the most influential books on art ever written.
To get to know how art or design is perceived, this book is a must-read.
Over to You
This was my list of top 9 graphic design books. We hope that reading these books helps you in your journey of becoming a successful graphic designer.
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Mir is a British-educated Digital Marketing Expert with 10+ years of experience in the B2B, D2C, and eCommerce Industries. Having worked with 50+ startups and SMEs, he has a clear understanding of what it takes to establish growth on online platforms.
He is also the Founder of Kashmirica, a social impact brand that aims to take exclusives from Kashmir to the Global consumer. An enthusiastic cultural entrepreneur, Mir is driven by a passion to bring about a social impact.
An avid reader, he loves writing about marketing, and entrepreneurship.