by 
With numerous new graphic design books being published, it can be hard to know which ones to purchase or not. We have taken the guesswork out of it for you.
Whether you’re after a gift for yourself or a graphic designer friend, or if you want to build up your studio bookshelf, here are the best graphic design books to read this year.
Paula Scher: Works
Named the most significant female graphic designer in the world, Paula Scher needs no introduction. This splendid book from Unit Editions – 2,000 copies are available for pre-order – covers the Pentagram associate’s early days in the music business as an art executive with CBS and Atlantic records, the introduction of her first studio, and her 25-year engagement with Pentagram.
The editors say the book is also a photographic record of modern New York’s urban fabric, “indelibly transformed by the designer’s innovative approach to environmental graphics and identity design: from MoMA to Charter Schools; from the High Line to Shake Shack”.
The 326-page book consists of a long interview with Scher, and sections devoted to her socially and politically inspired posters, New York Times Op-Ed artworks, and campaign work. We can’t wait to read this book.
House Industries: The Process is the Inspiration
House Industries released this 400-page book that celebrates type foundry and design studio in 2017. This book is filled with stories, case studies, and handy information. It’s devoted to answering the question: where do you find inspiration?
The book gives a captivating dive into the minds of co-founders Andy Cruz and Rich Roat, and type designer Ken Barber. The foreword is written by JJ Abrams, too.
The Visual History of Type
This substantial source gives a complete survey of the major prints produced since the beginning of printing with movable type, in the mid-fifteenth century, to the present day.
It’s organized chronologically, showing over 320 typefaces either through their innovative type examples or earliest printing. Each admission is supported by a brief history and account of essential characteristics of the print. This is a valuable resource if you are into this type of design.
How To
If you still haven’t read Michael Bierut’s brilliant book, How To, then make 2018 the year you read it. Protégé of design legend Massimo Vignelli and a partner at New York design firm Pentagram Bierut has enjoyed one of the most effective careers of any existing graphic designer.
In this book on graphic design, he discloses his viewpoint of graphic design, explaining how to use it to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh and cry, and change the world.
The book features more than 35 of Bierut’s projects, providing perceptions into his imaginative process, working life, affiliation with patrons and the distinctive struggles confronted by any designer trying to bring groundbreaking ideas into the world. Inspiring and educational. This book is a must-read for any graphic designer.
Draplin Design Co: Pretty Much Everything
Aaron Draplin is the man behind the marking of Esquire and Ford Motors. This book looks back on Draplin’s astonishing career.
Pretty Much Everything tracks Draplin’s career back to day one. Readers follow his life story as he goes off to university and makes a name for himself on the graphic design scene. With graphic design talk, there comes plenty of delightful personal stories which give readers a sincere perception into the mind of the designer. This one of the best books for graphic designers.
As with any good graphic design book, there’s plenty to enjoy visually. Pages are filled with limitless samples of his work, consisting of everything from snowboard graphics to logo designs. Pretty Much Everything is a treasure chest of work and knowledge that any design studio could profit from possessing.
Logo: The Reference Guide to Symbols and Logotypes (mini)
Michael Evamy’s distinguished logo bible was published in 2015, presenting more than 1,300 symbols and logotypes in a pocket-sized format.
This massive assortment includes the work of iconic masters like Paul Rand and Saul Bass, as well as some of the most exhilarating work from modern and developing designers, plus a series of short texts deliberating recent growths in logo design.
The Way To Design
In his book, entrepreneur and former Ideo design engineer Steve Vassallo shows how designers can start up their businesses and how creators can make design the foundation of their action. One of his tactics? Move beyond compassion. This book is one of the top graphic design books.
Interaction of Color
Interaction of Color has been an expert on palettes and colors for over 50 years. First, this book was devised as a teaching tool, this helpful manual demonstrates philosophies such as relativity and intensity and is critical for any artist who wants to make knowledgeable selections. This book one of the best design books of all time.
Megg’s History
Now in its sixth edition, Megg’s History is an extensive contribution that assists as the definitive reference tool for both students and professionals. Modernized to be applicable in the digital age, it consists of quizzes, flashcards, and inspects movements from all over the world.
Symbols: A Handbook
Symbols: A Handbook is a collection of over 400 images obtained from ancient cultures, nature, government information, etc. This book examines the meaning and implication behind each image and will have you viewing advertisements in a whole new viewpoint.
Grid Systems
A computer-assisted creative artist will find Grid Systems beneficial. Great for beginners, this book lays the groundwork for how to organize your work by telling the basic ideas and growing on more cutting-edge ideas with plenty of examples and exact directions.
The Non-Designer’s Design Book
This book is best graphic design book for beginners, The Non-Designer’s Design Book offers the fundamental stepping stones for making persuasive visual art. This book is written with a friendly tone, it provides practical advice, recommends projects to attempt, and is filled with applicable samples.
Super Graphic
This book is written by award-winning art director Tim Leong, Super Graphic is a captivating visual interpreter of the comic book universe. It’s full of every type of chart possible, extensively detailed, and pleasantly amusing, not to mention a boundless supply of data analysis. One of the best visual design books out there.
Show Your Work!
Show Your Work! uses insightful leadership and intricately organized images to inspire artists to contribute in shared creativity and find their voice at the office and in their personal lives. This creative book design gives practical words that will reassure anyone facing self-doubt.
New Perspectives in Typography
New Perspectives in Typography is a typographic pleasure for designers and typophiles. This new design book takes an A-Z tactic to modern type design, it shows the work of more than 100 designers – including David Peardon, Philippe Apeloig, Anthony Burrill and some more astounding admissions too.
Collated by Henrik Kubel and Scott Williams, founders of independent typographic studio A2/SW/HK, the book features 500 beautiful full-color graphic examples, together with thought-provoking essays discovering the past and future of type design.
Logo Modernism
An essential reference for any artist, Logo Modernism is an immense volume that inspects some 6,000 trademarks from the 1940s to the ’80s. This logo design book is written by the renowned Jens Muller, this complete collection claims a treasure of information in a clear-cut layout. This is one of the best logo design books there are.
Ending thoughts on graphic design books
When it comes to looking for motivation and education, graphic designers have the abundance of books to choose from. There is a wealth of literature at our fingertips, all waiting to be discovered and appreciated, helping us to progress and improve our graphic design skills.
If you enjoyed reading this article about graphic design books, you should read these as well:
