Design Reading

Let’s face it: while much information can be attained through YouTube tutorials when seeking an education, especially when learning to use tools and techniques, the platform could offer exponentially more to information-hungry audiences in return for their screen time, especially surrounding theory and real-world application. Furthermore, falling into the rabbit hole of gear reviews or other non-related, time-wasting content is all too easy. The algorithm is designed for easy dopamine fixes from instant gratification and not by encouraging growth through long-term study.

I’m not saying I don’t turn to YouTube for information. However, it is essential to balance one’s information diet with other sources of learning. And in my experience, nothing imparts knowledge and wisdom quite like a well-researched, written, and beautifully designed book.

Below is an ongoing list of study books on graphic design and its closely related subdisciplines. It was started for my personal records; however, if you find it useful, please feel free to bookmark this page for future reference.

Research & Development

• Audrey Bennet, Design Studies: Theory and Research in Graphic Design, Princeton Architectural Press, 2006
• Russell Bestley and Paul Mcneil, Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methods in Graphic Design, Bloomsbury, 2022
• David Crow, Visible Signs: an Introduction to Semiotics in the Visual Arts, Bloomsbury, 2022
• Daniel Chandler, Semiotics: The Basics, Routledge, 2022
• Meredith Davis, Graphic Design Theory, Thames & Huson, 2012
• Steven Heller and Lita Talarico, Graphic: Inside the Sketchbooks of the Worlds Great Graphic Designers, Thames & Hudson, 2010
• Ellen Lupton, Graphic Design Thinking: Beyond Brainstorming, Princeton Architectural Press, 2011
• Norman Potter, What is a Designer? Things Places Messages, Hyphen Press, 2002
• Ruben Pater, The Politics of Design: A (Not So) Global Design Manual for Visual Communication, BIS Publishers, 2016
• Lucienne Roberts and Rebecca Wright, Design Diaries: Creative Process in Graphic Design, Laurence King Publishing, 2010
• Jenn and Ken Visoky O’Grady, A Designers Research Manual, Rockport Publishers, 2017

Composition

• Jess Baines, Susan Mackie, Anne Robinson, Prue Stevenson, See Red Womens Workshop: Feminist Posters 1974-1990, Four Corners, 2016
• Jan-Frederik Bandel, Annette Gilbert, Tania Prill, Under the Radar: Underground Zines and Self-Publications 1965-1975, Spensor Books, 2016
• Amaranth Boursuk, The Book, The MIT Press, 2018
• Alessandro Ludovico, Post-Digital Print: The Mutation of Publishing Since 1894, Onomatopee Projects, 2013
• Jens Müller and Julis Wiedermann, The History of Graphic Design Vol. 1. 1890-1959, Taschen, 2022
• Jens Müller and Julius Wiedemann, The History of Graphic Design Vol. 2. 1960-Today, Taschen 2022
• Josef Müller-Brockmann, Grid Systems in Graphic Design: A Handbook for Graphic Artists, Typographers, and Exhibition Designers, Verlag Niggli, 2008
• John Phillips, Posters from Paddington Printshop, Four Corners, 2019
• Timothy Samara, Making and Breaking the Gria, Rockport Publishers, 2017
• David Reinfurt, A *New* Program for Graphic Design, Inventory Press, 2019
• Beth Tondreau, Layout Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Using Grids, Rockport Publishers 2011

Typography

• Stephen Coles, The Geometry of Type: The Anatomy of 100 Essential Typefaces, Thames & Hudson, 2016
• Steven Heller and Lita Talrico, Typography Sketchbooks, Thames & Hudson, 2012
• Jost Hochuli, Detail in Typography, Hyphen Press, 2015
• Sarah Hyndman, Why Fonts Matter, Virgin Books, 2016
• Robin Kinross, Modern Typography: An Essay in Critical History, Editions B42, 2019
• Robin Kinross, Unjustified Texts: Perspectives on Typography, Editions B42, 2019
• Ellen Lupton, Thinking with Type, Princeton Architectural Press, 2010
• Ellen Lupton, Farah Kafei, Jennifer Tobias, Josh A. Halstead, Kaleena Sales, Leslie Xia and Valentina Vergara, Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, anti-racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designers, Princeton Architectural Press, 2021
• Lindsey Marshall and Lester Meachem, How to Use Type, Laurence King Publishing, 2013
• Yulia Popova, How Many Female Designers Do You Know? Onomatopee Projects, 2020

Colour

• Sean Adams, Noreen Morioka, and Terry Stone, Colour Design Workbook: Real World Guide to Using Colour in Graphic Design, Rockport Publishers, 2017
• Joseph Albers and Nicholas Fox Weber, Interaction of Colour, Yale University Press, 2013
• Aron James Draplin, Draplin Design Co. Pretty Much Everything, Abrams Book, 2016
• Regina Lee Blaszczyk, The Colour Revoloution, The MIT Press, 2012
• Alexandra Loske, Colour: A Visual History, Ilex Press in Association with the Tate, 2019
• Richard Mehl, Playing with colour: 50 Graphic Experiments for Exploring Colour Design Principles, Rockport Publishers, 2013
• Ruben Pater, The Politic of Design: A (Not So) Global Design Manual for Visual Communication, BIS Publishers, 2016
• Kassia St Clair, The Secret Lives of Colour, John Murray, 2018
• Chris van Uffelen, Designing Orientation: Signage Concepts & Wayfinding Systems, Braun, 2020
• Victionary, You Are Here: A New Approach to Signage and Wayfinding, Victionary, 2013
• Victionary, You are Here 2: A New Approach to Signage and Wayfinding, Victionary, 2022
• Banker Wessel and Richard Baird, Process – Visual Journeys in Graphic Design, Counter-Print, 2022

Tools & Technology

• Kelly Anton and Tina DeJarld, Adobe Indesign Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press, 2022
• Molly Bang, Picture This: How Pictures Work, Chronicle Books, 2016
• Conrad Chavez and Andrew Faulkner, Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press, 2022
• Russel Chun, Adobe Animate CC Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press, 2022
• Jon Dowling, Big Type: Graphic Design and Identities with Typographic Emphasis, Counter-Print, 2022
• Nigel French, InDesign Type: Professional Typography with Adobe In Design, Adobe Press, 2018
• Lisa Fridsma and Drie Gyncild, Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press 2022
• Val head, Designing Interface Animation: Meaningful Motion for User Experience: Improving the User Experience Through Animation, Rosenfield Media, 2016
• Robert Kalnten, Hendrik Hellige and J. Gallagher, Cutting edges: Contemporary Collage, Die Gestalten Verlag, 2011
• Austin Shaw, Design for Motion: Fundamentals and Techniques of Motion Design, Routledge, 2019
• Brian Wood, Adobe Illustrator Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press, 2022

Print Production & Presentations

• Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris, Basics Design: Print and Finish, AVA, 2017
• Maryam Fanni, Matilda Flodmark and Sara Kaaman, The Natural Enemies of Books: A Messy History of Women in Printing and Typography, Occasional Papers, 2019
• Simon Goode and Ira Yonemura, Making Books: A Guide To Creating Hand-Crafted Books, Pavilion Books, 2017
• John Z. Komurki, Luca Bendandi and Luca Bogoni, Risomania: the New Spirit of Printing, Verlag Niggli, 2017
• Hedi Kyle and Ulla Warchol, The Art of the Fold: How to Make Innovative Boks and Paper Structures, Luarence Kinf Publishing, 2018
• Peter Lundberg, Robert Ryberg and Kaj Johansson, A Guide To Graphic Production, Wiley, 2011
• Print Club London, Screen Printing: The Ultimate Studio Guide from Sketchbook to Squeegee, Thames & Hudson, 2017
• Frances Stanfield and Lucy McGeown, The Printmaking Ideas Book, Ilex Press, 2019

Web Design

• Jim Maivald, Adobe Dreamweaver CC Classroom in a Book, Adobe Press, 2018
• Jeanine Meyer, Programming 101: Learn to Code with the Processing Language Using a Visual Approach, Apress, 2022
• Muazu Muhammad, Website Design With HTML And CSS, Wiley, 2011
• Charles Petsold, Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software, Microsoft Press, 2022
• Megan Sapnar Ankerson, Dot-com Design: The Rise of a Usable, Social, Commercial Web, NYU Press, 2018