Design Books
I get a lot of questions about design education material, books and
recommendations via private email. I've been meaning to put together a
reference post on Design by Fire, but constantly find little time to
do it the way that want to. So I figure I'd at least post my book
recommendation to the list and let folks see it and comment on it.
Online material will have to come later.
This list represents what I consider the most useful and inspirational
books on all manner of things Design. (With a few plugs for my own
things as well.) It covers a large gamut, from photography to
illustration to art direction to type to color to fashion to fiction
and back to interface design. There's philosophical books on big "D"
design here alongside with pragmatic books for every day work. I can
guarantee that everything on this list is useful in the design of
technology products in some way. If you grab anything off this list,
you can't go wrong.
There are a few books missing from my shelves these days that are not
pictured. They are appended at the bottom. There are plenty more of
course. Books marked with three asterisks (***) are especially
important in my opinion.
I hope you find these books as useful as I have. And of course, please
feel free to start adding your book recommendations not included to
this thread.
----------
My Bookshelf.
http://www.designbyfire.com/images/my_bookshelf_labels.png
----------
A.
Lightbulb. A simple reminder to always look for innovative, bright
ideas.
B.
Random artifacts for various design inspiration. Old maps,
advertisements, brochures.
C.
Type Selector, by Michael Wörgötter
http://www.amazon.com/Type-Selector-Michael-Worgotter/dp/0500241368
D.
Secret Sense of Japanese Magazine Design
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Sense-Japanese-Magazine-Design/dp/4894445581
Art Director Confesses: I Sold Sex! Drugs & Rock 'N' Roll, by Mike
Salisbury
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Director-Confesses-Sold-Drugs/dp/2880463920
E.
Process: A Tomato Project
http://www.amazon.com/Process-Tomato-Project-Steve-Baker/dp/0500279152
F.
Area 2: 100 Graphic Designers, 10 Curators, 10 Design Classics
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Area-2/Ellen-Lupton/e/9780714848556
G.
Illusive 2" Contemporary Illustration and Its Context
http://www.amazon.com/Illusive-Contemporary-Illustration-Its-Context/dp/3899551915
H.
PRINT Magazine, Desktop Columns by Andrei Michael Herasimchuk
http://www.printmag.com/design_articles/open_range/tabid/384/Default.aspx
http://www.printmag.com/design_articles/click_to_run/tabid/410/Default.aspx
(and more coming over the next year...)
I.
Helvetica, Homage to a Typeface, by Lars Müller
http://www.amazon.com/Helvetica-Homage-Typeface-Lars-Müller/dp/3037780460
Pictoplasma, Characters in Motion
http://www.amazon.com/Pictoplasma-Characters-Motion-Lars-Denicke/dp/3981045823
J.
Designer's Guide to Color
http://www.amazon.com/Designers-Guide-Color-Boxed-Set/dp/081185678X
K.
Thoughts on Interaction Design, by Jon Kolko
http://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Interaction-Design-Jon-Kolko/dp/0978853806
L.
Chip Kidd, Book One
http://www.amazon.com/Chip-Kidd-Book-Work-1986-2006/dp/0847827852
The Cheese Monkeys, by Chip Kidd
http://www.amazon.com/Cheese-Monkeys-Novel-Semesters-P-S/dp/0061452483
M.
The Elements of Friendly Software Design, by Paul Heckel ***
http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Friendly-Software-Design/dp/0782115381
The New Typography, by Jan Tschichold ***
http://www.amazon.com/New-Typography-Weimar-Now-Criticism/dp/0520250125
Interaction of Color, by Josef Albers ***
http://www.amazon.com/Interaction-Color-Josef-Albers/dp/B000MN9JRA
The Laws of Simplicity, by John Maeda ***
http://www.amazon.com/Laws-Simplicity-Design-Technology-Business/dp/0262134721
Discovering Design, by Richard Buchanan and Victor Margolin
http://www.amazon.com/Discovering-Design-Explorations-Studies/dp/0226078159
N.
Paul Rand, Modernist Design, edited by Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo
http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Rand-Modernist-Derek-Birdsall/dp/1890761036
The Elements of Typographic Style, by Robert Bringhurst ***
http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Typographic-Style-Robert-Bringhurst/dp/0881792063
O.
Making the Web Work, by Bob Baxley
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Web-Work-Designing-Applications/dp/0735711968
Designing Visual Interfaces, by Kevin Mullet and Darrell Sano
http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Visual-Interfaces-Communication-Techniques/dp/0133033899
The Essential Guide to User Interface Design, by Wilbert Galitz
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Guide-User-Interface-Design/dp/0470053429
P.
The Idea of Design, by Richard Buchanan and Victor Margolin
http://www.amazon.com/Idea-Design-Victor-Margolin/dp/0262631660
Presentation Zen, by Garr Reynolds
http://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Zen-Simple-Design-Delivery/dp/0321525655
Q.
Chip Kidd, by Véronique Vienne
http://www.amazon.com/Chip-Kidd-Monographics-Veronique-Vienne/dp/0300099525
Designing for People, by Henry Dreyfuss ***
http://www.amazon.com/Designing-People-Henry-Dreyfuss/dp/1581153120
R.
The Sandman, Endless Nights, by Neil Gaiman
http://www.amazon.com/Sandman-Endless-Nights-Neil-Gaiman/dp/140120113X
Alphabets, Wim Crouwel
http://www.amazon.com/Wim-Crouwel-Alphabets-Kees-Broos/dp/9063690371
S.
MTIV: Process, Inspriation and Practice for the New Media Designer, by
Hillman Curtis
http://www.amazon.com/MTIV-Process-Inspiration-Practice-Designer/dp/0735711658
Basic Typography: Design with Letters, by Ruedi Rüegg
http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Typography-Typografische-Grundlagen-Gestaltung/dp/0442239130
T.
Dick Bruna, Boekomslagen, by Bert Jansen
http://www.amazon.com/Bruna-Dick-Boekomslagen-Bert-Jansen/dp/9073285712
U.
Collage with Photoshop, by Russell Sparkman
http://www.amazon.com/Collage-Photoshop-Russell-Sparkman/dp/1564962105
V.
Designed by Peter Saville, by Peter Saville
http://www.amazon.com/Designed-Peter-Saville/dp/1568984227
W.
A Designer's Art, by Paul Rand ***
http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Rand-Designer's-Art/dp/0300082827
Thoughts on Design, by Paul Rand ***
http://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Design-Paul-Rand/dp/B000TB8J94
X.
Word and Image: Posters from the Collection of The Museum of Modern
Art, Edited By Mildred Constantine ***
http://www.amazon.com/Image-Posters-Collection-Museum-Modern/dp/B0018GEL28
Y.
The Graphic Language of Neville Brody, by Jon Wozencroft
http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Language-Neville-Brody/dp/0789306530
Z.
Paul Rand, by Steven Heller
http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Rand-Steven-Heller/dp/0714839949
1.
Profile: Pentagram Design
http://www.amazon.com/Profile-Pentagram-Design-Susan-Yelavich/dp/0714843776
2.
Envisioning Information, by Edward Tufte ***
http://www.amazon.com/Envisioning-Information-Edward-R-Tufte/dp/0961392118
Letterpress, The Allure of the Handmade, by David Jury
http://www.amazon.com/Letterpress-Allure-Handmade-David-Jury/dp/2880467845
Tanaka Ikko, Graphic Master, by Gian Carlo Calza
http://www.amazon.com/Tanaka-Ikko-Gian-Carlo-Calza/dp/0714837164
3.
Milton Glaser, Graphic Design, by Milton Glaser
http://www.amazon.com/Milton-Glaser-Graphic-Design/dp/0879511885
4.
D-Zone, Tztom Toda Editorial Design 1975-1999
http://totodo.jp/SHOP/C3-120.html
5.
Anything from Rosenfeld Media
http://www.rosenfeldmedia.com/publications/
6.
Phred. The original sculpture used in the packaging design for
Specular Collage from 1993, the first product I did the full interface
design and product definition for on my own. Obviously, a sentimental
artifact for me. This sculpture was created by Stephen Mockensturm,
now of Madhouse Design in Toledo, OH. One of the better creative
agencies out there. http://madmadmad.com/
7.
Libretto, by Paolo Roversi
http://www.amazon.com/Libretto-Paolo-Roversi/dp/3882437197
JAM: Tokyo-London
http://www.amazon.com/Jam-Tokyo-London-Abrams/dp/1861542119
kaoshsawrinsespin, Tolleson Design
http://www.amazon.com/Soak-Wash-Rinse-Tolleson-Design/dp/1568981988
8.
Ueslmann, Process and Perception
http://www.amazon.com/Uelsmann-Process-Perception-Jerry/dp/0813008301
Hong Kong Yesterday, by Fang Ho
http://www.modernbook.com/hongkongyesterday.htm
Melvin Sokolsky, Seeing Fashion
http://www.amazon.com/Melvin-Sokolsky-Seeing-Fashion/dp/1892041367
En Passant, by Dennis Manarchy
http://www.amazon.com/En-Passant-Dennis-Manarchy/dp/0966454502
The Apparitions, by RJ Muna
http://www.amazon.com/Apparitions-R-J-Muna/dp/096779370X
Japan, by Michael Kenna
http://www.amazon.com/Japan-Michael-Kenna/dp/1590050681
9.
Golden Gate, by Richard Misrach
http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Misrach-Golden-Gate-Walker/dp/1931788510
California One, The Pacific Coast Highway, by Stephen Wilkes
http://www.amazon.com/California-One-Pacific-Coast-Highway/dp/0914919083
Searchings, by Barbara Bordnick
http://www.amazon.com/Searchings-Barbara-Bordnick/dp/0941807746
Acid Bloom, by Ninagawa Mika
http://www.amazon.com/Acid-Bloom-Mika-Ninagawa/dp/1590050665
Gifts of the Street, by Sam Smidt
http://samsmidt.com/
----------
Not shown in photo:
Designing Interfaces: Patterns for Effective Interaction Design, by
Jennifer Tidwell ***
http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Interfaces-Patterns-Effective-Interaction/dp/0596008031
From Lascaux to Brooklyn, by Paul Rand ***
http://www.amazon.com/Lascaux-Brooklyn-Paul-Rand/dp/0300066767
Grid Systems: Principles of Organizing Type, by Kimberly Elam ***
http://www.amazon.com/Grid-Systems-Principles-Organizing-Design/dp/1568984650
----------
Andrei Herasimchuk
Principal, Involution Studios
innovating the digital world
e. andrei at involutionstudios.com
c. +1 408 306 6422
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Comments
Thanks, Andrei! That's a very comprehensive list!
If you're talking about design inspiration (not just the nuts and
bolts of interaction design), here are a few books I'd add to your
list:
The End of Print, by David Carson
http://www.amazon.com/End-Print-Grafik-Design-Carson/dp/0811830241
Computers as Theatre, by Brenda Laurel
http://www.amazon.com/Computers-as-Theatre-Brenda-Laurel/dp/product-description/0201550601
The Age of Spiritual Machines, by Ray Kurzweil
http://www.amazon.com/Age-Spiritual-Machines-Computers-Intelligence/dp/0140282025
...
{ Itamar Medeiros } Information Designer
designing clear, understandable communication by
caring to structure, context, and presentation
of data and information
mobile ::: 86 13671503252
website ::: http://designative.info/
aim ::: itamarlmedeiros
skype ::: designative
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Posted from the new ixda.org
http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=33808
Nice list,
Here is another good book.
Effective Prototyping for Software Makers (Interactive Technologies)
by Jonathan Arnowitz, Michael Arent, and Nevin Berger
http://www.amazon.com/Effective-Prototyping-Software-Interactive-Technologies/dp/0120885689/<http://www.amazon.com/Effective-Prototyping-Software-Interactive-Technologies/dp/0120885689/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223025385&sr=8-1>
CHAN, FY.
On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 8:30 AM, Itamar Medeiros
<medeiros.itamar at gmail.com>wrote:
> Thanks, Andrei! That's a very comprehensive list!
>
> If you're talking about design inspiration (not just the nuts and
> bolts of interaction design), here are a few books I'd add to your
> list:
>
> The End of Print, by David Carson
> http://www.amazon.com/End-Print-Grafik-Design-Carson/dp/0811830241
>
> Computers as Theatre, by Brenda Laurel
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Computers-as-Theatre-Brenda-Laurel/dp/product-description/0201550601
>
> The Age of Spiritual Machines, by Ray Kurzweil
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Age-Spiritual-Machines-Computers-Intelligence/dp/0140282025
>
> ...
> { Itamar Medeiros } Information Designer
> designing clear, understandable communication by
> caring to structure, context, and presentation
> of data and information
>
> mobile ::: 86 13671503252
> website ::: http://designative.info/
> aim ::: itamarlmedeiros
> skype ::: designative
>
>
> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> Posted from the new ixda.org
> http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=33808
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
> To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
> Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe
> List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines
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>
Hey Andrei, thanks for sharing. Good to see that you are promoting
Dutch Design (Wim Crouwel and Dick Bruna).
My recommandation for everyone designing products is:
Designing for the Social Web, by Joshua Porter
http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Social-Voices-That-Matter/dp/0321534921/
- Yohan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Posted from the new ixda.org
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O, and be sure to get a copy of Analog In, Digital Out: Brendan Dawes
on Interaction, by Brendan Dawes. It's full of inspirational ideas
and concepts.
http://www.amazon.com/Analog-Digital-Out-Brendan-Interaction/dp/0321429168/
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Posted from the new ixda.org
http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=33808
Ah, The Cheese Monkeys. No designer should be without it. Don't buy
the paperback, though. Troll your used book stores for the original
hardcover.
I'd also recommend: A History of Graphic Design, by Phil Meggs
http://www.amazon.com/Meggs-History-Graphic-Design-Philip/dp/0471699020
-- Kim
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Kim Bieler Graphic Design
SOON TO BE --> Apt Media
www.kbgd.com
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
I saw you listed John Maeda's Laws of Simplicity. I can also highly
recommend this book.
Thinking with Type is a good introduction of typography.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Posted from the new ixda.org
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tibor
On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 9:53 AM, Kim Bieler <kimbieler at mindspring.com> wrote:
> Ah, The Cheese Monkeys. No designer should be without it. Don't buy the
> paperback, though. Troll your used book stores for the original hardcover.
>
> I'd also recommend: A History of Graphic Design, by Phil Meggs
> http://www.amazon.com/Meggs-History-Graphic-Design-Philip/dp/0471699020
>
>
> -- Kim
>
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
> Kim Bieler Graphic Design
> SOON TO BE --> Apt Media
> www.kbgd.com
> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
> To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
> Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe
> List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines
> List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
>
One book I think is an amazing guide to visual awareness is "The art
of looking sideways" by Alan Fletcher -
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Looking-Sideways-Alan-Fletcher/dp/0714834491
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Posted from the new ixda.org
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A few books I missed from the list.
Donald A. Norman. "The design of everyday things". It is 20 years
old and still relevant. I re-read it a few months ago, glanced down
at our office phone system and laughed.
http://www.amazon.com/Design-Everyday-Things-Donald-Norman/dp/0385267746
And for distribution to everyone that manages the product
design/development.
Alan Cooper "The inmates are running the asylum"
http://www.amazon.com/Inmates-Are-Running-Asylum/dp/0672316498
andreas
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Posted from the new ixda.org
http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=33808
Thanks, Andrei, for the wonderful list, and to others for the great
additions: ! Here are a few suggestions; IMHO, an in-depth understanding of
color and typography is critical to information design in any medium:
Joseph Albers: The Interaction Of Color
http://www.amazon.com/Interaction-Color-Expanded-Josef-Albers/dp/0300115954/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223233426&sr=1-1
Lesa Sawahata: Color Harmony Workbook
http://www.amazon.com/Color-Harmony-Workbook-Creative-Combinations/dp/1564968375/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223233540&sr=1-2
Erik Spiekermann: Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=stop+stealing+sheep&x=0&y=0
Ellen Lupon: Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers,
Edit & Students
http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Type-Critical-Designers-Students/dp/1568984480/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223232842&sr=1-4
Robert Bringhurst: The Elements Of Typographic Style
http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Typographic-Style-Robert-Bringhurst/dp/0881792063/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b
Robin William: Non-Designer's Design Book:
http://www.amazon.com/Non-Designers-Design-Book-3rd-Designers/dp/0321534042/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223232741&sr=8-1
There's also the non-designers design book. It's a very good introduction
for people who want to know a little about design.
Tim
On Sat, Oct 4, 2008 at 10:46 PM, Rahul Saini <saini.rahul at gmail.com> wrote:
> One book I think is an amazing guide to visual awareness is "The art
> of looking sideways" by Alan Fletcher -
> http://www.amazon.com/Art-Looking-Sideways-Alan-Fletcher/dp/0714834491
>
>
> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> Posted from the new ixda.org
> http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=33808
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
> To post to this list ....... discuss at ixda.org
> Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe
> List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines
> List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
>
--
Kei te kōrero tiki au. Kei te kōrero tiki koe. Ka kōrero tiki tāua. Kōrero
ai tiki tāua.
I was just handed this book today by one of our interns here. It is
quite frankly, a great book and I'm adding it to the list.
Design Sketching, Umea Institute of Design, by Erik Olofsson and Klara
Sjolen
http://designsketching.com/
--
Andrei Herasimchuk
Principal, Involution Studios
innovating the digital world
e. andrei at involutionstudios.com
c. +1 408 306 6422