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Best Graphic Design Books: Details Every Designer Should Read
Table of Contents
In today’s world, it’s never enough to complete your studies and then never pick up another book. Everything around us is changing so quickly, and we know that we need to keep up if we want to find and experience continued success.
Some industries require this more than others, but, at most, it just makes sense to stay up-to-date and inspired by the continued growth of the industry.
Graphic design is one industry where the tools, techniques, and principles used by working companies and designers are constantly evolving. At the intersection of art, marketing, and communication, graphic design has a complicated role to play.
The tools used by graphic designers, in particular, are being continuously changed by the growth of technology in parallel industries such as software, hardware, and marketing. If we don’t take the time to catch up, we’ll fall behind before we even realize it.
When I sat down to consider what topics the best books on graphic design might cover, I realized just how long that list is:
- Brand identity
- Logos
- Elements of design
- Typography
- Current trends in graphic design
- New technology guides
- Design studios
- Seeing art in graphic design
- Design history
- Design theory
- Inspiration catalogs
Plus, several books about how to manage both a career and a life while working in such a busy and fast-paced industry are available.
With so many books to choose from, it can feel like an impossible task to ever catch up. How can continued success in such a rapidly changing industry be found if all of these books cannot be read?
As great as it would be to read all of the graphic design books, that’s not what’s needed, nor is it practical to try to read every book. Instead, focusing on the best graphic design books will bring success.
Best Graphic Design Books
![Grid Systems in Graphic Design: A Visual Communication Manual for Graphic Designers, Typographers and Three Dimensional Designers](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Grid-Systems-in-Graphic-Design-A-Visual-Communication-Manual-for-Graphic-Designers-Typographers-and-Three-Dimensional-Designers-Josef-Muller-Brockmann.jpg)
Grid Systems in Graphic Design: A Visual Communication Manual for Graphic Designers, Typographers and Three Dimensional Designers
Question: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path?
Answer:
- “Just My Type” by Simon Garfield
- “Thinking with Type” by Ellen Lupton
- “Don't Make Me Think” by Steve Krug
- “Geometry of Design” by Kimberly Elam
- “Grid Systems in Graphic Design” by Josef Müller-Brockmann
- “ReWork” by Jason Fried
These titles should be a good start, I think.
![Introducing Culture Identities: Design for Museums, Theaters and Cultural Institutions](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Introducing-Culture-Identities-Design-for-Museums-Theaters-and-Cultural-Institutions-by-Robert-Klanten.jpg)
Introducing Culture Identities: Design for Museums, Theaters and Cultural Institutions
![Poster Graphics](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Poster-Graphics-by-Yusuke-Shouno.jpg)
Poster Graphics
![Geometry of Design](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Geometry-of-Design-Kimberly-Elam.jpg)
Geometry of Design
Question: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path?
Answer:
- “Just My Type” by Simon Garfield
- “Thinking with Type” by Ellen Lupton
- “Don't Make Me Think” by Steve Krug
- “Geometry of Design” by Kimberly Elam
- “Grid Systems in Graphic Design” by Josef Müller-Brockmann
- “ReWork” by Jason Fried
These titles should be a good start, I think.
![Just My Type: A Book About Fonts](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Just-My-Type-A-Book-About-Fonts-Simon-Garfield.jpg)
Just My Type: A Book About Fonts
Question: What books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path?
Answer:
- “Just My Type” by Simon Garfield
- “Thinking with Type” by Ellen Lupton
- “Don't Make Me Think” by Steve Krug
- “Geometry of Design” by Kimberly Elam
- “Grid Systems in Graphic Design” by Josef Müller-Brockmann
- “ReWork” by Jason Fried
These titles should be a good start, I think.
![Brandjam: Humanizing Brands Through Emotional Design](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Brandjam-Humanizing-Brands-through-Emotional-Design-by-Marc-Gobe.jpg)
Brandjam: Humanizing Brands Through Emotional Design
![The Laws of Simplicity](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-The-Laws-of-Simplicity-by-John-Maeda.jpg)
The Laws of Simplicity
![How to Start and Run a Commercial Art Gallery](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-How-to-Start-and-Run-a-Commercial-Art-Gallery-Edward-Winkleman.jpg)
How to Start and Run a Commercial Art Gallery
![Building a Big Small Business Brand: How to Turn Your Brand into Your Most Valuable Asset](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Building-a-Big-Small-Business-Brand-How-to-Turn-Your-Brand-into-Your-Most-Valuable-Asset-Dan-Antonelli.jpg)
Building a Big Small Business Brand: How to Turn Your Brand into Your Most Valuable Asset
![Envisioning Information](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Envisioning-Information-Edward-R.-Tufte.jpg)
Envisioning Information
![Chip Kidd: Book One: Work: 1986-2006](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Chip-Kidd-Book-One-Work-by-Chip-Kidd.jpg)
Chip Kidd: Book One: Work: 1986-2006
- Tibor, Tibor Kalman
- Chip Kidd Book One, Chip Kidd
- Once Upon a Time, Slim Aarons
- Our True Intent is for Your Delight, Martin Parr
![Arbitrary Stupid Goal](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Arbitrary-Stupid-Goal-Tamara-Shopsin.jpg)
Arbitrary Stupid Goal
![The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-The-Elements-of-User-Experience-User-Centered-Design-for-the-Web-Jesse-James-Garrett.jpg)
The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web
![Graphic Guide to Frame Construction](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Graphic-Guide-to-Frame-Construction-Rob-Thallon.jpg)
Graphic Guide to Frame Construction
![Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Real-Artists-Dont-Starve-Timeless-Strategies-for-Thriving-in-the-New-Creative-Age-Jeff-Goins.jpg)
Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age
![Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Linchpin-Are-You-Indispensable-Seth-Godin.jpg)
Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
![Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Zen-and-the-Art-of-Making-a-Living-A-Practical-Guide-to-Creative-Career-Design-by-Laurence-G.-Boldt.jpg)
Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design
Question: What books had the biggest impact on you? Perhaps changed the way you see things or dramatically changed your career path.
Answer:
- “Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide to Creative Career Design” By Laurence Boldt
- “Horse Sense: The Key to Success Is Finding a Horse to Ride” by Al Ries and Jack Trout
- “What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School” by Mark McCormack
![Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative](https://theceolibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/tcl-Steal-Like-an-Artist-Things-Nobody-Told-You-About-Being-Creative-Austin-Kleon.jpg)