10 books that have influenced my design practice
In preparation for my move to my new garden studio (more about this in a later blog post) I’ve been having a clear out of the studio, more specifically, my piles of design books.
During this cull I created a list of the books I routinely go back to for inspiration, advice and guidance. By sharing this list I’m hoping it might encourage others to either thin out their bulging bookcases to just the books you need and use or just to refocus you on the things in your studio space which provides real value to you.
The 10 books that have the most influence on my design practice each day are…
Typography Sketchbooks
Looking inside other graphic designers sketchbooks has helped me become less precious about my own sketches and ideas and has taught me to get my ideas out, no matter how poor my initial drawings are - it’s all a process.
Rubber Stamping
I love stepping away from the computer and getting messy with paint and ink. It’s all too easy to get fixated on pixel perfect design. This book reminds me to get my hands dirty every now and then.
Sign Painters
This book ignited a passion in me to pursue a creative craft away from a screen - learning the artistry and craftsmanship of sign painting is going to be a lifelong hobby for me.
Cut That Out
Cutting collected material up and rearranging it into something new and unexpected is a real joy for me. This book opened my eyes to the potential collage offers and is definitely a medium I’m looking to experiment more with.
Pretty Much Everything
From getting excited about logos found in charity shops to showing his logo iterations, this book has given me so much inspiration and insight into Draplin’s workflow, I constantly return to it.
Brand By Hand
Jon Contino’s analogue way of working really resonates with me. This book not only show’s great examples of his work but also touches on his process and the tools he uses.
The Icarus Deception
Manifesto on the pursuit of creativity. When I feel lost or uninspired, reading a few chapters of this book usually sets me on the right path again.
Steal Like An Artist
This book is perfect to dive in and out of and has so many quick fixes to get your creative juices flowing again. I’ve gifted this book to a lot of friends and fellow designers.
Let My People Go Surfing
Part business guide, part life advice. The lessons from these pages have been used in every area of my life, not just my business.
Branding - In 5 And a Half Steps
This book does a great job of breaking down the process of branding and has helped me shape my own brand identity process I work through with my clients.
