Gutenberg
10 Books Every Designer Should Read
As ardent admirers of the written word and avid readers, our love for books at Gutenberg knows no bounds. The sheer joy of immersing ourselves in the pages of a well-crafted story, the thrill of exploring new worlds and the enlightenment that comes from gaining knowledge through literature is unparalleled. It is a passion that fuels our souls and enriches our lives in immeasurable ways.
Moreover, we understand that books are not just meant to be confined to the shelves of our personal libraries. They are meant to be shared, to be passed on and to be cherished by others. By spreading the joy of reading, we aim to foster a culture of literary appreciation and cultivate a community of fellow book enthusiasts who can revel in the magic of books together.
We are thrilled to present to you a carefully curated list of 10 books that have captured our hearts and left a lasting impression on us. As passionate book enthusiasts, we cannot contain our excitement in sharing these literary gems with you, as we believe they are treasures worth experiencing.
The Vignelli Canon
In this insightful book, renowned Italian designer Massimo Vignelli shares his profound understanding of good design, covering product design, pathfinding, graphic design and industrial design. Through vivid illustrations and practical applications, Vignelli offers a comprehensive and visually captivating manual for young designers, emphasising clarity, functionality and aesthetic sensibility. This book serves as an invaluable resource for aspiring designers seeking to elevate their craft and create enduring and impactful designs, showcasing Vignelli's unwavering passion for design and his commitment to excellence.
Lella and Massimo Vignelli: Two Lives, One Vision
In "Lella and Massimo Vignelli: Two Lives, One Vision", Lella and Massimo promote a modernist philosophy of designing for a better society, emphasising space and materials, communication, quality and functionality. Through archival research and interviews, the book delves into the Vignellis' influential careers, documenting their minimalist and structured design approach, unwavering attention to detail and vibrant client relationships. Lella's and Massimo's lifetime commitment to design continues to inspire generations of designers worldwide.
My Life in Design
Terence Conran's "My Life in Design" is a captivating book that tells the story of the Conran brand, from the founding of the Conran Design Studio to the creation of the Design Museum. With extensively illustrated chapters, Conran discusses the lasting impact of his work on areas such as affordable homeware with Habitat, innovative restaurants and regenerating abandoned buildings. Conran shares his transformative journey in British design in his own words. The book is a visually stimulating and insightful read for designers, students and fans of Conran's work.
How to…
Michael Bierut, a protégé of design legend Massimo Vignelli and a partner at Pentagram, shares his diverse and eclectic career in graphic design in his book "How to...". Through historic images, preliminary drawings, working models and finished work, Bierut showcases the breadth of graphic design today, demonstrating his enthusiastic and varied approach to the field. With insights into the creative process, client relationships and the challenges of bringing innovative ideas to life, Bierut's entertaining voice and vast experience shine through. The revised and expanded edition includes new projects for major clients, making it a comprehensive and inspiring resource for graphic designers. Illustrated with 833 colour images, this book is a must-have for anyone seeking design ideas and inspiration.
Becoming a Graphic and Digital Designer
This book is a comprehensive guide that helps aspiring designers prepare for successful careers in the dynamic field of graphic design. With a focus on portfolio requirements, job opportunities and design inspiration, this book offers insights from leading designers and highlights the diverse career options available in print, interactive and motion design. It emphasises the evolving nature of design and provides practical advice on thinking like a designer, approaching projects systematically and compiling a winning portfolio. This book serves as a roadmap for those seeking to enter the design industry and showcases the richness and diversity of the field.
Grid Systems in Graphic Design
Josef Müller-Brockmann, an architect, designer and art historian from Zurich, is renowned for his minimalist and clean approach to graphic design, which continues to inspire designers globally. He is credited with popularising the use of grid systems in design since the 1950s, which have become a standard in the field. This volume serves as a comprehensive guide, providing guidelines and rules for using grid systems with 8 to 32 grid fields, including three-dimensional grids. It offers precise directions and examples for utilising these grid systems effectively, both conceptually and practically. In essence, this book is a professional guidebook by a seasoned designer for fellow designers, offering insights and techniques for utilising grid systems in various design projects.
Laws of UX
This practical guide highlights the importance of understanding psychology in UX design. It explores how key principles in psychology can be applied to create intuitive and human-centred digital interfaces. Topics covered include aesthetics, psychology principles, UX heuristics, predictive models, ethical considerations and a framework for application. This guide is a valuable resource for designers looking to enhance their understanding of how psychology impacts user behaviour and improve their design approach accordingly.
Don’t Make Me Think
Web usability expert Steve Krug's renowned guide has been relied upon by countless web designers and developers to understand the principles of intuitive navigation and information design. With its witty, commonsensical and highly practical approach, it has become one of the most beloved and recommended books on the subject. This updated edition includes fresh perspectives, examples and a new chapter on mobile usability. It remains short, profusely illustrated and most importantly, fun to read. Whether you're a returning reader or new to the book, you'll discover why "Don't Make Me Think" is considered essential for anyone involved in website design and development.
Sprint
The sprint is a five-day process developed by Google Ventures to help businesses answer important questions and achieve optimal results quickly. It combines business strategy, innovation, behaviour science and design thinking into a battle-tested process that any team can use. It was created by Jake Knapp and has been successfully applied to startups in various industries. The sprint enables teams to solve problems efficiently, avoid groupthink and leverage existing knowledge and tools. It is applicable to companies or groups of all sizes and is ideal for anyone with a significant opportunity, problem, or idea that requires prompt action.
The Design of Business
This book by Roger Martin challenges the common approach to innovation in companies, highlighting the limitations of analytical thinking and advocating for design thinking. Martin argues that design thinking, which progresses from mystery to heuristic to algorithm to code, is essential for generating breakthrough innovations and competitive advantage. Drawing on examples from successful companies, the book offers insights and perspectives on how to overcome the innovation gap and achieve profitable innovation.