Serj asked me in a mail if I could list some books about graphic design theory. The amount of books on the market is astounding these days and I understand that surfing through the internet, with its wast resources, tutorials and inspirational site, its good to have the foundation to build on. Most of the theoretical stuff is normally taught in design schools and most of the books I will recommend are used in this context.
The list
Many are not fancy or new, but the principles of graphic design still apply (just think about the bible printed by Gutenberg, is still considered one of the best justified text layout on the world). So lets get to the list – just a last word, I only recommend books I own or have read, so this list its genuine.
Price: $74.21
(19 customer reviews)
33 used & new available from $63.98
Looking Closer: Critical Writings on Graphic Design
Price: $20.01
(2 customer reviews)
50 used & new available from $9.36
Looking Closer 2: Critical Writings on Graphic Design (Bk. 2)
Price: $29.95
(2 customer reviews)
50 used & new available from $0.11
Looking Closer 3: Classic Writings on Graphic Design (Bk. 3)
Price: $25.59
(4 customer reviews)
33 used & new available from $16.96
Looking Closer 4: Critical Writings on Graphic Design (Bk. 4)
Price: $16.02
(2 customer reviews)
36 used & new available from $5.36
Looking Closer 5: Critical Writings on Graphic Design (Bk. 5)
Price: $12.88
(1 customer reviews)
74 used & new available from $3.61
About Face: Reviving the Rules of Typography
Price: $44.99
(2 customer reviews)
19 used & new available from $44.99
Layout Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Using Grids
Price: $22.50
(8 customer reviews)
65 used & new available from $14.20
Things I have learned in my life so far
Price: $30.40
(47 customer reviews)
78 used & new available from $19.19
Creative Advertising, New Edition
Price: $24.90
(11 customer reviews)
66 used & new available from $23.99
Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design
Price: $23.10
(13 customer reviews)
58 used & new available from $13.51
Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop
Price: $16.16
(42 customer reviews)
84 used & new available from $11.92
Ruedi Baur…, Integral…, and Partners.
Price: $65.00
( customer reviews)
12 used & new available from $30.00
Des-/Orientierung, Dis-/Orientation, Dés-/Orientation 1 (German, English and French Edition)
Price: $44.95
( customer reviews)
24 used & new available from $6.00
Thanks for posting this list! I’m always looking for new books to learn, read, or get inspired from. Awesome to see that you have the book from Stefan Sagmeister! One of my favorite designers.
Thanks again! I may even compile a list of my own now! Great stuff!
Sagmeister is pretty cool – I’ve met him once, as he had a firm with one of my earlier bosses and he really lives graphic design. Ruedi Baur on the other hand is in my opinion even better – really far out especially when you think that he does corporate design, which many think is boring and simple.
[...] I read a great article that over on a cool design blog from a UK Art Director which was a quick 16 item list about some of his recommended reads for designers. [...]