Great Books on Graphic Design

cover of the book Meggs' history of graphic design by Meggs and Purvis

Cover of the book: Graphic styles by Steven Heller and Seymour Chwast

Book cover: Universal Principles of Design by Lidwell, Holden and Butler

Book: Language of Vision by Gyorgy Kepes

Lots of information, a comprehensive design history.

A concise survey of styles starting with the Victorian era. Lighter than Meggs, more visual, brief text.

Cross-disciplinary and engaging, not just for designers. Additionally, the content is categorized to offer answers to 5 design questions. For example: How can I influence the way a design is perceived?

First published in 1944, the manuscript served as an educational textbook. Kepes worked at Bauhaus Dessau, Neu Bauhaus Chicago, and Brooklyn College, teaching graphic artists such as Saul Bass!

Book: Experiences in Visual Thinking by Robert McKim

Lots of logos. It's inspiring and great to check what's already been done (especially with simple shapes).

McKim–mechanical engineer and the father of the visual thinking approach–set the basis of today's Stanford design program. The book contains his theory and exercises. I hope the book will get back in print.

A comprehensive history of Bauhaus, easy to follow, with plenty of images.

Other aspects of Bauhaus–the Meisterhäuser, the role of light in its architecture, the people (biographies), the community, how they ate…

Book: Herb Lubalin–art director, graphic designer and typographer by Snyder and Peckolick

Book: Saul Bass– A life in Film and Design by Jennifer Bass and Pat Kirkham

It's remarkable how perfect Lubalin's work looks. All of it. His drafts were clean and precise, sketched fast on paper pads and tissues. Read about his professionalism, quirkiness, personality, and incredible skills, and look at his iconic multidisciplinary work.

Book: Factory Records, the complete graphic album by Matthew Robertson

Book the photo designs of Hipgnosis-The Goodby look

The art of Rock book–A spectacular visual and oral history

A photography book, "The Photo Designs of Hipgnosis," reveals the concept of every shot. It's very creative and witty.

A comprehensive history of rock culture from Presley to Punk

Rock Posters of Jim Phillis: A visual memoir of his rock posters and life as an artist.

The graphic language of Neville Brody Book

Martin Venezky–It is beautiful and then is gone book

The design of dissent–by Milton Glaser and Mirko Ilic

The end of print: The graphic design of David Carson Book

Two dimensional man, a memoir by Paul Sahre

Fresh Dialogue one:new voices in Graphic Design–Blechman, Niemann and Sahre

Forecast graphic novel (collective)–Nozone X

Life and work–the journey of Paul Sahre. Easy to read, funny, and insightful.

Talking design: Nicholas Blechman, Christoph Niemann and Paul Sahre, 1999

Novel graphic with political satire from New York's perspective during the Bush administration. Collective artwork by artists, cartoonists, illustrators, and designers (such as Stefan Sagmeister and Michael Bierut, Christoph Niemann & Paul Sahre, among many others).

A funny and disturbing imaginary future. Edited by Nicholas Blechman in collaboration with (if properly counted) over 50 designers, artists and illustrators.

Extra bold– a feminist, inclusive, anti racist, non binary, field guide for graphic designers (collective)

Flexible Visual systems by Martin Lorenz

Visual book–patterns and systems for visual identities.

Paula Scher: Twenty-Five Years at the Public, A Love Story