Graphic design is a field that requires constant learning and growth. The graphic designer’s job is to create beautiful, effective visuals in an increasingly complex and competitive marketplace.

That means that there is always something new to learn and master, whether it’s the latest design trends or software skills.

Being a graphic designer is not just about putting messages on paper or colorful banners on a website. In fact, there is so much more to the profession that most people don’t realize. This is because as with everything else, graphic design has its own language, tools, and methods of working.

As an aspiring graphic designer or someone intrigued by the field, it serves to your advantage to know where you are going and how you will get there. You’ll learn about graphic design in the following 15 books graphic designers must read once in life:

15 Graphic Design Books

1. Thinking with Type

by Ellen Lupton

As a graphic designer, you need to know how to read type. It’s like reading a language. You need to be able to decipher the fonts and understand their characteristics. More importantly, you have to know how these fonts are used together in order for the message conveyed by your designs and layouts to be received correctly by your audience.

Reading type is like reading a map: Just like maps show us where we are, typographic maps show us how design elements are related—and they show us in what order they appear on the page or screen.* This is why it’s important for designers to study basic principles of visual hierarchy as this will allow them to understand how different types should relate with each other when designing in any medium (web, print, etc.).

Reading type is also similar to reading music: If you want people who hear music but don’t play it themselves can read notes on sheet music easily enough; but try asking someone who has never played an instrument before—or even seen one being played—to interpret those same symbols; then see if they have any idea what those sounds actually sound like.

It’s much easier said than done! However, as Ellen Lupton points out there’s no reason why we shouldn’t expect that kind of understanding from every designer regardless of their level of skill or experience with typography itself. After all “the goal isn’t really about learning how type looks better than anyone else.

2. Grid Systems in Graphic Design

by Josef Muller-Brockmann

Grid systems are one of the most important and powerful tools in graphic design. They were invented to organize information, but they can also be used to organize images, text, and other elements. Grid systems create a consistent look and feel for a brand, but they can also be used as a way to add variety by changing the size or position of elements on a page.

Grid systems are one of the most important tools in a designer’s toolkit. They create a consistent look and feel for a brand, but they can also be used as a way to add variety by changing the size or position of elements on a page.

Josef Muller-Brockmann’s book Grid Systems in Graphic Design is still considered one of the best guides to creating grids that work well together.

3. Just My Type: A Book about Fonts

by Simon Garfield

A Book about Fonts by Simon Garfield, published in 2004 by Gotham Books.

This is a book for people who love fonts. It’s about the history of typefaces and how they’re used today. It also talks about the people behind them and some interesting facts about typefaces that are still relevant today.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part discusses the history of typefaces, while the second part talks about how they’re used today. Finally, the last part focuses on a few specific typefaces and their designers.

4. Information Graphics

by Sandra Rendgen and Julius Wiedemann

This book is a classic, and it’s a must-read for all graphic designers. It’s also a great reference book to learn more about the history of information graphics, as well as how they work.

This book will help you understand how infographics work, what makes them effective or ineffective, and even how to create your own! You’ll learn about choosing data points, ways to arrange them in an infographic layout, designing with color theory (or not), playing with different types of fonts, and much more important stuff like that.

This book is a great reference for designers who want to learn more about the history of information graphics, as well as how they work. It’s also a must-read for all graphic designers!

5. Meggs’ History of Graphic Design

by Philip B. Meggs and Alston W. Purvis

Meggs’ History of Graphic Design is a comprehensive history of graphic design, from its origins to the present day.

It covers all major designers and movements in the field, providing a fascinating insight into the development of this visual language that we use every day.

The book is divided into six sections: The Ancient World / Renaissance through Baroque / Victorian Era / Modernism / Postmodernism, and Contemporary World. Each section contains several chapters on different aspects of graphic design during that period, such as typography or illustration.

The book is easy to read and can be enjoyed by graphic designers and non-designers alike. It’s also an excellent resource for students studying the subject.

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6. How to Become a Graphic Designer without losing your soul

by Adrian Shaughnessy

This book is a must-read for graphic designers. It will help you to understand the importance of self-promotion, networking, learning business and technology, and a lot more.

The author explains in simple language how to become a successful graphic designer without losing your soul.

The book is easy to read and can be enjoyed by graphic designers and non-designers alike. It’s also an excellent resource for students studying the subject.

I have read this book many times and each time I discover something new about myself or about my profession that I didn’t know before reading it.

7. Graphic Design: A User’s Manual

by Adrian Shaughnessy

Graphic Design: A User’s Manual by Adrian Shaughnessy is a good book to learn the basics of graphic design. It introduces the reader to the history of graphic design, the principles of graphic design, and how to use software and tools.

The book is also helpful for those who are looking for jobs in this field because it explains how to create a good portfolio and helps you develop your skills.

The book is written in a fun and engaging style, which makes it easy to read. It covers many topics related to graphic design, such as typography, color theory, and layout.

8. Logo Design Workbook

by Sean Adams and Noreen Morioka

This book is a practical guide that will help you understand what makes a good logo. It’s written by Sean Adams and Noreen Morioka, two of the world’s most respected logo designers, who share their expert knowledge on every aspect of the design process.

This book will teach you how to create your own logos while providing inspiration from some of their best work.

It covers topics including the meaning of a logo, how to create a memorable one, and how to use color effectively. It also includes a number of case studies that show how other designers have worked on their own logos using the principles outlined in this book.

The Logo Design Workbook is an excellent resource for any aspiring designer who wants to create professional-looking logos without spending thousands of dollars on design software or hiring an expensive agency.

9. The Visual Dictionary of Typography

by Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris

This book is a visual dictionary of typography, filled with more than 1,000 photographs, drawings, and diagrams from around the world. The authors are Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris. It was published by Laurence King Publishing in 2008.

The book is a guide to the world of typography, covering everything from the history of letters and letterforms to how type is made. It features more than 1,000 photographs, drawings, and diagrams from around the world.

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10. Show Your Work! 

by Austin Kleon

This is a book that every designer needs to read at least once in their career. In the age of social media, it’s extremely important to share your work with others; and this book provides you with an array of ways to do just that. You’ll learn how sharing your process can help others grow as designers and how sharing what you know can lead others to become better designers as well.

It’s also essential reading for anyone who wants to learn more about graphic design specifically or even just art in general. The world has changed so much since Austin Kleon wrote Show Your Work!, but many of his ideas still apply today—and will continue applying well into the future!

11. The Shape of Content

by Ben Shahn

If you’re an aspiring graphic designer, this book is a must-read. It will teach you how to find your creative voice and develop it further. The book also helps artists understand their own style better and offers them ideas on how they can improve their work by changing their approach to design.

The Shape of Content explores the nature of the content, how it’s shaped and by whom, as well as its role in shaping society today. It covers many topics related to art such as storytelling, symbolism, and meaning-making; all from a unique perspective that offers real value for anyone interested in creating meaningful experiences through their work!

12. Graphic Design Rules

by Peter Dawson, John Foster, and Sean Adams

Graphic Design Rules is an excellent resource for graphic designers new and old. The book is organized into four sections:

• The principles of good design
• How to create good designs
• Creating effective designs through the use of rules, systems, and conventions (Chapter 3)
• Designing with meaning in mind (Chapter 4)

The book explains how to apply the rules in your own work by showing you how they are used by other designers and what their goals were when applying them to their projects. This makes it easier to understand why certain techniques are used in design today, as well as how you can use them yourself.

13. Graphic Design: A History (third edition)

by Stephen K Eskilson

This book is a comprehensive history of graphic design, with over 500 illustrations. It’s written by Stephen K. Eskilson, who has been teaching graphic design at the University of Minnesota since 1965.

Eskilson describes his book as follows: “The history of graphic design is replete with evidence that good design facilitates learning, improves productivity, and sells products more effectively than poor design.”

The book is organized into six chapters and an epilogue. The first chapter covers the origins of graphic design as a profession and its early practitioners, including William Morris, who designed decorative arts; Beatrice Warde, who wrote about design theory; and Alvin Lustig, who created posters promoting modernism in the 1920s.

14. Powered by Design

by Renée Stevens

This book is about the power of design. It is inspirational, motivational, and educational all at once. It will help you to become a better designer by providing useful tips that you can learn from and apply in your own work. The book includes stories from designers who have made it big, including Renée Stevens herself (she started her career as an intern).

One of the biggest lessons that I learned from this book was how important confidence is when working as a graphic designer. You need to believe in yourself; otherwise, why should anyone else believe in you?

This can be hard if people are constantly telling you how bad or mediocre your work looks when they see it for the first time—but don’t let them get to your head! Instead, keep trying new things until something sticks and becomes viral online—then sit back as everyone goes crazy over what they thought was just another average piece of content before now being considered one of the best pieces ever created by anyone ever anywhere

15. Design Elements (2nd Edition)

By Timothy Samara

Timothy Samara, the author of Design Elements, provides a handy reference that provides a comprehensive overview of the elements of design and their applications.

This is one of those books that can help you in your daily work as a graphic designer. Each chapter covers an element or aspect such as typography, color theory, and illustration.

The book is well-organized and easy to read. It has a lot of useful information that can be applied in the real world. I particularly like that each chapter includes case studies and examples of how a particular element is used by some of the most renowned designers today.

Conclusion

Graphic designers are always on the lookout for new ideas. These 15 books will broaden your knowledge and inspire you to create better work.

There is no doubt that these books will help you become a better designer. Once you read them, I’m sure that you’ll want to add more titles to your library.

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