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Poppy ThaxterPerspectives: the must-read publications featuring advice and ideas straight from top designers
Sometimes the best things you learn come from the people around you. Sometimes they come from books. So why not combine the two? As an ever-evolving field, there is an abundance of design discourse out there, so it can be hard to narrow down who to listen to. To help, we’ve compiled a small selection of books that we think cover some of the advice and insights creatives are after. From career guidance and navigating the industry, to design itself and project inspiration, we hope there’s something for you.
In today’s world, graphic design permeates our daily lives through logos, packages, signs, publications, and websites. But have you ever wondered about its origins, its distinctive aesthetics, and its purpose? These questions find their answers in the career monograph of renowned graphic designer Michael Bierut. Bierut’s book explores how graphic design can be employed to sell products, convey information, enhance aesthetics, evoke emotions such as joy or sadness, and occasionally even make a profound impact on society. Drawing from his extensive portfolio, he delves into the intricacies of more than 36 projects, providing a comprehensive account of their conception, execution and final outcome. This edition was revised and expanded in 2021.
For graphic designers, there is no obvious career manual to guide them through the profession. In ‘How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul,’ however, Adrian Shaughnessy draws on his wealth of industry experience to provide such a handbook. Aimed at the independent-minded, it addresses the concerns of young designers who want to earn a living by doing expressive and meaningful work and avoid becoming a hired drone working on soulless projects. It offers straight-talking advice on how to establish your design career and suggestions for running a successful business.
This revised 2nd edition contains all-new chapters covering professional skills, design thinking and global trends, including social responsibility, ethics and the rise of digital culture. Also included are interviews with designers such as Jonathan Barnbrook, Sara De Bondt, Stephen Doyle, Ben Drury, Paul Sahre, Dmitri Siegel, Sophie Thomas and Magnus Voll Mathiassen.
How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul
Packed with more than 1,000 pages of branding inspiration, our ongoing ‘The Process’ series is an exclusive showcase of unused and unseen branding work from leading graphic design studios; highlighting the ideas, concepts, mockups and sketches that led to their final outcomes. They include work from Bureau Borsche, COLLINS, CoType Foundry, DesignStudio, DIA, Heydays, M35, Moniker, Mother Design, MOUTHWASH Studio, OMSE, PORTO ROCHA, Ragged Edge, Socio, Two Times Elliott, Vrints-Kolsteren and more.
The Interviews: Volume One documents our very first 57 interviews with designers and studios from all around the world; including the original conversation as well as a new reflection on how their work, process and practice has evolved. Featuring interviews from 2015-2018 with COLLINS, DesignStudio, Vrints-Kolsteren, DIA, Fuzzco, Spin, PORTO ROCHA and many more, the book also includes four new interviews with Actual Source, SocioDesign, StudioSmall and Soft Power. In line with its archival nature, it is wrapped in a removable transparent PVC jacket in an attempt to further the lifespan of the book as well as the interviews found within. Stayed tuned for The Interviews: Volume Two, too :)
What happens when you survey UK-and-US-based graphic designers and ask prying questions about life and work? Graphic Designers Surveyed presents the fanatical, funny and frank responses from 1,988 designers. Exhausted but enthusiastic, critical and creative, frustrated yet optimistic, their answers are surprising but make one thing certain – they love graphic design and what it can do.