Calling all Designer Bookworms!
There’s nothing quite like getting lost in the pages of a good book. And with all the incredible books available for Creatives, we wanted to share some finds that have grabbed our attention.
So, grab a coffee, tea or favourite beverage, find a cosy spot, and dive into these fantastic reads!
Our favourite books for Creatives
Our list is broken into 3 sections Business, Design and Inspiration. And a bonus section on Colour Theory.
So, whether you’re a seasoned designer or just beginning our list will leave you feeling encouraged and motivated. These books will become your blueprint for running and designing your business.
BUSINESS BOOK FOR CREATIVES
How to Get Paid for What You Know
DESIGN BOOKS FOR CREATIVES
Designing Brand Identity
INSPIRATION BOOKS FOR CREATIVES
The Disney Book
Business Books for Creatives
How to Get Paid for What You Know – Graham Cochrane
After following him for years, Graham is my go-to business expert.
And his book doesn’t disappoint! His writing style feels like you are talking to a trusted friend who genuinely wants to help you succeed.
Check out more about the book at Graham’s website.
Graham has also created The 52 Book Challenge, where he reads one book a week! You can find his entire reading list here.
Rebel – Find Yourself By Not Following The Crowd – Graham Cochrane
As of May 2024, Graham is pre-selling his latest book.
We’ll be grabbing a copy plus all the bonuses that come with the pre-sale, and we’ll report back here on our findings. (Knowing Graham’s wonderful writing style, I’m sure this book won’t disappoint).
Design Books for Creatives
Designing Brand Identity – Alina Wheeler
This gem covers everything from brand strategy to visual identity, and it’s packed with real-life examples and practical tips.
It is great for both seasoned designers and those just beginning.
I’ve had mine for a while now (fourth edition) and it is currently up to its sixth edition.
The best-selling guide to branding is waiting for you.
Inspiration Books for Creatives
The Disney Book – A Celebration of the World of Disney – Jim Fanning
Whether you only flip through the gorgeous images of this magical book or dive into the behind-the-scenes world or everything Disney, it’s sure to spark some imagination and inspiration for your next design project.
Inspiration overload is a click away.
Colour Theory Books for Creatives
We love doing deep dives into the meaning behind colours. That’s why we created an entire series to help you decide which colour you should use for your branding.
From Blue to Brown, we cover all the primary, secondary, and neutral colours so, there’s something for everyone.
Check out the entire colour series here.
If you love colour theory as much as us check out these books.
- Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours – Abraham Gottlob Werner & Patrick Syme
- Color Problems – Emily Noyes Vanderpoel
- An Atlas of Rare & Familiar Colour
- Nature’s Palette – Patrick Baty
What Book made you want to become a Designer?
As creatives, our love for design often starts at a young age.
For me, it started way back in Junior School, with a particular book I ordered from the Scholastic Arrow Book Club catalogue called The Lettering Book by Noelene Morris.
How great was the Scholastic Arrow Book Club!
As you can tell from my well-used copy in the photo, The Lettering Book was my go-to resource when I needed inspiration and ideas for lettering styles, borders or creative ways to display headings in my school projects.
And without knowing, It introduced me to my love of lettering, fonts, layout and design.
Are Printed Design Books better than ebooks?
If you’re looking for design inspiration, there’s nothing like picking up a physical book and flipping through the pages for ideas to start churning in your head. (And yes, I love highlighting and marking the pages I want to return to).
So, can the same inspiration and idea development occur with an ebook?
After working on a computer all day, reading a book on a screen is the last thing I want to do!
Best place for inspiration — printed design magazines or online resources?
It’s so easy to find inspiration online.
Type in what you’re looking for and choose from hundreds of options, then pin your favourites to a board.
But there’s something special about a physical design magazine that makes it a winner for us.
All you have to do is start flipping through the pages for inspiration to strike.
From the way, particular colours and designs reproduce when printed to the texture of the paper.
Plus, tearing them out to create your inspiration board is always fun.
Insider Tip
Some of our favourite design magazines include Uppercase and Frankie.
And we even like looking at magazines outside our area of expertise, such as architecture, crafting, or even fashion. Now suddenly, you may see a design style you may have never considered.
You Did it!
That’s a wrap on Calling all Designer Bookworms! Which books caught your attention? If you need some encouragement to start reading, why not take part in National Read a Book Day on September 6 of each year?
We’ll keep adding to this list so be sure to come back for our latest finds. Until then, Follow us on Pinterest for more blog posts like this.
Where to now?
Want more inspiration tips? Check out the blogs below.
- A Year of Holiday Colour Combinations.
- Which Colour should you use for your Branding?
- All Seasons Colour Combinations
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