1. 45 Bill Drummond A stone cold classic. A key inspiration for starting the studio. Bill Drummond takes us on a fascinating biographical trip through his creative mind. How much of it is true, how much of it is fake? Who knows but it’s all ingenious and very entertaining. [SB]

    45

    Bill Drummond

    A stone cold classic. A key inspiration for starting the studio. Bill Drummond takes us on a fascinating biographical trip through his creative mind. How much of it is true, how much of it is fake? Who knows but it’s all ingenious and very entertaining. [SB]
  2. Detail In Typography Jost Hochuli Essential for any designer. Short and easy enough to digest for anyone with a healthy interest in letters. [SM]

    Detail In Typography

    Jost Hochuli

    Essential for any designer. Short and easy enough to digest for anyone with a healthy interest in letters. [SM]
  3. The Language of Things Deyan Sudjic An insightful read on the ever-expanding world of objects and the stories they tell. [SM]

    The Language of Things

    Deyan Sudjic

    An insightful read on the ever-expanding world of objects and the stories they tell. [SM]
  4. Ways of Seeing John Berger A guide to reading the language of images. [SM]

    Ways of Seeing

    John Berger

    A guide to reading the language of images. [SM]
  5. Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design Michael Bierut While it has quite a mechanical and academic title the contents of this great little book couldn’t be more human. 79 stories about what it means to be a working designer written by one of the modern legends. Warm, human, fun and jam-packed with insights that’ll keep any designer on the straight and narrow. [SB]

    Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design

    Michael Bierut

    While it has quite a mechanical and academic title the contents of this great little book couldn’t be more human. 79 stories about what it means to be a working designer written by one of the modern legends. Warm, human, fun and jam-packed with insights that’ll keep any designer on the straight and narrow. [SB]
  6. The Brand Gap Marty Neumeier As much as I hate the word brand, this has some great thinking and insight into the relationship between business, strategy and design and how to make the most of those relationships. Another great, small book.

    The Brand Gap

    Marty Neumeier

    As much as I hate the word brand, this has some great thinking and insight into the relationship between business, strategy and design and how to make the most of those relationships. Another great, small book.
  7. Paul Rand: Conversations with Students Michael Kroeger This is a great little book that has the master [American design legend, Paul Rand] address the students and tell them the meaning of design. But oh those poor, poor students. Rand’s legendary and hilarious (as long as you’re not experiencing it first hand) belligerence is documented here but the pay off is gold. I won’t give away the secret, but if you want to know what design is all about, read this. [SB]

    Paul Rand: Conversations with Students

    Michael Kroeger

    This is a great little book that has the master [American design legend, Paul Rand] address the students and tell them the meaning of design. But oh those poor, poor students. Rand’s legendary and hilarious (as long as you’re not experiencing it first hand) belligerence is documented here but the pay off is gold. I won’t give away the secret, but if you want to know what design is all about, read this. [SB]
  8. Whatever you think, think the opposite Paul Arden A small power-packed book that gives insight stories and simple advice for standing out, being creative and making people take notice. As Tom Yogabby of DDB said; ‘When everyone else zigs, zag.’

    Whatever you think, think the opposite

    Paul Arden

    A small power-packed book that gives insight stories and simple advice for standing out, being creative and making people take notice. As Tom Yogabby of DDB said; ‘When everyone else zigs, zag.’
  9. Usefulness in Small Things: Items from the Under a Fiver Collection Sam Hecht Everyday, low-cost, and mass-produced items gathered from around the world showcasing innovative design. Proof that inspiration and invention can be found in even the most modest of places (and some great book design by Graphic Thought Facility). [SB]

    Usefulness in Small Things: Items from the Under a Fiver Collection

    Sam Hecht

    Everyday, low-cost, and mass-produced items gathered from around the world showcasing innovative design. Proof that inspiration and invention can be found in even the most modest of places (and some great book design by Graphic Thought Facility). [SB]
  10. things as they are Panzer Mary A history of photojournalism, showing the featured images in context as spreads from the original publications they were published in. Testament to ongoing relevance and impact that photography holds in telling us important stories. Be careful though, there’s some real gut-wrenching images in here. [SB]

    things as they are

    Panzer Mary

    A history of photojournalism, showing the featured images in context as spreads from the original publications they were published in. Testament to ongoing relevance and impact that photography holds in telling us important stories. Be careful though, there’s some real gut-wrenching images in here. [SB]
  11. The Passport Saul STEINBERG In fairness I could have put any book by Saul Steinberg up here. Insight, humour, invention and all said with the simplest and most truthful of lines. From his New Yorker covers to his sketchbooks and painting on furniture and interiors this is jam packed with his genius. [SB]

    The Passport

    Saul STEINBERG

    In fairness I could have put any book by Saul Steinberg up here. Insight, humour, invention and all said with the simplest and most truthful of lines. From his New Yorker covers to his sketchbooks and painting on furniture and interiors this is jam packed with his genius. [SB]
  12. Dorfsman & CBS An overview of one of my favourite designers Lou Dorfsman. Best known for his gastrotypographicalassemblage in the CBS canteen but so much more than a one-hit wonder. This shows what can be achieved when design is given a respected and strategic role in business as we see how Dorsfman helped shape one of America’s most high profile media businesses over 40 years at the company.

    Dorfsman & CBS

    An overview of one of my favourite designers Lou Dorfsman. Best known for his gastrotypographicalassemblage in the CBS canteen but so much more than a one-hit wonder. This shows what can be achieved when design is given a respected and strategic role in business as we see how Dorsfman helped shape one of America’s most high profile media businesses over 40 years at the company.
  13. Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenence Robert Pirsig Don’t be put off the crazy title. This book may be the most important design book I ever read. Analysis, critical thinking, new v good, problem solving, gumption traps. Everything I learned in this book I still use every single day. [SB]

    Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenence

    Robert Pirsig

    Don’t be put off the crazy title. This book may be the most important design book I ever read. Analysis, critical thinking, new v good, problem solving, gumption traps. Everything I learned in this book I still use every single day. [SB]
  14. The Information James Gleick A really interesting history of information from African talking drums and the invention of the alphabet up to the unrelenting flood of online content. I’m still reading this. Loving it, but just have to read each paragraph twice. [SB] 

    The Information

    James Gleick

    A really interesting history of information from African talking drums and the invention of the alphabet up to the unrelenting flood of online content. I’m still reading this. Loving it, but just have to read each paragraph twice. [SB] 
  15. Richard Avedon Evidence A fittingly elegant book about an elegant man who took elegant images. Or that’s what you get if you just look at the pictures, there are a few brilliant, eye-opening essays in here that really bring Avedon to life. Funny, human and insightful. [SB]

    Richard Avedon

    Evidence

    A fittingly elegant book about an elegant man who took elegant images. Or that’s what you get if you just look at the pictures, there are a few brilliant, eye-opening essays in here that really bring Avedon to life. Funny, human and insightful. [SB]

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