Top 10 Inspiring Books for Graphic Designers

When was the last time you gave yourself a gift? In our top 10 most inspiring books for graphic designers, you’re sure to find the treat you deserve.

How to Make Repeat Patterns

Paul Jackson is a paper artist with a passion for origami. But our favorite book of his is actually not dedicated to the Japanese art of folding. Turns out the Brit also knows his way around patterns.

How to Make Repeat Patterns shows how rotation, mirroring and shifting can create breathtaking structures. Perfect for enhancing surfaces and designs to great effect. More than just copy & paste!

Creative Block: Over 100 Tasks to Get Your Head into a Creative Space

Ever have those periods where creative juices simply aren’t flowing? There are countless reasons for creative blocks, but just as many methods to get you out of a dry spell.

This is just the right book for designers who have made creativity their profession. Gemma Lawrence has collected over 100 exercises to get you going again. She’ll help you source some fresh creative energy to give wings to new ideas!

Bi-Scriptual: Typography and Graphic Design with Multiple Script Systems

A, B, C, just like you count to three. Letters and fonts are a huge playground for creative heads. The editors around Ben Wittner agree and inspire with typography to amaze.

This is one of our favorite books for graphic designers, because it is – literally – all about the world of typefaces and features multilingual font designs to browse through. A true gem across the cultural divide.

How to be an Illustrator

Keep your eyes peeled when choosing a career! If illustration is your hobby and you feel like taking it to a professional level, Darrel Rees has just the words of wisdom you need.

Everything from initial equipment to invoicing is covered here, helping you make informed decisions about your career aspirations. Some sound advice for aspiring freelancers.

Steal Like an Artist

Thou shallst respect the rights and property of others, right? Yes, but. Being creative also means processing other people’s ideas to create something new.

Austin Kleon strikes a blow for what your ethics teacher would have scolded you for – pinching ideas. Of course, this is what really gets your own creative process started properly. Be smart and steal wisely.

Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words

Schadenfreude is a concept that has no translated equivalent in English, because every language has words that can only be rewritten. Here’s where Lost in Translation comes in, a book that’s not about design, graphics, or typography.

Ella Frances Sanders’ collection of untranslatable words is still high up on our list, though. It’s a gem of a book with its unique “language” that serves as real inspiration. Some facts for amazing people in the kitchen at house parties.

Brave Intuitive Painting

Swing the brush and just paint away! Rely on your gut feeling. Without rules and conventions. Flora Bowley shows you how liberating this can be.

This is a scolding hot tip for any graphic designer. After all, don’t we all long to be creative without just judging the result? Let the colors do the talking!

Thinking Visually for Illustrators

In the beginning, there was a word. The creative process often starts with a briefing, and graphic designers then have to translate this into a visual language. Often this ain’t all that easy. This is where author Mark Wigan offers help.

How can we transform text into an image? How does a briefing become an illustration? Thinking Visually for Illustrators has something for beginners and professionals alike, and is rich in detail.

Art and Fear

What’s called stage fright in the theater is similar to what many creative people face in everyday life. Did I do a good job? What’s it actually good for? Author David Bayles has the answers. Really.

Art and Fear addresses the fear of failing in art. The book offers tips on how to overcome your fears and doubts. Suitable for creative minds in all walks of life. Remember, creativity is about learning from failure.

Illustrating Children’s Books

Dot, dot, comma, dash! Illustrating children’s books isn’t child’s play at all. The age of little bookworms is just as important as any genre of illustration.

Martin Salisbury reveals how your drawings can inspire the little ones. After all, text and image should work together to stimulate young minds. Simply fabulous.

Didn’t find the right thing for you or your creative friends in our list? Take a look here.

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