Thread by @somefinetweets

I am regularly asked for book recommendations, particularly for design basics, systems thinking, and brand identity.
I put together a quick list and shared on instagram, and am now sharing here for #SomeFineDesignTwitter talk 1/

2/ The Bible, AKA Grid systems. Every designer ever, regardless of industry, should not have read this book, but have a copy on their shelves for those days you just need a reminder.
niggli.ch/en/grid-system…

3/ Thinking with Type by the inimitable Ellen Lupton. There are now 2 books as a series going into type basics for print and digital usages. Another staple for every designer.
papress.com/html/product.d…

4/ The Elements of Typographic Style. Another bible for typography. It takes a bit to get into, but the learnings are super important.
barnesandnoble.com/w/elements-of-…

5/ Making and Breaking the Grid, by Timothy Samara, a great teacher (so everything is easy to follow). It really goes into the importance of understanding grid usages — I cannot enough stress how important that is
amazon.com/Making-Breakin…

6/ The Visual History of Type by Paul McNeil. My ultimate fav purchase in recent years. The most stunningly sophisticated and simple breakdowns of commonly used type throughout the centuries.
laurenceking.com/us/product/the…

7/ Typography and Graphic Design by Roxanne Jubert. To understand what constitutes good design, you have to understand its history, and this book is a good place to start.
amazon.com/Typography-Gra…

8/ Another great GD history book, but it is a behemoth, AND in two parts. The references are gorgeous, and the history really well articulated.
amazon.com/History-Graphi…

9/ For translating design basics and history into systems, I recommend Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler. It's a great intro into systems for brands, primarily print-centric, but easily adaptable for digital usages.
amazon.com/Designing-Bran…

10/ Color theory is obviously important for creating recognizable and emotive systems, so The Designer's Dictionary of Color by Sean Adams is a favorite. It not only goes into the psychology of color, but also it's usages in design systems.
amazon.com/Designers-Dict…

11/ Speaking of usages, It's a Match! is a reference I literally have on my desk as I type this. It's admittedly not the best written book, but it's a great reference for visually seeing the impact of palette in a design system.
amazon.com/Its-Match-Crea…

12/ The War of Art. A great read regardless of your design inclination. If your designated problem is in the best way to think about design and your personal voice, this is a great catalyst for changing the way you look at things.
barnesandnoble.com/w/the-war-of-a…

13/ Another perception-changer is Feck Perfuction by Victore. It helps you come to terms with your own personal vision and voice, and, frankly, is a kick in the ass for anyone feeling imposter syndrome.
amazon.com/Feck-Perfuctio…

14/ Once you've completed War of Art and Feck Perfuction, try out the Idea Book by Fredrik Haren. It's an interactive book that helps you shape your unique ideas and perhaps solidify a new venture for yourself
amazon.com/Idea-Book-Fred…

15/ Last, but not least. If you're looking for an easy-to-follow series that covers all the basics, definitely check out Richard Poulin's work. He was a great teacher, so everything is very foundational and actionable.
amazon.com/Design-School-…

16/ And if you're just looking for cool design books, check out Victionary, Printed Matters, Counterprint, United Editions, and Abrams books. Literally my entire design collection is from them. And if you buy from the source, you're helping out the little guy!

17/ I've tried my best to link to the publishers to amplify them, but all these books are easily found on Amazon and most in Barnes&Noble as well

18/ I've been asked to provide UX/UI books the next time around, so if you have any personal favorites, please share with me!

@raradee for your convenience