Here I could discuss a never-ending quantity of books a good webdesigner, creative, strategic planner and any other person whose job is related to the Web and social media could purchase. No way! However I can share with you a few very interesting publications, which will bring you happiness and inspiration over the long winter nights.

I chose to build various themes, so that any one of you can quickly find one or more books to purchase or to offer.

The Great Masters, those worth reading once a year

BOB GILL

Buy on Amazon

BOB GILL - Graphic Design as a Second Language

BOB GILL - Graphic Design as a Second Language

PAUL ARDEN

Buy on Amazon

PAUL ARDEN - any book you find

PAUL ARDEN - any book you find

SAUL BASS

It is very difficult to find publications specially dedicated to Saul BASS. Even his mythical DVD, in which he talks about his art of Title Design seems impossible to find. YouTube withdrew it for infringement of copyrights. Check out books compiling some of his works or the site listing his work on Title Design. The uncontested initiator of contemporary graphic design.

SAUL BASS

MARTIN PARR

For the creative mind, it is normal to get inspiration in every form of art – well that’s my point of view. Before even touching a computer (or before computers invaded our homes), I used to use miles and miles of film with a Kodak Instamatic and other cameras. Take your inspiration from photography! Martin PARR is one of those photographers you can’t get enough of!
Buy on Amazon

MARTIN PARR - by Val Williams

MARTIN PARR - by Val Williams

PAUL RAND

Buy on Amazon

PAUL RAND - by Steven Heller

PAUL RAND - by Steven Heller

Study cases, campaign cases

Looking at how others work is awe-inspiring. Looking at their creative processes, their briefs, their results… Here are three books, two of them being updated every year, which are real mines of information.

2 KILO – KESSELS KRAMMER

Buy on Amazon

2 KILO - Kessels Krammer

2 KILO - Kessels Krammer

ART DIRECTORS ANNUAL

Buy on Art Directors Club

ART DIRECTORS ANNUAL

ART DIRECTORS ANNUAL

DESIGN IN EUROPE

Buy on Design in Europe

DESIGN IN EUROPE

DESIGN IN EUROPE

Social Media and Marketing

Since everything is social now and we have the opportunity to get to read the marketing secrets of some of the biggest specialists, here is a sample of the huge amount of publications available.

THE TWITTER BOOK

Buy on O’Reilly

THE TWITTER BOOK - Tim O'Reilly, Sarah Milstein

THE TWITTER BOOK - Tim O'Reilly, Sarah Milstein

PURPLE COW, THE BIG MOO

Buy on Amazon

PURPLE COW and others - Seth Godin

PURPLE COW and others - Seth Godin

THE LONG TAIL

Buy on Amazon

THE LONG TAIL - Chris Anderson

THE LONG TAIL - Chris Anderson

THE TIPPING POINT

Buy on Amazon

THE TIPPING POINT - Malcolm Gladwell

The creative’s inspiration and reference

There’s always a need for a breeze of novelty and inspiration. Often looking at a combination of colors, a shape or an illustration is enough to get back into motion. Get inspired. Improve. Give a new interprétation. Innovate. All these images surrounding us nourish us in the end. Don’t forget : you are the sole master of your own style. Know how to work it without copying.

SERIALIZE

Buy on Amazon

SERIALIZE: Family Faces and Variety in Graphic Design

SERIALIZE: Family Faces and Variety in Graphic Design

AN EYE FOR COLOR

Buy on Amazon

AN EYE FOR COLOR - Olga Gutierrez De La Roza

AN EYE FOR COLOR - Olga Gutierrez De La Roza

LOS LOGOS 1, 2, 3, 4

The logo bible in 4 volumes heavy as a ton of bricks. Compiled by Büro Destruct. A must have.
Buy on Gestalten

LOS LOGOS - Büro Destruct

LOS LOGOS - Büro Destruct

OBEY

Let those who have never seen the world-famous red, white and blue portrait of Barak Obama cast the first stone at themselves ! Here is an essential book by Shepard Fairy, a brilliant illustrator, an inimitable style, a treat for the eyes.
Buy on Obey Giant

OBEY - Shepard Fairey

OBEY - Shepard Fairey

THE ART OF REBELLION 2

Buy on The Art of Rebellion

The Art of Rebellion 2 - Christian Hundertmark

The Art of Rebellion 2 - Christian Hundertmark

From theory to practice

Here are a few books explaining the jobs in communications, advertising, graphic design and how to go from theory to practice. How to conceptualize, think, learn tricks, jargon and eventually become the 21st century’s Paul Arden. One important thing : follow the rules but think out of the box.

THE ADVERTISING CONCEPT BOOK

Buy on Advertising Concept Book

THE ADVERTISING CONCEPT BOOK - Pete Barry

THE ADVERTISING CONCEPT BOOK - Pete Barry

THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN

Buy on Amazon

THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN - Dan Roam

THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN - Dan Roam

HOW TO BE A GRAPHIC DESIGNER WITHOUT LOSING YOUR SOUL

Buy on Amazon

HOW TO BE A GRAPHIC DESIGNER WITHOUT LOSING YOUR SOUL - Adrian Shaughnessy

HOW TO BE A GRAPHIC DESIGNER WITHOUT LOSING YOUR SOUL - Adrian Shaughnessy

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CREATIVE ADVERTISING

AVA Academia, publishing house, has many other titles that could be of interest to you. Don’t hesitate to have a look at all their publications.
Buy on AVA Academia

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CREATIVE ADVERTISING - Ken Burtenshaw

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CREATIVE ADVERTISING - Ken Burtenshaw

THE ART OF LOOKING SIDEWAYS

Phaidon Editions publish magnificent, unique books. I recommand another one further down : A smile in the mind.
Buy on Phaidon

THE ART OF LOOKING SIDEWAYS - Alan Fletcher

THE ART OF LOOKING SIDEWAYS - Alan Fletcher

DESIGNING UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE

I strongly recommend this book. To tempt you, here is a description in English : These questions formed the starting point of the research, which resulted in a report exploring the meaning of ‘universal knowledge’ as well as the process of collecting, structuring, designing, and publishing it. Designers and researchers from different fields have set standards for the classification and design of complex data collections and have thus exerted an enormous influence on how knowledge is communicated.
The report explores this topic as well as the possibilities of ‘universal design’ and presents new approaches to visualize complex information.
Buy on The world as flat land

DESIGNING UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE - Gerlinde Schuller

DESIGNING UNIVERSAL KNOWLEDGE - Gerlinde Schuller

A SMILE IN THE MIND

Achat sur Phaidon

A SMILE IN THE MIND - Beryl McAlhone

A SMILE IN THE MIND - Beryl McAlhone

We like the web from every angle

I’m really into webdesign. I’m also into ergonomy and usability. Books on theory are important but nothing is better than experience and online resources …

ERGONOMIE WEB

Buy on Eyrolles

ERGONOMIE WEB - Amélie Boucher

ERGONOMIE WEB - Amélie Boucher

ONLINE SUCCESS : instructions for use

Buy on Taschen

ONLINE SUCCESS : instructions for use - Julius Wiedemann

ONLINE SUCCESS : instructions for use - Julius Wiedemann

TASCHEN WEB COLLECTION

Buy on Taschen

the TASCHEN

the TASCHEN

In brief…

If you don’t find a book to offer yourself or someone else on this list, come back next year. By then, I will have prepared another collection for your shelves… or to please your nephew.

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