Visual Creativity: Best Books on Graphic Design
Graphic design is a profession and academic discipline that has its roots in industrial design and fine arts, established in the late 19th century. Its function is to communicate ideas, thoughts, feelings, or messages directed to a target audience through images, colors, and shapes. It is often used in advertising and marketing. marketing to create effective campaigns and generate a visual impact on the viewer.
This discipline could be described as "the art that serves", since Each piece of graphic design is oriented to be functional and resolve aesthetic and communication conflicts.To practice it, we use natural tools, such as creativity, lateral thinking, and innovation, as well as digital resources. If you want to become a graphic designer, check out the following books.
Best books on graphic design
History of Graphic Design — History of graphic design (2010), by Philip B. Meggs
While it is true that graphic design is a practical discipline, it is also true that To understand the concept and the art itself, it is necessary to know where it comes from., the history behind it, and the people who made it what it is today. In his book, Philip B. Meggs reviews the most important events, including the birth of writing.
Likewise, The author mentions the rise of new technologies, such as suite Adobe software and 3D modelingVictorian graphic art and modern art are also mentioned. This volume is essential, especially for design novices and those interested in generating visual content with cutting-edge technological tools.
Quotes by Philip B. Meggs
- «The development of writing and visible language had its earliest origins in images simple, since there is a close connection between the drawing of images and the mark of writing.
- «Earlier writing may have evolved because this temple economy had a growing need for record-keeping.»
Image Syntax: Introduction to the Visual Alphabet (2017), by Donis A. Dondis
To understand today's culture, it is necessary to understand the grammar of images and what their creators want to tell us through their use. This is where Dondis's book comes in, a classic of visual art that boarding how in the second half of the 20th century Various works appeared that attempted to establish the principles of the theory of graphic composition.
The artists sought to do this by drawing on scientific studies of visual perception. The text explores those principles and rules of the language of images that are inherent to semantics, rhetoric, and visual communication. The author's theory draws on references such as painting, sculpture, architecture, film, television, and pop culture in general.
Quotes by Donis A. Dondis
- "...understanding the behavior of these basic elements of visual perception is also interesting for all those who, without being producers of visual works themselves, are concerned or interested in communication systems that possibly constitute one of the characteristics of today's society."
- "The cultural and global power of cinema, photography, and television in confirming man's self-image defines the urgency of teaching visual literacy for both communicators and those who communicate."
Psychology for Creatives: First Aid for Preserving Ingenuity and Surviving at Work (2015), by Frank Berzbach
The designers graphics, illustrators or creatives who work independently They face a series of situations that could jeopardize their stability: the stress of completing projects within expected deadlines, the difficulty of losing motivation or achieving workdays that don't extend into the early hours of the morning, prioritizing and properly organizing pending work, among others.
If this happens to you, this book is for you. Staying creative is an exercise in discipline and patience., because, although we all have the potential to perform these types of tasks, creativity is like a muscle that needs to be exercised to reach its maximum potential. In his book, Berzbach offers a series of reflections on the elements that determine ingenuity in the workplace.
Quotes by Frank Berzbach
- "How do we want to live?" Ask yourself this question, and this alone will change your attitude. This question is more provocative, more intelligent, and more edifying than asking "the meaning of life."
- "When embarking on the path to a creative life, one must take into account the desire to reflect on oneself."
Color psychology: how colors affect feelings and reason (2004), by Eva Heller
Color is one of the most fundamental elements in art and graphic design.This is said not only because their presence is often associated with certain feelings or thoughts, but because there are numerous popular sayings and beliefs about their influence, which has led many psychologists to attribute cultural meanings to them, such as black representing power, or gold representing luxury.
The book we present in this section is a collection of concepts, examples, proverbs, names, surnames, real stories, and graphic applications related to color. The text shows how a student or practicing graphic designer should be an expert in the physics, theory and psychology of color., and also knowing the combinations that will make a specific product more or less attractive.
Phrases by Eva Heller
- "Blue is the color of all good qualities that are proven over time, of all good feelings that are not dominated by simple passion, but are based on mutual understanding."
- "If we know how to use colors appropriately, we will save a lot of time and effort."
Logo Design: The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Brand's Visual Identity (2019), by David Airey
Creating a logo is a complex process that requires in-depth knowledge of shapes, composition, market analysis, advertising, semantics, semiotics, and other tools. Knowing this, The author created a complete course on how to create functional logos and attractive, as well as learning how to develop a company's visual identity.
But who needs visual identity design? Everyone. Every company that wants to enter the market and influence the final decision of its potential customers requires a distinctive identity that is easily memorable to its target audience. In a constantly evolving field like design, The writer provides examples of famous logos and the stories behind them.
Quotes by David Airey
- "When you give something to a customer, you're sending the signal that everything will be free (or at least deeply discounted). And that's poor management."
- "A successful design may meet the objectives set out in its design brief, but a truly enviable iconic design will also be simple, relevant, enduring, distinctive, memorable, and adaptable."
Typography Manual (2012), by John Kane
Typography is a branch of graphic design that focuses on the construction and application of letters, signs, symbols, and their families. In this context, The manual created by Kane serves as an introduction to the art and design of types — letters designed with a unity of style—, as well as the basic principles that constitute it, its history and fundamental applications.
The text also offers a balanced mix of theory, examples of recognizable brands, and exercises to help readers create their own typeface families. the writer reviews the parts of a letter, the classification of different types, how texts are composed on pages and grid systems.
Quote by John Kane
- "Like any other craft that has evolved over 500 years, typography uses a number of technical terms. These terms mostly describe specific parts of letters. It's a good idea to get familiar with this vocabulary. If you know the parts that make up a letter, it's much easier to identify individual types."
Brand design (2025), by Alina Wheeler
This is a perfect book for art directors who need to teach their team how to carry out visual identity design, or for teachers who want to provide functional examples to their students. Whatever the case, Wheeler created one of the clearest and most specific manuals on the entire process inherent in brand creation. for companies or individuals.
The volume addresses the research process, strategy, design execution, The launch of the company and its governance, becoming a set of tools designed to demystify, inspire, and create a roadmap for the design of effective and sustainable brands over time.
Quotes by Alina Wheeler
- "Everyone is creating brands now: cities, countries, communities, even your kid's soccer team. So it's not just about businesses anymore. It's about businesses—everyone, big and small, for-profit and non-profit. So what is branding? It's a disciplined process." (Interview with Ian Paget, logogeek.uk)
- "Design is intelligence made visible."
