My top 5 inspiring books for emerging creatives
Reading about art and design can be daunting, especially in the early days of your education and career. Many books set out with the expectation that the reader is proficient in niche terminology and art history, so it can feel difficult to expand your knowledge in a way that is both engaging and encouraging.
Throughout University, I was on and off with reading; as much as I wanted to know more about my subject, I found it difficult to stay engaged. There was no shortage of books on every creative discipline in the library, but it was hard to know where to start, never mind some of the books being so large it would be difficult to comfortably read them for any length of time. However, through conversations with other creatives at various stages in their career, as well as my own experimentation, I began to discover the things that I was passionate about, giving me the encouragement to delve deeper and learn more. Although this is by no means an extensive list, nor will these titles appeal to everyone, the books here are a selection of texts that helped fuel my passion for design and continue to be a reference source in my work.
Just My Type - Simon Garfield
If you are looking for an entertaining and light-hearted introduction to typography, this just might be the perfect book for you. Simon Garfield packs in huge amounts of information, but writes in a way that is engaging and sheds light on the important role that typefaces play in our understanding of the world around us. Discussing various typefaces from their origins to their use in popular culture, Garfield serves up a well rounded summary of typography in bitesized chunks, making this book perfect to be read cover to cover, or intermittently over several weeks. Also, if like me you were left wanting more upon finishing this book, Simon Garfield has written several other titles on typography, many of which explore typefaces to an even greater level of detail.
The Politics of Design
Embracing different perspectives of the world has perhaps never been more important; The Politics of Design allows us to view society from multiple perspectives, many of which we may not be familiar with, reflecting on how design makes us think and the way that we approach our work. The constantly changing layouts and styles make each spread feel original, giving equal importance to all the topics featured and exploring cultural misrepresentation in numerous examples. For anyone wanting to expand their mind and get a better understanding of the influence of design, this is a must read.
Interactions of Color - Josef Albers
Whilst not exclusively focussing on design, Interactions of Color provides a great foundation for understanding the role that colour plays in our work. Through multiple methods that he taught to his Bauhaus students in the late 1920s, Albers explores the relationships between colours with practical examples that demonstrate how context can affect our perception. To the more apprehensive reader it may appear somewhat overwhelming to embark on reading a book of this nature, but after seeing just a couple of Josef Albers’ examples, it is easy to begin sharing in his passion for colour.
Designing Graphic Props for Filmmaking
- Annie Atkins
Anyone studying graphic design will no doubt have heard of Annie Atkins; the creative mind behind graphic props for an impressive array of films. Whilst this is one of the more niche books on my shelf, I feel that it has some important teachings that are relevant across all creative careers. Not only did this book clarify to me that great things can be achieved from humble beginnings, but it also highlighted the value of practical techniques and the importance of immersing oneself in the subject matter they are designing for. A truly fascinating book for designers and film lovers alike, and one that is difficult to put down.
Typeset in the Future - Dave Addey
A huge influence on my dissertation, Typeset in the Future provides a captivating exploration into the role of typography in science fiction cinema, and highlights how strongly the associations we have with typographic styles affect the ways in which we view the world around us. It is apparent from his writing that Dave Addey is not just passionate about his subject but obsessed with it, providing countless examples from all the movies he discusses, and taking the reader with him on the fascinating journey he took to writing the book. A warning though - after reading, you will notice the famous Eurostile typeface everywhere, often in wildly inappropriate settings as Addey makes reference to.
Put simply, several of these books are ones I wish I had found earlier. They provided invaluable creative and academic inspiration, and have encouraged me to explore further into various topics within the history and theory of design. I feel that as well as being an essential tool in broadening our knowledge of design, books can offer us a unique insight into the minds of the creatives that came before us.
