Collected 10 of the most recent and useful books for learning web design and typography.

Books will be useful to both novice designers and those who have mastered the profession for a long time – new knowledge is not superfluous, and in design, as in any field of art, trends and novelties appear literally every month.

1. James Felici “Typography. Font, layout, design “

The book is dedicated to typography – the art of typing and layout design, which has artistic and technical aspects. The considered aesthetic principles of choosing and using fonts for print and display are supported by a lot of information, rules and subtleties of professional computer layout that meets modern standards. The material is supplemented with information from domestic specialists.

2. Kimberly Elam “Graphic Design. The grid principle “

Effectively working composition is one of the fundamental principles when creating design in any field. The book by renowned designer, graphic design teacher and bestselling author of The Geometry of Design, Kimberly Elam, provides the necessary insight into what grid-based design is and how to use these principles intelligently and appropriately to achieve the desired effect. Theory and practice of modern design, many interesting examples.

3. Mark Smikiklas “Infographics. Communication and influence through images “

Infographics are the most effective way to express yourself, convey information, and achieve results.
It works thanks to its clarity, speed, intuition, humor, beauty, and the sympathy that it evokes. It’s effective! You will learn to visualize: important thoughts, numbers, processes, place, time, events, personal data. You will be able to use infographics:
in working on projects, idea generation, design, advertising of all kinds.

4. Bella Martin, Bruce Hunnington “Universal Design Methods”

Bruce Hunnington, professor of applied design at Carnegie University (USA), and renowned practicing designer and consultant Bella Martin, have collected in this book 100 of the most popular and effective methods of creating high-quality design work, which are indispensable for any modern designer, in whatever field. applied his skill. The authors describe each technique in detail, talk about how it was first applied, and give the most successful examples of its use.

5. Jan Tschichold “New Typography. A guide for the modern designer “

The book was first published in 1928 in Germany and became a kind of manifesto for modern typography. This thorough and engaging study covers a wide range of topics, from theories of social criticism and art history to the growing importance of photography in graphic design. In addition, in New Typography, Jan Tschichold formulates extremely clear and precise rules for the design of printed materials.

6. Paul Rand “Design. Form and chaos “

In this witty and fascinating book, Paul Rand talks about the state of modern design, exposes unprofessionalism and fleeting “fashion trends”, discusses the specifics of creative activity and the professional passion, thanks to which good design is born. He illustrates his theses with his own works, as well as the works of artists and designers, whose work he admires.

7. Robert Bringhurst “Basics of Style in Typography”

This book, first published in 1992, quickly became a professional bestseller and remains so in the world of English typography ever since. Her authority was immediately recognized in the typographic community by both adherents of the classics and supporters of the avant-garde. “What is good typography? What are the criteria for its quality? How to get the best results in text design? Bringhurst’s book helps sort all this out.

8. Hermann Zapf “Design Philosophy of Hermann Zapf”

The book includes selected articles and lectures by the outstanding designer Hermann Zapf on calligraphy, type design and typography, as well as a detailed catalog of his typefaces. The author covers a wide range of creative and practical issues related to the development and use of type in the past, present and future. The publication is beautifully illustrated with calligraphic and type works of the author and is addressed to type designers, designers, decorators and artists of the book.

9. Ellen Lupton “Graphic Design from Idea to Implementation”

A designer’s creativity is not an innate talent, but an ability that can only be developed through practice. Design skills are the result of painstaking work, but of course, there are also professional secrets that can help you achieve success faster. Ellen Lupton’s book from the Department of Graphic Design at the Maryland Institute of the Arts (MICA) focuses on these practices. It includes interviews with leading contemporary designers.

10. Jessica Glazer, Carolyn Knight “Design. Development of projects. Wake up your inspiration! “

The more difficult the task is set before the designer, the stronger his imagination works. In this book, professional practicing British designers have collected a variety of design tasks from a wide variety of walks of life that can be a real challenge to the creative possibilities of a professional design developer. Treat them as practical exercises to develop your talent.

Cover photo: ShutterStock