Top 10 Excellent Graphic Design Books to Help You Improve Your Self-Study Skills

Graphic design is not only a profession but also an art that requires creativity, skills and solid knowledge. To start or improve your design skills, books are a great source of materials to help you learn by yourself. In this article, sadesign will introduce to you the top 10 good and useful graphic design books, suitable for those who want to develop themselves in this field.

1.Why not start learning design by yourself through books?

In today’s world, with the rapid development of technology and online resources, you can absolutely learn graphic design effectively without having to attend formal courses. Design books not only help you master theoretical knowledge, but also provide practical exercises, tips and specific techniques that can be applied immediately to real design projects.

One of the great advantages of self-studying through books is that you can be flexible in arranging your study time, choosing materials that suit your goals and personal interests. Moreover, quality books provide insight into design trends and methods from famous experts in the industry, thereby expanding your creative thinking and improving your skills effectively. When you read good design books, it is not only acquiring knowledge, but also an endless source of inspiration to help you develop your own design style.

Below are the design books that the experts at sadesign recommend to help you start your journey of self-studying design at home. Besides reading these books, you can also refer to the advice and learning roadmap from experienced instructors to progress faster.

2. "The Non-Designer's Design Book" - Robin Williams

This book is one of the top picks for beginners to graphic design. Robin Williams has created an easy-to-understand text that covers the fundamentals of design, such as the basics of balance, contrast, alignment, and other visual elements. Even if you don’t have a design background, this book will help you develop a strong design mindset that you can immediately apply to your work.

With clear, easy-to-understand presentation and visual illustrations, the book provides knowledge about elements such as balance, alignment, spacing and contrast. This is a useful resource, helping readers improve their aesthetic skills and improve the quality of their designs even if they are not professional designers.

Strengths:

Easy to access for beginners.

Teaches basic design principles in a visual and easy-to-understand way.

3. "Thinking with Type" - Ellen Lupton

An essential book for any graphic designer, Thinking with Type delves into the world of type and how to use it in design. Ellen Lupton helps you understand how to work with fonts, from selecting them to arranging them so they can convey a message most effectively. This is an ideal book for anyone who wants to improve their typography skills.

Strengths:

Provides in-depth knowledge of typography and how to use it in design.

A clear analysis of the elements that make up a beautiful and understandable design.

This book provides basic and in-depth knowledge on how to use type effectively, from choosing fonts to organizing layouts. This is an indispensable reference for designers, editors and people working in the creative field.

4. "Graphic Design: The New Basics" - Ellen Lupton & Jennifer Cole Phillips

“Graphic Design: The New Basics” is an academic yet accessible design book. It provides an overview of the fundamentals of graphic design, including structure, shape, and color, and how to use them to create creative works. In addition to theory, the book is accompanied by real-life examples and exercises so that readers can immediately apply their knowledge in practice.

Strengths:

Provides a solid foundation in basic design principles.

Use real-world examples to illustrate theories.

The book focuses not only on fundamental concepts such as composition, color, and shape, but also explores how to apply them in contemporary design environments. With clear writing, vivid illustrations, and highly practical content, the book is a valuable resource for both beginners and professional designers looking to improve their skills and expand their creative horizons.

5. "Don't Make Me Think" - Steve Krug

This book focuses primarily on user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, but the principles Steve Krug lays out are invaluable to any graphic designer. The author helps you understand how to design for users to interact with easily and effectively. This book will help you improve your ability to design products that are intuitive and easy to use.

Strengths:

Approach design from a user perspective.

An easy-to-understand guide to creating the ultimate user experience.

This book analyzes how to design digital products so that users can interact easily without having to think too much. With concise, easy-to-understand writing and practical examples, the author shares basic but extremely important principles in building an optimal interface, thereby improving efficiency and user satisfaction. This is an indispensable document for UX/UI designers and those interested in the field of digital technology.

6. "The Elements of Graphic Design" - Alex W. White

"The Elements of Graphic Design" is a great resource for learning about the fundamentals of graphic design. This book delves into principles such as space, structure, and balance in design. The theories are presented clearly, accompanied by vivid illustrations that make it easy to visualize and apply to your work.

Strengths:

Focus on the most basic and important elements of design.

Provides practical and easy to understand examples.

7. "Design Basics" - David A. Lauer & Stephen Pentak

This book is suitable for beginners to learn about graphic design. "Design Basics" is a great resource to get acquainted with basic design principles and techniques. The book not only explains the theory but also provides practical exercises so you can practice your skills.

Strengths:

Suitable for beginners.

Explains the basic principles of design in a simple and easy to understand manner.

8. "Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book" - Conrad Chavez & Andrew Faulkner

If you want to learn Photoshop from basic to advanced, "Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book" is an indispensable document. This book will guide you step by step to get acquainted with Photoshop software, from basic tools to advanced techniques. The practice exercises in the book will help you quickly get acquainted with Photoshop and apply it to real design projects.

Strengths:

Detailed instructions on how to use Photoshop effectively.

Practice exercises help improve skills.

9. "Logo Design Love" - David Airey

Logos are an essential part of any graphic design campaign. David Airey's "Logo Design Love" will help you understand the logo design process, from research and ideation to final refinement. This book not only helps you understand the theory of logo design, but also provides many real-life examples and case studies for you to learn from.

Strengths:

Provides insight into logo design.

Give real-life examples from famous brands.

10. "Grid Systems in Graphic Design" - Josef Müller-Brockmann

Grid Systems is one of the powerful tools in graphic design, helping you create works with clear and easy-to-read structures. Josef Müller-Brockmann's book will help you understand how to use grid systems in design and apply them to real-life projects. This book is indispensable for those who want to improve their professional design skills.

Strengths:

Detailed explanation of how to use grid systems in design.

Provide real-world examples and applications to work.

11. "Make Your Mark" - Marianne O’Rourke

This book will help you tap into your creativity to create unique and personal designs. Marianne O'Rourke provides tips and techniques to help you discover your own design style, while also highlighting the importance of personal branding in the graphic design industry.

Strengths:

Guide to developing your personal design style.

Encourage creativity and self-discovery in design.

12. Conclusion

Learning graphic design on your own is a long and challenging journey, but with the above books, you will gain basic and advanced knowledge to develop your skills. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, these materials will be a great companion to help you create impressive and professional designs. Start your journey of learning and creating today!