Books about Design

  1. The Story of Art

    by E.H. Gombrich
    Comprehensive overview of art history, from prehistoric to modern times.

    The Story of Art, one of the most famous and popular books on art ever written, has been a world bestseller for over four decades. Attracted by the simplicity and clarity of his writing, readers of ... (Goodreads)

  2. The Lord of the Rings: The Art of the Fellowship of the Ring

    by Gary Russell
    A detailed exploration of the creative process behind the making of the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel.

    With complete and unrestricted access to artwork created over a five-year period, this authoritative and insightful book illustrates the creative development of The Fellowship of the Ring . This ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Design of Everyday Things

    by Donald A. Norman
    Examining how design can influence human behaviour and improve user experience.

    Anyone who designs anything to be used by humans – from physical objects to computer programs to conceptual tools -- must read this book, and it is an equally tremendous read for anyone who has to ... (Goodreads)

  4. The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

    by Betty Edwards
    Exploring creativity through the science of art, unlocking the power of the right side of the brain.

    When Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was first published in 1979, it hit the New York Times bestseller list within two weeks and stayed there for more than a year. In 1989, when Dr. Betty ... (Goodreads)

  5. M.C. Escher: The Graphic Work

    by M.C. Escher
    An exploration of the art of M.C. Escher, differing perspectives in visual illusions.

    Presenting the structurally unthinkable as though it were a law of nature M.C. Escher was born in 1898 in Leeuwarden (Netherlands). He received his first drawing lessons during secondary school from ... (Goodreads)

  6. Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

    by Garr Reynolds
    Guide to creating effective and engaging presentations through engaging visuals and storytelling.

    Garr Reynolds, author of the best-selling book on presentation design and delivery, is back with this newly revised edition of this classic book, Presentation Zen . Showing us there is a better way ... (Barnes & Noble)

  7. Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

    by Austin Kleon
    Practical guide to building an audience and recognizing success in creative endeavors.

    In his, New York Times, bestseller, Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon showed readers how to unlock their creativity by “stealing” from the community of other movers and shakers. Now, in an even more ... (Barnes & Noble)

  8. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

    by Nir Eyal
    A guide to creating products that form habits, using psychology and technology to keep users coming back.

    How do successful companies create products people can’t put down? Why do some products capture widespread attention while others flop? What makes us engage with certain products out of sheer habit? ... (Goodreads)

  9. Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook: Instructions, Patterns, and Advice for a New Generation of Knitters

    by Debbie Stoller
    A comprehensive guide to knitting, including patterns, techniques, and advice for beginners and experienced knitters alike.

    With 40 stylish patterns, this guide aims to show young knitters how to get started, how to make it fun and how to make the hip clothes they want. Step-by-step instructions illustrate every ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Photo Book

    by Phaidon Press
    A collection of photographs from various artists, showcasing the beauty and power of photography as an art form.

    Since its birth over one and a half centuries ago, photography has undergone a number of twists and turns in its progress from a practical means of documentation to an art form with its own icons, ... (Goodreads)

  11. Gustav Klimt: 1862-1918

    by Gilles Néret
    A comprehensive overview of Klimt's life, work, and influence on the art world.

    Cult of pleasure: Feminine sensuality by the Vienna Secession's greatest proponent Gustav Klimt's ornate, sensual, and decadent style made him not only the most prominent of the Vienna Secessionists ... (Goodreads)

  12. The Architecture of Happiness

    by Alain de Botton
    A philosophical exploration of how architecture shapes our emotions and how we can create living spaces that are both beautiful and meaningful.

    The Achitecture of Happiness is a dazzling and generously illustrated journey through the philosophy and psychology of architecture and the indelible connection between our identities and our ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers

    by Danny Gregory
    A collection of personal sketchbooks from artists, illustrators and designers, showcasing their creative process and inspirations.

    Find Insight and Inspiration for Your Creative Life An artist's journal is packed with sketches and captions; some rough, some polished. The margins sometimes spill over with hurriedly scrawled ... (Barnes & Noble)

  14. Just My Type: A Book about Fonts

    by Simon Garfield
    Exploration of the fascinating history and variety of typefaces that have shaped our world.

    What’s your type? Suddenly everyone’s obsessed with fonts. Whether you’re enraged by Ikea’s Verdanagate, want to know what the Beach Boys have in common with easy Jet or why it’s okay to like Comic ... (Goodreads)

  15. Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All

    by Tom Kelley
    A guide to unlocking creativity and innovation in all aspects of life, using practical exercises and inspiring stories.

    IDEO founder and Stanford d.school creator David Kelley and his brother Tom Kelley, IDEO partner and the author of the bestselli,ng, The Art of Innovation,, have written a powerful and compelling ... (Goodreads)

  16. Ogilvy on Advertising

    by David Ogilvy
    A comprehensive guide to advertising by the legendary ad man David Ogilvy, filled with insights and anecdotes from his illustrious career.

    A candid and indispensable primer on all aspects of advertising from the man Time has called "the most sought after wizard in the business". 223 photos. ... (Goodreads)

  17. The Cheese Monkeys

    by Chip Kidd
    A coming-of-age story of a young graphic design student, exploring the creative process and the challenges of art school.

    A hilarious debut novel that could only be described as a portrait of the designer as a young man. "Um...so what exactly is a Cheese Monkey?" Good question. But strictly off-limits. We can tell you ... (Barnes & Noble)

  18. The Master Quilter

    by Jennifer Chiaverini
    The Elm Creek Quilters face new challenges as they prepare for a wedding and create a master quilt.

    This ninth Elm Creek Quilts novel continues the series with a tribute to matriarch Sylvia Compson, who surprised her fellow quilters by marrying her longtime sweetheart on a recent holiday. Eager to ... (Goodreads)

  19. Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers

    by Leonard Koren
    An exploration of the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, finding beauty in imperfection and simplicity.

    Describes the principles of wabi-sabi, a Japanese aesthetic associated with Japanese tea ceremonies and based on the belief that true beauty comes from imperfection and incompletion, through text and ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Art of Looking Sideways

    by Alan Fletcher
    A visual and intellectual feast of design, art, and creativity. A playful exploration of perception and imagination.

    The Art of Looking Sideways is a primer in visual intelligence, an exploration of the workings of the eye, the hand, the brain and the imagination. It is an inexhaustible mine of anecdotes, ... (Goodreads)

  21. Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture

    by Ross King
    A look into the remarkable life and legacy of the pioneering artist and architect, Filippo Brunelleschi.

    The, New York Times, bestselling, award winning story of the construction of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and the Renaissance genius who reinvented architecture to build it. On ... (Barnes & Noble)

  22. Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World

    by Mark Miodownik
    In-depth exploration of everyday materials and their properties, revealing their importance in our lives.

    An adventure deep inside the everyday materials that surround us, packed with surprising stories and fascinating science. Why is glass see-through? What makes elastic stretchy? Why does a paper clip ... (Goodreads)

  23. Dali

    by Robert Descharnes
    A comprehensive biography of the surrealist artist Salvador Dali, exploring his life, art, and eccentricities.

    This publication presents in 2 volumes in a box the entire painted oeuvre of Salvadore Dali (1904-1989). After many years of research, Robert Descharnes and Gilles Neret finally located all the ... (Goodreads)

  24. Interaction of Color

    by Josef Albers
    A comprehensive study of color theory and its practical applications, exploring the ways in which colors interact with each other.

    Josef Albers’s Interaction of Color is a masterwork in twentieth-century art education. Conceived as a handbook and teaching aid for artists, instructors, and students, this timeless book presents ... (Goodreads)

  25. Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want

    by Alexander Osterwalder
    A practical guide to creating products and services that meet customer needs and desires, while also generating revenue and profit for the business.

    If you liked "Business Model Generation," you'll love "Value Proposition Design." The sequel builds on the same visual format and practical tools that made the first one so useful. It shows you how ... (Goodreads)

  26. Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed

    by Ben R. Rich
    The story of Lockheed's top-secret Skunk Works division, responsible for developing some of the most advanced aircraft in history.

    From the development of the U-2 to the Stealth fighter, the never-before-told story behind the high-stakes quest to dominate the skies Skunk Works is the true story of America's most secret & ... (Goodreads)

  27. Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love

    by Marty Cagan
    A guide to creating successful tech products by focusing on customer needs and effective team collaboration.

    The basic premise of Inspired is that the best tech companies create products in a manner very different from how most companies create products. The goal of the book is to share the techniques of ... (Goodreads)

  28. Art Forms in Nature

    by Ernst Haeckel
    A collection of intricate and beautiful illustrations of various organisms, showcasing the artistry of nature.

    The geometric shapes and natural forms, captured with exceptional precision in Ernst Haeckel's prints, still influence artists and designers to this day. This volume highlights the research and ... (Goodreads)

  29. Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time

    by Jeff Speck
    A guide to creating walkable cities, with practical solutions for urban planning and design.

    Jeff Speck has dedicated his career to determining what makes cities thrive. And he has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. The very idea of a modern metropolis evokes visions of bustling ... (Goodreads)

  30. Vitamin D: New Perspectives in Drawing

    by Emma Dexter
    A collection of contemporary drawings showcasing the versatility and importance of drawing in the modern world.

    Emma Dexter's introductory text offers a critical account of the recent evolution and role of drawing in the art world, and introduces some of the trends, methods and artists included in the book. In ... (Goodreads)

  31. Figure Drawing for All It's Worth

    by Andrew Loomis
    Comprehensive guide to figure drawing, covering anatomy, proportion, movement, and expression. A must-have for aspiring artists.

    Hardback book. 204 pages. ... (Goodreads)

  32. Anatomy for the Artist

    by Sarah Simblet
    Comprehensive guide to human anatomy for artists, featuring detailed illustrations and explanations of bones, muscles, and more.

    For millennia, the human body has been celebrated as nature's finest masterpiece. This superb drawing guide helps you unravel its complexity and capture its aesthetic on paper. Packed with ... (Goodreads)

  33. Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

    by Nancy Duarte
    A guide to creating compelling presentations that resonate with audiences through storytelling and visual design.

    Reveals the underlying story form of all great presentations that will not only create impact, but will move people to action Presentations are meant to inform, inspire, and persuade audiences. So ... (Goodreads)

  34. The Laws of Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life

    by John Maeda
    A guide to simplifying complex systems and designs, emphasizing the importance of balance, organization, and reduction.

    Ten laws of simplicity for business, technology, and design that teach us how to need less but get more. Finally, we are learning that simplicity equals sanity. We're rebelling against technology ... (Goodreads)

  35. 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about People

    by Susan M. Weinschenk
    A guide to understanding the psychology behind human behavior and how it can be applied to design.

    WE DESIGN TO ELICIT RESPONSES from people. We want them to buy something, read more, or take action of some kind. Designing without understanding what makes people act the way they do is like ... (Barnes & Noble)

  36. The 20th Century Art Book

    by Phaidon Press
    A comprehensive guide to the most influential artists of the 20th century, featuring their most iconic works and biographical information.

    Covering the international nature of the modern art scene, this title encompasses established, iconic works of art and the classics of the future. It presents 500 artists in an alphabetical order, ... (Goodreads)

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