"Must Have" Books and Magazines

[Dave K]

Hey there!
I used the search, but nothing came out of it, so I just started a new thread.
As a designer I am always willing to improve myself not only practically, but theoretically. You can google a lot for good books and magazines, but since this is a forum full of other designers from all over the world, I think this is the best solution !

What "must have" Graphic-Design Books or Magazines do you have stored in your shelves?

I for myself just ordered a monthly subscription of "PAGE", which is a good alround magazine to keep in touch with trends from all over the world and also learn something about the newest programs and other cool stuff.
(PAGE online - Ideen und Know-how für Design, Werbung, Medien)

One of my favorite Design Books is "The End of Print" by David Carson. The Typography-Art and the whole atmosphere of the book kept me looking into it every day for weeks.

[jecrt]

Good topic!! I'll be watching this one - for magazines I like Communication Arts, Faethestic and Beautiful/Decay. for "tool" books - I HAVE to have my process color manual - so useful!

thanks for starting this!

[Chung Dha]

Computer Arts, Arts projects are the one I always buy but only when if there are interesting tutorials in them or myself. Allot of interesting new things and showing off desings of people , allot from deviant art. But the tutorials and explaning how to work as a designer or freelancer and great cd always with stock picture and demo software.

Books of graphic designs are not that interesting because allot of the info are old or you can find it on the internet. Magazines are better and more up to date.

[Dave K]

@ Jecrt
What type of magazines exactly do you read? And did you mean the process color manual of Michael and Pat Rogondino?

@ Chung
I googled ComputerArts and found this site: Computer Arts - Home . I guess that's what you ment, right?
And as for books: I guess magazines are more up to date, but there still are some timeless designs and information to look at or gain, just like the David Carson Book I mentioned.

[jecrt]

yep - it comes in pretty handy - the colors are fairly accurate. as for magazines - Communication Arts - design, Faethestic - art/illustration and Beautiful/Decay-art/culture/trend

I also pick up an occasional Computer Arts, Print or CMYK.

A good design history book is The History of Graphic Design by Steven Heller - it's more lke a text book, but it's interesting. Stefan Sagmeister's newest book is decent, too...but a little pretentious.

I don't think books are bad - design catalogs/annuals are usually dated, but I read/buy design books for theory/application, not really design trend. I think designers can get a bit too caught up in what's current. Besides - If you read enough design history, you can usually tell where the trend is going anyway!!

[lad2050]

Hacking Photoshop CS2 by Shangara Singh and published by wiley. This book is an older book but its teachings will work up through CS4 not only does it have lots of useful tips and tricks but it also helps you optimize you Photoshop to run smoother.

[yossmoss]

hey
a couple of weeks ago i went to a design conference and got me this one -> Logology — The wonderland of logo design

recommended!

[Dave K]

What jecrt said is exactly my opinion. I'm doing my last year of art-school now and the stuff we get in school to learn is quite useful, but probably the most boring stuff you'll ever read. So I am searching for a good book describing design itself, meaning not the trends, but just the theory (like semeiotics f.e.) in a quite catchy way.
@ yossmoss: The book looks really awesome and though I'd have to save money for it, I'll definitely will get me one! Thanks a lot!

[B.T.Klemensowsk]

I subscribe to Print. Mainly for the regional and international annuals. I used to get HOW but that one is focused a little more on the business aspect of design.

[yossmoss]

hey there

i purchased this one few days ago... very recommended!!!
Gestalten - Books Detail: Los Logos 4

[jecrt]

Originally Posted by yossmoss

hey there

i purchased this one few days ago... very recommended!!!
Gestalten - Books Detail: Los Logos 4

those books ARE really good! lots great logos

[rinaldidesigns]

logolounge books....great inspiration from great designers(I believe a few are members here)

[Rockhart]

Originally Posted by rinaldidesigns

logolounge books....great inspiration from great designers

I was just going to suggest these too! Definitely a great resource! I only have #2 but I'm going to buy more!

[Dave K]

Sorry, I didn't find time to reply for a long time.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Is Los Logos "just" (didn't find a better word) filled up with all kinds of logos (which is pretty cool itself), or are there informations given, like how they created the reallly good ones and stuff like that?
Keep it coming!

Edit: I just bought the new PAGE-Magazine and there was a pretty interesting atricle about this http://reallygoodlogos.com/ in it. Somebody got this one already?
The concept sounds really great and I'm thinking of buying it.

[nirmanapro]

"Thoughts on Interaction Design" by Jon Kolko
"http://www.amazon.com/Layers-Complete-Photoshops-Powerful-Feature/dp/0321534166/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240891279&sr=1-13" by Matt Kloskowski
"Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 Classroom in a Book" by Adobe Creative Team
"The Photoshop Anthology" by Corrie Haffly
"The Principles of Beautiful Web Design" by Jason Beaird
"Principles and Patterns for Rich Interactions" by Bill Scott and Theresa Neil
"Foundations of Atlas" by Laurence Moroney
"Core CSS" by Keith Schengili Roberts
"Transcending CSS" by Andy Clarke
"Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Classroom in a Book" by Adobe Creative Team
"ActionScript 3.0 in Flash CS3 Professional Essential Training" by Todd Perkins
"Learning jQuery 1.3" by Jonathan Chaffer, Karl Swedberg, and John Resig

[nirmanapro]

.

[ArtbyAudree]

Here is one I've heard is essential - but it's so expensive... I'm going to witsh for it for my birthday.

A Designer's Art, by Paul Rand.

Also - here is a practical book if you are working as a freelance designer:

Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines (Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines)

[yossmoss]

@ ArtbyAudree - YEAH! im also looking for "A Designer's Art" but cant find it anywhere...
online order is out of question, imagine the price + shipping... its almost a month rent!!

in the meanwhile, i got myself this one -
- Printwork: Capture The Best Publication & Promotion Book - Turntablelab.com

includes some realy amazing print works.

[.:FMD]

I have all 3 Los Logos books..I think there might have been a 4th one released. I will say that the third one is not as good as the first 2.

Also a must have for all designers is "the elements of typographic style" by Robert Bringhurst

Another great book to read is "How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul" by Adrian Shaughnessy.

I pretty progressive book I own is JPG 2 or "japan graphics 2." The japanese have some pretty cutting edge stuff. Great for inspiration!

[.:FMD]

Originally Posted by jecrt

A good design history book is The History of Graphic Design by Steven Heller - it's more lke a text book, but it's interesting.

I have this one as well and recommend it. You want to know design history, this book will guide you through it and it is like a text book, but you get to see some amazing work from the past.