From fonts to layouts and colors to grids, there is so much to play with when creating a graphic design.

Looking to hone your design skills? While there is a plethora of information online, we have a few books for you to learn about careers in graphic design and concepts such as typography and grid design.

Graphic design rules:
365 design do’s and don’ts

Author: Peter Dawson, John Foster, Tony Seddon and Sean Adams

Ask any designer about their approach to choosing fonts, colors, or new layouts, and you’ll rarely get the same answer. Each designer has their own approach or combination of techniques that they apply in new projects.

However, there are do’s and don’ts, which are often the subject of much debate, in creating the best graphic design. Filled with lighthearted advice, this book is an excellent reference for budding designers or those curious about the field. For experienced designers, it touches on interesting points such as the importance of caesura or the fear of beige. The book is grouped into six color-coded chapters – typography, color, layout, imagery, production, and creative thinking.

Graphic Design Thinking: Beyond Brainstorming

Author: Ellen Lupton

This is Lupton’s second book and draws on his knowledge, experience as well as conversations with industry leaders. She is curator of design at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York. The book explores a variety of techniques and approaches, which are explained with narrative text, visual demonstrations and case studies. The book breaks the myth that creativity is an innate talent and helps foster a creative process.

The book deals with the three fundamental phases of the design process: defining the problem, inventing ideas and creating a form. It also features ideas from professional designers like Art Chantry, Ivan Chermayeff, Jessica Helfand, Steven Heller, Abbott Miller, among others.

Now You See It and Other Design Essays

Author: Michel Bierut

The author, partner of Pentagram Design, an independent design consultancy, explores topics ranging from process, inspiration, mentorship and design history in this book.

This book is a follow-up to ‘Seventy-Nine Short Essays on Design’ and has over 50 short articles covering a variety of topics. While some essays deal with design and pop culture hoaxes, others are about household names like advertising executive and restaurateur Jerry Della Femina, graphic designer Alan Fletcher, and artist Charley Harper.

How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul

Author: Adrian Shaughnessy

The book offers practical tips and advice for new designers – from how to start and run a design studio to how to find projects and clients.

It highlights a variety of topics – professional skills, the creative process, global design trends, social responsibility and ethics, and the rise of digital literacy. The book also contains interviews with designers such as Jonathan Barnbrook, Sara De Bondt, Stephen Doyle and Ben Drury.