Themed Book Lists

Our themed book lists are compiled from the books that appear on Designers & Books and focus on special subjects. For a complete listing, see List of Lists.
75 blog entries
Books on Designers
December 29, 2016

We honor design pioneer Lella Vignelli (1934–December 22, 2016) with three books on her work. More...

Most Frequently Chosen Books
October 7, 2015

These 10 design books appear most frequently on the book lists of our designers, commentators, and other contributors. More...

Themed Book Lists
September 2, 2015

Fifteen-plus books that look at the book as designed object as well as valuable reading—from our contributors Irma Boom, John HillWarren Lehrer, Peter Mendelsund, Ed Ruscha, and more.—Updated July 26, 2022 More...

Themed Book Lists
July 14, 2015

Here are 20 books on painters, sculptors, and other artists—from Leonardo da Vinci to Andy Warhol—that designers and architects have found inspirational. See the complete list of more than 200 books on art and artists chosen by designers. More...

Books on Designers
June 17, 2015

Charles Eames’s birthday is June 17! Our updated list of books from our designers and contributors include American modern industrial designers Charles (1907–78) and Ray (1912–88) Eames. More...

Themed Book Lists
May 19, 2015

Our updated list of 15 books on brands and their design—from graphics to politics. David AireyDebbie Millman, and Angus Hyland are among the authors featured.

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Themed Book Lists
March 31, 2015

We’ve updated our list of books of design manifestos, which includes the recently published compilation After the Manifesto (Columbia University GSAPP Books/T6 Ediciones, 2015). In an exciting development for us, Designers & Books is planning to help bring back in print this year another book on this list: Ladislav Sutnar: Visual Design in Action, a 1961 “monograph-cum-manifesto,” in the words of Steven Heller, featuring the work and ideas of the Czech forerunner of information design, Ladislav Sutnar (1897–1976). Watch for details! More...

Themed Book Lists
February 19, 2015

Happy Lunar New Year! These 15 books on China and various aspects of design come from our designers, commentators, notable books contributors, and featured publishers and booksellers. More...

Themed Book Lists
February 12, 2015

Our annual Valentine’s Day book list for designers from our contributors, updated. More...

Themed Book Lists
December 30, 2014

Happy New Year from Designers & Books! Entering a new year means looking to the future. To mark the occasion we’re highlighting 15 books that contemplate the future of design from different perpectives and at different times in history—from Buckminster Fuller’s utopias to recent digital developments. See more books about design and the future at the Designers & Books Online Book Fair. More...