Louise Fili’s Book List
Favorite books offer a certain intimacy—I can remember precisely where and when I found each one, and I keep them nearby on a dedicated shelf in my studio.
As a designer and teacher, I constantly rely on these books not only as a source of inspiration for my own work, but also to share; I savor the excitement of introducing them to my staff and students.
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This exhaustive documentation of the signage of Barcelona could convince even the non-designer to catch the next flight to Spain. Beautifully photographed and organized, it covers all aspects of urban facade embellishment—from door numbers to mosaics to hand-painted signs. I never tire of looking at this book, and turn to it often when I am seeking reference or general inspiration.
When legendary adman George Lois speaks, we all listen. Who can argue with rule # 46: “If all else fails, threaten to commit suicide.” I gave a signed copy to everyone on my staff.
This collection of late 19th-century letterpress samples, featuring novel compositions of decorative typefaces and ornaments in exquisite color palettes, is eye candy at its best.
This French sign painter’s manual has been a great source of inspiration for decades.
Although this book was published in 1898, the type samples always look remarkably fresh to me. Monograms, illuminated letters, and dimensional type make this hefty volume a favorite.
Designer Jake Tilson shares my affection for food, type, and Italy. This charming book features three distinctive fonts he created, inspired by a tomato can, a shop receipt, and the iconic stenciled street signage of Venice.
This two-volume set, with CD, is an exhilarating compendium of type specimens and ornaments from the U.S. and Europe. Volume One spans 1628 to 1900, and Volume Two from 1900 to 1938. Every time I open one of these books I find a new surprise.
In 13 short stories, the brilliant Sciascia deftly captures the essence of Sicily.
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Understanding Understanding: New from Richard Saul Wurman
Understanding Understanding
by Richard Saul Wurman
Publisher: Richard Saul Wurman and Jack Dangermond
Published July 30, 2017
From the author of Information Architecture, who says about his newest book: “This is a book for people to dip into, as they would walk in and out of the room of a dinner party and embrace their interests. . . Before the rules on how to organize information, before you learn grammar, before you work hard at expanding your vocabulary and go through the exercises of parallel meanings of things as using a Thesaurus and as one writes papers in class, before any learning one must understand.”
The Hard Life by Jasper Morrison
The Hard Life
by Jasper Morrison
Publisher: Lars Müller Publishers
Published in US: May 22, 2017
Photographs taken by designer Jasper Morrison of objects in the collection of the National Museum of Ethnology in Lisbon, Portugal. “The objects photographed and described may be appreciated both for their beauty and for the example they set of design at its purest. The Hard Life is a continuation of Morrison’s celebration of the ordinary and offers a new perspective on his design philosophy.”
Paula Scher: Works - Order from Unit Editions
Paula Scher: Works
Editors: Tony Brook & Adrian Shaughnessy
Design: Spin
Publisher: Unit Editions
Published April 2017
New book covering the career of of master designer Paula Scher, called “the most influential woman graphic designer on the planet.” (Ellen Lupton), This definitive, chronological visual record spans Paula’s early days in the music industry as an art director with CBS and Atlantic records; the launch of her first studio, Koppel & Scher; and her 25-year engagement with Pentagram.
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Type Tells Tales: New from Steven Heller and Gail Anderson
Type Tells Tales
by Steven Heller and Gail Anderson
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published May 30, 2017
Reveals how type can become both content and illustration, as letters take the form of people, animals, cars, or planes. With numerous illustrations by F. T. Marinetti, Bruno Munari, and Francis Picabia, among others, as well as by contemporary designers such as Richard Eckersley, John Hendrix, Maira Kalman, and Corita Kent.
The Moderns: Midcentury American Graphic Design: New from Steven Heller and Greg D’Onofrio
The Moderns
by Steven Heller and Greg D’Onofrio
Publisher: Abrams
Published September 19, 2017
Featuring more than 60 designers whose magazine, book, and record covers; advertisements and package designs; posters; and other projects created the visual aesthetics of postwar modernity in America. Some were émigrés from Europe; others were homegrown; all were intoxicated by elemental typography, primary colors, photography, and geometric or biomorphic forms. Some are well-known, others are honored in this volume for the first time, and together they comprised a movement that changed our design world.
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