Top Design books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite Design books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Design

Understanding the concepts of Design starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

Typographic Systems of Design: Frameworks for Type Beyond the Grid Kimberly Elam

In Typographic Systems, Kim Elam, author of our bestselling books, Geometry of Design and Grid Systems, explores eight major structural systems beyond the traditional ordering systems of the grid – including random, radial, modular, and bilateral systems.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Christmas Coloring Book For Kids: Cute And Easy Christmas Stocking Stuffer Coloring Book For Kids With Santas, Christmas Trees, Reindeer, Snowmen, Toys And Ornaments (Xmas Coloring Book For Kids)

This fun and easy Christmas coloring book is designed for kids, toddlers and preschool girls and boys. It includes over 50 beautiful festive and cheerful designs with cute Christmas Santas, snowmen, Christmas trees, ornaments, gifts, toys and other seasonal images for kids fun and increase creativity.
In addition to being fun, coloring helps children identify colors, develop fine motor skil…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Grid systems in graphic design: A visual communication manual for graphic designers, typographers and three dimensional designers (German and English Edition)

A grid system is a rigid framework that is supposed to help graphic designers in the meaningful, logical and consistent organization of information on a page. It is an established tool that is used by print and web designers to create well-structured, balanced designs. Rudimentary versions of grid systems existed since the medieval times, but a group of Swiss graphic designers, mostly inspired…

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Thinking with Type

Thinking with Type is divided into three sections: letter, text, and grid. Each section begins with an easy-to-grasp essay that reviews historical, technological, and theoretical concepts, and is then followed by a set of practical exercises that bring the material covered to life.

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Typographic Systems of Design: Frameworks for Type Beyond the Grid (Graphic Design Book on Typography Layouts and Fundamentals)

Typographic organization has always been a complex system in that there are so many elements at play, such as hierarchy, order of reading, legibility, and contrast. In Typographic Systems, Kim Elam, author of our bestselling books, Geometry of Design and Grid Systems, explores eight major structural systems beyond the traditional ordering systems of the grid – including random, radial, modular…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

The Elements of Typographic Style

The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst (Book Summary) This book contains more than I've ever wanted to know about typography. It describes not only how to use fonts, but also how to create them, explaining the math and science involved in font design.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Additional Design Reading

These books are not required for you to learn Design, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

Feminist Designer: On the Personal and the Political in Design

A bold and timely collection that brings feminist theory and critical thinking to life through vital, approachable design methods and practices. Feminist Designer brings together a constellation of voices and perspectives to examine the intersection of design and feminist theory.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Centered: People and Ideas Diversifying Design

As the design industry reexamines its emphasis on Eurocentric ideologies and wrestles with its conventional practices, Centered advocates for highlighting and giving a voice to the people, places, methods, ideas, and beliefs that have been eclipsed or excluded by dominant design movements.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Designing Type

Designing Type is a comprehensive guide to type design is hailed as a 'must-have' for typographers, graphic designers and students. Now fully refreshed and updated with the introduction of more contemporary typefaces and diagrams!

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Logo Modernism

This unprecedented TASCHEN publication, authored by Jens Müller, brings together approximately 6,000 trademarks, focused on the period 1940–1980, to examine how modernist attitudes and imperatives gave birth to corporate identity. Ranging from media outfits to retail giants, airlines to art galleries, the sweeping survey is organized into three design-orientated chapters: Geometric, Effect, an…

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

Grid Systems in Graphic Design

In visual design, a grid system helps you align screen elements based on sequenced columns and rows. Like making a map, you apply the column-based structure of a grid system to guide your design, structuring your text, images and functions consistently throughout it so they can appear instantly recognizable elsewhere.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People

100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People combines real science and research with practical examples to deliver a guide every designer needs. With it you'll be able to design more intuitive and engaging work for print, websites, applications, and products that matches the way people think, work, and play.

Recommended by the experts and mentors at MentorCruise

This list is curated by MentorCruise and can include Amazon affiliate links. Have any other suggestions? Add here.

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Hi, I’m Davina—a product design leader with 15+ years of experience bringing thoughtful, high-impact products to life. Over the years, I’ve led design for products used by billions, built and scaled design teams, and helped designers grow into the next generation of leaders at places like Google and Tumblr. I’ve …

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