Top Graphic 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 Graphic Design books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of Graphic Design

Understanding the concepts of Graphic 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.

Design Elements: Form and Space

Design principles never change. They serve as the foundation of the designer's thought process and are the essential tools that define a visual language. With hundreds of fundamental principles for creating successful design compositions, Design Elements: Form & Space establishes a basis for visual organization strategies and serves as a comprehensive manual for graphic designers. Understandin…

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Branding

What is branding? Branding is the process of creating a distinct identity for a business in the minds of your target audience and the general population. At its core, branding consists of a company's name and logo, visual identity design, mission, values, and tone of voice.

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Mid-Century Modern Graphic Design

Mid-century modern graphic design has a similar aesthetic to flat design, using geometric shapes, clean lines, bright hues and earthly palettes to create bold, reductive images.

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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.

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Graphic Design Rules: 365 Essential Design Dos and Don'ts

Packed with practical advice, this spirited collection of design dos and don'ts takes readers through 365 rules like knowing when to use a modular grid-and when to throw the grid out the window.

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Princess, Unicorn, Fairy, and Mermaid: Cute Coloring Book For Kids Ages 4-8 (Stocking Stuffers For Kids)

Let your kids’ imagination soar as they bring to life charming, easy-to-color illustrations designed to spark creativity and joy.
With This Magical Coloring Book, you will:
Enjoy hours of fun and creative expression.
Each page is single-sided to prevent marker bleed-through.
The designs feature thick lines for easy coloring.
Sized at 8.5 x 8.5 inches, the square design offers a …

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Additional Graphic Design Reading

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

Start Me Up! New Branding for Businesses

This work allows for the brands to distinguish themselves from the rest and attract their targed audience's attention. More than ever before, businesses are defining themselves through carefully coordinated communications. Start Me Up! is a comprehensive compendium of innovative corporate design for a new generation.

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Thinking with Type

The best-selling Thinking with Type in a revised and expanded second edition:Thinking with Type is the definitive guide to using typography in visual communication. Ellen Lupton provides clear and focused guidance on how letters, words, and paragraphs should be aligned, spaced, ordered, and shaped. The book covers all typography essentials, from typefaces and type families, to kerning and trac…

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How To Draw Adorable And Easy: 500 Drawings Of Animals, Cars, Food, Gifts And Cute Stuff For Kids (Gift Ideas For Kids)

The Ultimate Drawing Book for Kids of All Ages!
With this drawing book you get:
Learn to draw everything -500 easy-to-follow illustrations
Simple & easy step-by-step clear instructions for each drawing
Drawings of different difficulty to help your little ones get better at drawing
Bonus activity all images can be colored, adding an extra layer of engagement
This book is an aw…

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How Design Makes Us Think: And Feel and Do Things

How Design Makes Us Think collects hundreds of examples across graphic design, product design, industrial design, and architecture to illustrate how design can inspire, provoke, amuse, anger, or reassure us. Graphic designer Sean Adams walks us through the power of design to attract attention and convey meaning.

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Bob's Burgers 2025 Wall Calendar

Centering on patriarch Bob (Archer’s H. Jon Benjamin) who runs his business with his wife, porcelain baby collector and dinner-theatre enthusiast Linda (voiced by John Roberts), the series also features teenage daughter Tina (Dan Mintz), who is obsessed with boys and horses; son Gene (Eugen Mirman), who is only afraid of snakes; and youngest daughter Louise (30 Rock’s Kristen Schaal), who neve…

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

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