The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Rick Rubin
A legendary music producer's guide to the nature of artistic practice.
The Design of Everyday Things
Don Norman
The essential bible of user-centric design and cognitive psychology.
Thinking with Type
Ellen Lupton
The industry standard guide for using typography in visual communication.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Building the systems and routines that make creative output inevitable.
Steal Like an Artist
Austin Kleon
A modern manifesto on finding inspiration and remixing ideas.
The War of Art
Steven Pressfield
Breaking through blocks and winning your inner creative battles.
Creative Confidence
Tom & David Kelley
From IDEO, a manual for unlocking potential in every professional.
Designing Brand Identity
Alina Wheeler
The comprehensive toolkit for the entire branding process.
Show Your Work!
Austin Kleon
How to get discovered by sharing your creative process.
Interaction of Color
Josef Albers
A masterclass in color theory and visual perception.
Grid Systems
Josef Müller-Brockmann
The classic manual for layout and structured design.
Don't Make Me Think
Steve Krug
The common-sense approach to web and mobile usability.
Keep Going
Austin Kleon
Staying creative in difficult times and long-term practice.
The Artist's Way
Julia Cameron
The 12-week program for recovering your creative self.
Logo Design Love
David Airey
A guide to creating brand identities that stand the test of time.
How to Be a Graphic Designer...
Adrian Shaughnessy
Career advice for doing work without losing your soul.
Practical Empathy
Indi Young
Understanding the "why" behind human behavior in design.
The Laws of Simplicity
John Maeda
Balancing simplicity and complexity in business and life.
Universal Principles of Design
William Lidwell
A cross-disciplinary reference for all designers.
Designing Your Life
Bill Burnett
Applying design thinking to your personal and professional path.
Pretty Much Everything
Aaron Draplin
A visual explosion of wisdom from a design icon.
Rework
Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
This book shows you the way. Learn how to be more productive and how to get exposure.
Ruined by Design
Mike Monteiro
A call to action for design responsibility and ethics.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Daniel Kahneman
The ultimate guide to cognitive biases and psychology.