A few days ago I received an email newsletter from one of my all-time favorite book stores, William Stout Architectural Books. Along with the usual list of newly available products, this edition came with big news for design book buyers: Everything in stock is twenty-five percent off until twenty February.
Wanting to help the independent book seller, I made an announcement of the sale on Twitter and went back to work. Hours latter Mr. Murtaugh asked what books he should buy to take advantage of the sale. Looking through the online store, there were so many that I could not name one or two. And thus ensued a quick burst of recommendations. And there were many, perhaps too many to post in such rapid succession for most @brilliantcrank follower's patience, but it's not often that I turn the fire hose on so, deal with it.
Many Twitter friends asked to collect the suggestions on Airbag. And that is what this is, a list of really great books to add to your library, sale of no sale. Keep in mind there is no referral money being made here. No under the table arrangements between shifty design book collectors. I love good books and good book stores, and I'll always try to help them when I can, especially the ones that expose readers to volumes you'll never find in a big box chain.
For those of you who were first-hand witness to the Brilliantcrank Twitter Storm of Ninteen February there is something new for you and the end of this list. I guarantee that you're not going to want to pass it up.
Otherwise, here it is, the list of books I recommend buying from William Stout.
Design
- Josef Muller-Brockmann. Oh. My. Gawd. There's no way you can look through this book and not want to have it. No way.
- Rolling Paper Graphics. From the days when Flavor Country looked good.
- Obey Supply and Demand: The Art of Shepard Fairey. Very cool, very contemporary. And it has graffiti and stuff.
- Posters for the People: Art of the WPA. You know Obama's going to bring back poster propanda. Be prepared to drool.
- Things I Have Learned In My Life So Far. Not a huge Sagmeister fan but I like how this book was put together.
- War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication. Must have for poster design fans. Must. Have.
- Seventy-Nine Short Essays on Design. Michael. Bierut. Design Observer for the coffee table. Must. Have.
- Designing Interactions. A history of interaction design. Smart. Cool. Gray.
- Grid Systems in Graphic Design. @zeldman wrote about this book many years ago and it kicked off Web Design Grid Fever™.
Online
- Guidelines for Online Success. Good solid advice book in a fantastic wrapper.
Wayfinding
- The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places. For the navigation designer in us all.
- Signage Systems and Information Graphics. This is really the must have wayfinding book.
- Signage and Wayfinding Design. I love this book. The design of navigation systems are amazing.
Typography
- Adrian Frutiger Typefaces: The Complete Works. Amazing tome. A must have for anyone who loves typography. Must have.
- Jan Tschichold - Master Typographer: His Life, Work and Legacy. This is the book I'm going to buy. You should too.
- Stop Stealing Sheep & Find out How Type Works, 2nd Edition. Anyone considering themselves a designer should have this.
- Max Bill: Typography, Advertising, Book Design. I love man's work. Max is one of my favorites.
As some of you know, this list originally included the much sought after FontBook along with the words "go buy now".
Stephen Coles, editor of Typographica and Type Director at FontShop pointed out that Stout's sale only includes books that are in stock and that he had first hand knowledge that they were, in fact, currently out of stock. I asked if the good people at FontShop could match the offer (who looks out for you people, huh?) and he replied with a different idea.
The Airbag Exclusive FontShop Special
From now until 28 February, Airbag readers get fifteen percent off FontBook, the must have tome for any serious designer and/or typography fanboy, and Made with FontFont, Erik Spiekermann's fabulously designed salute to FontFont's fantastic type collection. Act fast and spread the word. It's not every day these volumes are offered at a discount.
To get the special price use code AIRBAGGERY when purchasing FontBook and code AIRBAGFF when purchasing Made with FontFont.
And that's it, I am spent. Perhaps one day I shall make my own Uncrate for things related to online design so that this kind of excitement happens all year. For now I shall retire my clerks apron and get back to work in the mines.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
You had me at firehose.
Mr. Dorny happened to catch that the Made with FontFont book is actually available for a mere $16 ($20 Canadian) on Amazon which even with the discount code still beats the FontShop price. Just sayin'.
Yeah but Luke is a witch, so you can't trust everything he says/links too.
I assure you this listing is a misprint and Amazon should be pummeled for posting it. For one, it's a "pre-order" despite the fact that the book's been out for over a year. For another, the cover price has always been $65.
A fine list, Greg. I am fortunate enough to live in SF, so I should have hustled over to Stout's shop and taken advantage of the sale in-person. Alas I was out of town yesterday and today. I hope other readers snagged the deal while they could. Fortunately, the Airbag/FontShop Discount is valid for another week.
Good list indeed.
I also think with infographics shining de rigueur, I'd recommend several of the books by Edward Tufte. Envisioning Information probably fills that niches the best, but my favorite is probably Visual Explanations. I found these very influential while Creative Director for a market research firm where our product was our data. Obviously the way we visualized this data was important.
How is it i missed this sale entirely? OMG.
What a wonderful list this is, Greg.
I remember hearing about the Adrian Frutiger book when it came out last December and then piecing together my broken jaw with duct tape and silly putty. OMGx2. Still, i broke my book allowance already this month and need to be careful. I'm quite satisfied to say that I do have about a third of these books, which satisfies my desire to buy at least a smidge. :(
{puts away potions and broom}
Also, as a result, having about a third of the books listed by the Chief Librarian of Design Books in Orange County is a stellar acheivement.
Thanks for sharing your favourites! I personally enjoy all of your wayfinding suggestions, especially from Andreas Uebele "Signage Systems and Information Graphics" on of the most complete resources available. For wayfinding you also might enjoy: "Wayshowing" by Per Mollerup.
> Also, as a result, having about a third of the books listed by the Chief Librarian of Design Books in Orange County is a stellar achievement.
Someday I'm going to get my entire library online. Now that would be an achievement.
Acheivement unlocked: Book Wormhole - 40G
Nice list, but you forgot Some People Can't Surf, a terrific book about Art Chantry.
Also of note, YouWorkForThem is having a book sale.