Top 5 Must-Have Books for Logo Designers
There's a lot of books listed here, so it can be hard to know which to purchase and read first, but if you were to only have 5 in your collection, personally based on the books I have read, these would be the first I would suggest to buy and read (or borrow from a friend or library). This should give you an all-round education on logo design, and provide you with a decent reference source as you progress in your career.
1. Logo Modernism
Within your collection, you'll want to include at least one gallery reference book for inspiration.
There's a lot out there, but the one to rule them all is Logo Modernism, which will also likely be the biggest book you'll ever own... seriously it's HUGE. But it's crammed full of so much logo inspiration you'll never need to purchase another.
2. Logo Design Love
I suggest having at least one book about the logo design process, and whilst there are quite a few options out there, the one I would start with is Logo Design Love, by David Airey.
This book will help you to understand the role of a logo, learn practical design tips and best practices for working with clients.
3. Type Matters
Typography is a core element of logo design, but if you start editing, creating your own letters without an understanding, of type design, your work will look amateur, guaranteed.
For that reason, understanding the intricacies of type design is essential learning. I'll admit that this topic is a rabbit hole, but as a primer to the topic, I'd highly recommend Type Matters by Jim Williams. It's a beautifully designed book that will give you a solid foundation in typography design.
4. Designing Brand Identity
In isolation, a logo might look fairly simple. But to do the job well, you'll need to have a good understanding of the brand it's representing. For that reason, you need at least one book about branding.
There's a lot of books about branding and brand strategy, but if you were to have only one book on the topic I would suggest starting with Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler.
This is one of the first books I bought and is still to this day a favorite that I frequently reference. It'll help you understand every aspect of the branding process, with handy diagrams throughout.
5. Burn Your Portfolio
To be a successful designer there's a lot of interpersonal and business skills you'll need to learn and develop. For that reason, I suggest having at least one business book in your collection.
I'd start with Burn Your Portfolio by Michael Janda, where he shares real-world practices, professional do's and don'ts, and the unwritten rules of business that most designers learn only after years of experience.
0 Comments