TOP 10 BOOKS

Typography: Macro- and Microaesthetics Willi Kunz
Grid Systems in Graphic Design Josef Müller-Brockmann
The Typographic Grid Hans Rudolf Bosshard
Basic Principles of Design Manfred Maier
Design Form and Chaos Paul Rand
The Elements of Typographic Style Robert Bringhurst
Graphic Design Manual: Principles and Practice Armin Hofmann
Thinking With Type: A Critical Guide for Designers… Ellen Lupton
How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul Adrian Shaughnessy
Experimental Typography Rob Carter

ADDITIONAL READING
Color

Interaction of Color Josef Albers
The Elements of Color Johannes Itten

Composition/Visual Perception

Primer of Visual Literacy Donis A. Dondis
Living With Art Rita Gilbert
Language of Vision Gyorgy Kepes

Design Criticism

Looking Closer
Looking Closer 2ed
Looking Closer 3ed
Looking Closer 4ed Michael Bierut
Borrowed Design: Use and Abuse of Historical Form Steven Heller
Citizen Designer: Perspectives on Design Responsibility Steven Heller
Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design Steven Heller
Design Writing Research Ellen Lupton, J. Abbott Miller

Grids

Designing Books: Practice and Theory Jost Hochuli
The Grid Allen Hurlburt
The Modular I Le Corbusier
Grid Systems in Graphic Design Josef Müller-Brockmann

Identity

Marks of Excellence: The History and Taxonomy of Trademarks Per Mollerup
Paul Rand: A Designer’s Art Paul Rand
Design Form and Chaos Paul Rand
From Lascaux to Brooklyn Paul Rand
Thoughts on Design Paul Rand

Information Design

Digital Diagrams: How to Design and Present Statistical Information Effectively Trevor Bounford, Alistair Campbell
Envisioning Information Edward R. Tufte
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Edward R. Tufte

Sign/Symbol

Form and Communication Walter J. Diethelm
Signet Signal Symbol Walter J. Diethelm
Signs and Symbols: Their Design and Meaning Adrian Frutiger

Type Design

Twentieth-Century Type Lewis Blackwell
Typographic Specimens Rob Carter, Philip B. Meggs
Twentieth-Century Type Designers Sebastian Carter
Designing Type Karen Cheng
Designing with Type: A Basic Course in Typography James Craig
Typographers on Type Ruari McLean
Fonts & Logos Doyald Young

Typography

Typography Now: The Next Wave Rick Poynor, E. Booth-Clibborn
The Elements of Typographic Style Robert Bringhurst
Typography Aaron Burns
Typographic Design: Form and Communication Rob Carter
Typography: A Manual of Design Emil Ruder
Stop Stealing Sheep and Find Out How Type Works Erik Spiekermann
Asymmetric Typography Jan Tschichold
The New Typography Jan Tschichold

Monographs

Dan Friedman – Radical Modernism Dan Friedman
April Greiman: Itsnotwhatyouthinkitis April Greiman
Tibor Kalman, Perverse Optimist Hall, Bierut, Pearlman
Armin Hofmann: His Work, Quest and Philosophy Armin Hofmann
Make It Bigger Paula Scher
It Is Beautiful… Then Gone Martin Venezky
Jan Tschichold: A Life in Typography Ruari McLean
Josef Müller-Brockmann: Pioneer of Swiss Graphic Design Lars Müller
Wash Soak Rinse Spin Tolleson Design
Living by Design Pentagram
Lester Beall: Trailblazer of American Graphic Design Remington
Emigre: Graphic Design into the Digital Realm Vanderlans, et al.
Design: Vignelli Massimo Vignelli
Wolfgang Weingart: My Way to Typography Wolfgang Weingart
Holland in vorm: Dutch design, 1945-1987 Wolters, Staeil

History

A History of Graphic Design Philip B. Meggs

Journals

Baseline
Communication Arts
Emigre
Eye
Graphis
ID
IDEA
Metropolis
Novum Gebrauchsgraphik
Print

Online