With the new school year starting, and now being two years into my grad degree (gulp), I thought it was only appropriate to share with you some helpful knowledge that I wish I would have known before I started here at SCAD.  I’ve compiled a list of must read books for the graphic design student. While there have certainly been more books that this (way more, indeed) that have graced my presence while studying graphic design, these are the five most integral books to my studies. But hey, everyone has their own preferences. Now, onward!

1—CHANGE BY DESIGN: This had to have been the most radically different books that I have read since in grad school. It goes beyond traditional design into the inner workings of design thinking and practice. I never knew this kind of design or way of thought existed when in undergrad. If you don’t know what design thinking is, you’ll want to get a head start and I suggest you get your hands on one of these babies, and fast. It’s big thinking, and it’s not for everyone, but having your mind opened in one direction, whether it’s something for you or not, will hopefully have you thinking in other new directions as well. Thinking is always good, I’m a fan of that stuff.

2—MEGG’S HISTORY OF GRAPHIC DESIGN: Frequently referred to around the halls as the bible of graphic design, here you’ll find the best compiled history of graphic design to date. While it doesn’t get into intricate specifics on eras, it gives a great overview of everything you’d need to know relating to the field. Researching the history is how we build our foundations, and this book has certainly come in handy over the years.

3—EDWARD TUFTE BOOKS: Tufte is the king of information design. Here you’ll learn all about the theory behind creating visualizations that really work, and you’ll learn why. His books are easy to read and jammed full of information, so that’s saying something! Look to these books before you even try designing your first info graphic, you won’t be sorry. The Visual Display of Quantitive Information // Envisioning Information // Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative

4—DESIGNING WITH TYPE: This was the book I was required to have for my first typography class ever. Oh man, thinking back to those days! Needless to say, this book has become a great reference point throughout both undergrad and grad school. It teaches you the basic fundamentals of typography. This book really became integral for the students who came to my current program without a graphic design background. It easily taught them the basics of typography when they needed to catch up quickly.

5—THE HISTORY AND TECHNIQUE OF LETTERING: While I’m not all the way through this book, it’s already shaping up to be one of the most influential of my career. As many of you know, I’ve started to study the art of hand-lettering, and this book is teaching me the history of the subject matter. It even has a course to go through in the back that I’ll be going through in the up-coming weeks. For any letterer in training, this book is essential to learning that foundation from which to grow from.

Well, that sums up my must read books for the graphic design student! Do you have any favorites that are missing? I’m always down for reading a good design book.