5 Must Have Design Books
Just a few of my personal favorites
Thursday, March 9, 2023

5 Must Have Design Books
Written by
Founder
When it comes to honing your craft, there’s nothing quite like learning from the experts. I’ve been collecting design books for years and am here to share my top five with you. These are the books I keep within arm's reach of my workstation at all times. So if you’re looking for inspiration or a great read, look no further! Here are five must-have design books.
Made by James by James Martin
This book is a fantastic tribute to legendary graphic designer and illustrator James Martin. With over 200 pages of images from his archive, this book is essential for any graphic design enthusiast. It's filled with photos from Martin's life and work that will whisk readers away on a journey through time. From inspiring sketches to insightful quotes from Martin, this book will surely give you the inspiration you need.
Draplin Design Co.: Pretty Much Everything by Aaron James Draplin
What I love about this book is that it provides a behind-the-scenes peek at how Draplin crafts stunning designs from start to finish. It also includes lots of fun anecdotes and advice on how to stay motivated when things get tough.
The Process is the Inspiration by House Industries
This book celebrates 25 years of House Industries’ iconic typefaces and designs. It showcases stunning images of their typography and artwork and interviews with some of their key creative team members. It also takes you behind the scenes of their process and shows how they develop new ideas every day despite facing seemingly impossible challenges. This book is perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to learn more about what goes into creating exquisite typefaces and designs.
Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
Designing Brand Identity is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to build their brand from scratch or strengthen an existing one. This book offers step-by-step guidance on developing strong brand identity guidelines that will ensure consistency across all touch points—from logo design and typography to packaging and website development—and will help set your business apart from its competitors.
Goodtype: The Art of Lettering by Brooke Robinson
Lettering is an art form, and Robinson does a great job illustrating just how intricate and rewarding it can be. From brush lettering to digital typography and more, this book provides an in-depth look at all aspects of lettering and why it’s so important in design today.
Whether you consider yourself a professional designer, we can always learn something new about our craft! Having these five books close by has been instrumental in helping me stay informed on current trends while also keeping my skills sharpened over time—they have become invaluable resources over the years! If you're looking for creative inspiration or want to brush up on your existing knowledge, these must-have books should be added to your collection immediately! Happy reading!
More articles

Thursday, May 4, 2023
Written by
Colby K. Anderson
Challenge Yourself
Reach new heights by stepping out of your comfort zone!
Growing up, I believed asking for help signified weakness. However, as I matured, I realized the opposite is true. Facing overwhelming challenges can make us feel defeated, but it's important to remember that seeking assistance is not a sign of giving up. Instead, it's a courageous and strategic move that demonstrates strength and creativity. Having the bravery to ask for help can be the key difference between reaching our goals and ending up with an incomplete plan.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Written by
Colby K. Anderson
From Disabled to Adaptive
A Reflection on Redefining Perceptions of Disability
For years, people have used the word disabled to describe physical differences or impairments, and it has become a negative term with a lot of baggage. But what if we could shift our perspective and focus on adaptive solutions for the challenges that people with disabilities face? This blog post will explore my journey from using the word disabled to embracing the term adaptive and how this language change can impact my personal and society’s perception of disability.

Thursday, April 13, 2023
Written by
Colby K. Anderson
Achieving Goals
How Focusing on the First Step Can Help You Achieve Your Goals
As adaptive humans, we are constantly striving to reach life goals, and it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the long and arduous journey ahead. I have learned the secret is remembering why we're on this path in the first place - our dreams! But most of the time, the mere thought of everything we need to do to get there can be overwhelming. We deem our goals impossible and give up before we even begin. The good news is that there is a simple solution to this problem. Don’t focus on the end goal; focus on the first step of your plan. This blog post will explore how this simple practice can help you achieve your goals.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Written by
Colby K. Anderson
Chasing Dreams
The Balance of Dreams and Reality
We all have dreams that spark our ambition and fuel our aspirations. Dreams provide us with hope, inspiration, and a sense of purpose. Yet, if we become consumed with the chase for something, we risk losing the beauty and possibility in the present moment. This explores the importance of cultivating a balanced relationship with our dreams and reality to embrace the extraordinary blend of possibilities and concrete circumstances. Strive to give life to your dreams while recognizing that the essence of living is to navigate the delicate balance between aspirations and reality.

Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Written by
Colby K. Anderson
Foundation is Everything
How Design Systems Aid in Establishing a Solid Foundation
Design systems are the foundation of any digital product. They provide an organized and consistent framework for building a product’s user experience, visual language, and codebase. A design system is much more than just a set of components. It is an ever-evolving way to create cohesive, meaningful experiences that engage users. By establishing a solid foundation with a well-thought-out design system, you can maximize the efficiency of your development process and create a product that stands out from the crowd.
5 Must Have Design Books
Just a few of my personal favorites
Thursday, March 9, 2023

5 Must Have Design Books
Written by
Founder
When it comes to honing your craft, there’s nothing quite like learning from the experts. I’ve been collecting design books for years and am here to share my top five with you. These are the books I keep within arm's reach of my workstation at all times. So if you’re looking for inspiration or a great read, look no further! Here are five must-have design books.
Made by James by James Martin
This book is a fantastic tribute to legendary graphic designer and illustrator James Martin. With over 200 pages of images from his archive, this book is essential for any graphic design enthusiast. It's filled with photos from Martin's life and work that will whisk readers away on a journey through time. From inspiring sketches to insightful quotes from Martin, this book will surely give you the inspiration you need.
Draplin Design Co.: Pretty Much Everything by Aaron James Draplin
What I love about this book is that it provides a behind-the-scenes peek at how Draplin crafts stunning designs from start to finish. It also includes lots of fun anecdotes and advice on how to stay motivated when things get tough.
The Process is the Inspiration by House Industries
This book celebrates 25 years of House Industries’ iconic typefaces and designs. It showcases stunning images of their typography and artwork and interviews with some of their key creative team members. It also takes you behind the scenes of their process and shows how they develop new ideas every day despite facing seemingly impossible challenges. This book is perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to learn more about what goes into creating exquisite typefaces and designs.
Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
Designing Brand Identity is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to build their brand from scratch or strengthen an existing one. This book offers step-by-step guidance on developing strong brand identity guidelines that will ensure consistency across all touch points—from logo design and typography to packaging and website development—and will help set your business apart from its competitors.
Goodtype: The Art of Lettering by Brooke Robinson
Lettering is an art form, and Robinson does a great job illustrating just how intricate and rewarding it can be. From brush lettering to digital typography and more, this book provides an in-depth look at all aspects of lettering and why it’s so important in design today.
Whether you consider yourself a professional designer, we can always learn something new about our craft! Having these five books close by has been instrumental in helping me stay informed on current trends while also keeping my skills sharpened over time—they have become invaluable resources over the years! If you're looking for creative inspiration or want to brush up on your existing knowledge, these must-have books should be added to your collection immediately! Happy reading!
More articles

Challenge Yourself
Reach new heights by stepping out of your comfort zone!

From Disabled to Adaptive
A Reflection on Redefining Perceptions of Disability

Achieving Goals
How Focusing on the First Step Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

Chasing Dreams
The Balance of Dreams and Reality

Foundation is Everything
How Design Systems Aid in Establishing a Solid Foundation
5 Must Have Design Books
Just a few of my personal favorites
Thursday, March 9, 2023

5 Must Have Design Books
Written by
Founder
When it comes to honing your craft, there’s nothing quite like learning from the experts. I’ve been collecting design books for years and am here to share my top five with you. These are the books I keep within arm's reach of my workstation at all times. So if you’re looking for inspiration or a great read, look no further! Here are five must-have design books.
Made by James by James Martin
This book is a fantastic tribute to legendary graphic designer and illustrator James Martin. With over 200 pages of images from his archive, this book is essential for any graphic design enthusiast. It's filled with photos from Martin's life and work that will whisk readers away on a journey through time. From inspiring sketches to insightful quotes from Martin, this book will surely give you the inspiration you need.
Draplin Design Co.: Pretty Much Everything by Aaron James Draplin
What I love about this book is that it provides a behind-the-scenes peek at how Draplin crafts stunning designs from start to finish. It also includes lots of fun anecdotes and advice on how to stay motivated when things get tough.
The Process is the Inspiration by House Industries
This book celebrates 25 years of House Industries’ iconic typefaces and designs. It showcases stunning images of their typography and artwork and interviews with some of their key creative team members. It also takes you behind the scenes of their process and shows how they develop new ideas every day despite facing seemingly impossible challenges. This book is perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to learn more about what goes into creating exquisite typefaces and designs.
Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
Designing Brand Identity is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to build their brand from scratch or strengthen an existing one. This book offers step-by-step guidance on developing strong brand identity guidelines that will ensure consistency across all touch points—from logo design and typography to packaging and website development—and will help set your business apart from its competitors.
Goodtype: The Art of Lettering by Brooke Robinson
Lettering is an art form, and Robinson does a great job illustrating just how intricate and rewarding it can be. From brush lettering to digital typography and more, this book provides an in-depth look at all aspects of lettering and why it’s so important in design today.
Whether you consider yourself a professional designer, we can always learn something new about our craft! Having these five books close by has been instrumental in helping me stay informed on current trends while also keeping my skills sharpened over time—they have become invaluable resources over the years! If you're looking for creative inspiration or want to brush up on your existing knowledge, these must-have books should be added to your collection immediately! Happy reading!
More articles

Challenge Yourself
Reach new heights by stepping out of your comfort zone!

From Disabled to Adaptive
A Reflection on Redefining Perceptions of Disability

Achieving Goals
How Focusing on the First Step Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

Chasing Dreams
The Balance of Dreams and Reality

Foundation is Everything
How Design Systems Aid in Establishing a Solid Foundation
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Get in touch to talk about your next project.
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Built to shift.
Designed to last.
Get in touch to talk about your next project.
Meet the partners who are part of our success story

Built to shift.
Designed to last.
Get in touch to talk about your next project.
Meet the partners who are part of our success story
