Blogs, Mad about Design
Blogs, Mad about Design is a new book from maomao publications. It showcases screenshots and brief descriptions from more than 250 blogs that are, well, mad about design.
All blogs are allocated a double-page spread, and what I like most about the collection is how the authors behind each site were asked to recommend three design blogs, also listed throughout the book.
It’s quite a hefty hardback, with more than 500 pages, so wouldn’t fit through my letterbox. I was still in bed when the postman called yesterday, but my neighbour was outside at the time, saving me a trip to the post office HQ (thanks, Steven).
No book about design blogs is complete without Design Observer (on Twitter). These three blogs get a special mention from the DO team:
Brand Flakes for Breakfast
If you’ve yet to visit, Brand Flakes for Breakfast is worth a browse. Author Darryl Ohrt (Twitter profile) is a top bloke, and lists these blogs as some of his faves:
Designers who Blog
Designers who Blog was one of my very first RSS subscriptions, and it’s a pleasure to call Cat (Twitter profile) a friend. She recommends these:
It’s Nice That
It’s Nice That aims to remove what is “nice” in the worlds of graphic design, illustration and the creative arts in general and turn it into something significant and sincere.
The three notable mentions from Will Hudson, Alex Bec and Jez Burrows (on Twitter) include:
Behance Team Blog
The Behance Team blog is there too, though is one of the very few that doesn’t feature a top three.
A year or so back, Behance founder Scott Belsky (on Twitter) kindly invited me over to create a portfolio, but I still haven’t found the time to upload anything. To those with a profile, how is Behance working for you?
Creative Curio
Like mine, the screenshots for Lauren’s Creative Curio were sent to the book’s editor before a site redesign. Lauren (Twitter profile) shares a few of her regular reads:
- I Love Typography
- David Airey (the money’s in the post)
- Freelance Switch
I Love Typography
Who isn’t familiar with John Boardley’s I Love Typography? John (Twitter profile) recommends these household names (as do I):
swissmiss
Tina (Twitter profile) shares some fantastic links / products / resources on her site, and gives these three blogs a mention in the book:
The book contains loads of blogs I’ve yet to visit, and plenty I read regularly. A few more worthy mentions include Andy Rutledge, The Dieline, ideasonideas, Noisy Decent Graphics, Brand New, and AisleOne.
For more recommendations see the top 50+ graphic design blogs.
Both of my blogs (this one and Logo Design Love) were kindly included, and it was humbling to have a number of other blog authors list my site in their favourites. Thank you!
Inside cover
I checked on both the maomao publications website, and on Amazon, but can’t find the book offered for sale. If you know different, do let me know and I’ll update with a link.
Related posts on David Airey dot com
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David, the design of the book looks quite slick from what I’m seeing here. And like you, my blog design changed while the book was in press.
I’m still waiting on my copy… but hopefully this week it’ll wind its way to Bangkok.
Looks like a great book. Thanks for sharing it, I may have to go out and get one now.
Wow so that is what it looks like, never knew it was going to be so big! Just Creative Design is meant to be in there too I believe… from memory I think I recommended your site too? Would you mind having a check if JCD is in there? Also, did you order this book or do all blogs featured get it delivered?
Hurray………I am really happy your site was included…….it is my personal favourite…….and good to know that I have good taste.. ;-) ……. this is called vanity…….instead of congratulating you on the excellent blog design ……I am harping on about my taste.
On a more serious note………keep up the good work David. Your indepth knowledge on design trends is a great inspiration for us upcoming designers.
Cheers!
this looks like a great book.
Definitely something to add to the collection but may have to hold off for a few months now while I go traveling. I reckon that’ll be a bit too heavy to carry around Australia for 3 months!
Catherine,
I admit, when the idea was first presented, I didn’t think a collection of screenshots would turn out well, but many of the blogs show quite varied images (some are a bit repetitive though), and it is great to see what blogs are recommended by individual blog authors.
Jacob,
You did indeed recommend my site (thanks very much), along with Freelance Folder and FreelanceSwitch. I didn’t order the book, but was told I’d receive a copy way back when I was asked for screenshots.
Namrita,
That’s very kind of you, and yes, I think your taste is impeccable!
Nathan,
Three months? Excellent. I’d love to do something like that again. When do you set off?
You deserve to be in this publication. Your stuff is solid. Congratulations and keep up the good work.
@David – you’ll find out all about it soon!
I’ll have to agree with Robert! Well done David! And thanks for sharing the resource with us!
S+
this is a very nice collection. Thanks for summarizing everything and extracting out some useful and familiar information for us!
Wow thats amazing publication, one day I will make it to this holy place of Designers :D
Thanks for showing us this David, Its one for a Sunday night read, and proud to have on the book shelf.
Take care
Mali
Eatingdesign.com
Found this David, Maybe will be available soon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blogs-Macarena-San-Martin-Soto/dp/8496774554
Take care
Mali
Eatingdesign.com
Wow, that looks overwhelming, in a good way.
It’s always ironic when they publish books about blogs. They seem like competing mediums to me. Well, perhaps not competing per se, but it’s like they’re on different teams.
Looks great, anyway.
Hey I wondered what happened to that! Thanks for sharing pictures, David! Gah, I wish I had done my redesign earlier… it’s cool to see other blogs in there too. Looks like a really nice edition.
And I’ll keep my eye out for the check in the mail ;)
Thanks for the review! Just found some new blogs to follow and learn from. Great thanks!
Hi David
I got mine this morning too. Was very pleased to be included in such company. Probably like many of the other blogs featured, I’ve changed my design too.
Nice review. I’m going to blog about it tomorrow.
that’s impressive, i really want to get this book
Mali,
It’s strange how the Amazon entry dates back a year (and that it only seems to be on the .co.uk site). I was hoping to see the book listed on the maomao website, but I’m unable to scroll down through the graphic design books (in both FF and Safari). I’m hoping for their sake it’s just me, as it’d be a wasted opportunity to have the contributor books shipped without anyone able to buy copies.
Lauren,
There’s a very high chance I got your mailing address wrong, but you’re more than welcome for me sharing some photos.
Jennifer,
That’s definitely a disadvantage of publishing screenshots, and why I won’t be showing any in my book (I was asked to feature Adobe Illustrator images). I reckon some blog features were out-of-date just a few weeks after being submitted.
Thanks, everyone, for the compliments, and for commenting.
Boy, they contacted me so long ago I completely forgot about this. Thanks for the update. And yes, I don’t even remember what my site might have looked like back then.
excellent book
Would love to get my hands on this book! Looks terrific and congrat’s.
Hey, the book is on sale in Page One bookstore and Kinokuniya :)
Andy,
You’re site is the same now as it is in the screenshots. So that’s good.
Melissa,
Thanks for letting us know. It took me a while to find the book listed on the Page One website (scroll down a little on that page), and there’s no link to “buy”, so I guess anyone wanting it will need to send them (or maomao) an email.
Thanx david to give information about that great book !
I’ll try to get this book if possible…
Hi david,
You may drop me an email in case you can’t get the book. I would be most willingly to do you a favour by purchasing it and sending a copy to you. :)
That’s very gracious of you, Melissa, thank you. But you see that hand in the photo above? That’ll be mine. ;)
Oh That’s great! :)
This book really looks amazing. I need to get a bigger letterbox.
This book is great! is amazing how much stuff is out there that we don’t know about, and it ends up being really interesting.
If only we had time to check it all out! especially with upcoming designers, and students that speak up with new and great design.
keep up the good work! ;)
Ah mine just arrived today, spose that’s what you get living down under.
This seems very interesting, definitely worth a read! how much is this book?
Still waiting my copy too, very excited about discovering all those blogs :)
Excellent book !
From the looks of it, Thailand is the last to receive the book. Sigh…
Congrats on the inclusion David—and rightly deserved for both of your blogs to be included. I’m looking forward to your own book, too.
Hi David.
Looks like a fantastic book and cant wait to se it available so i can buy it?
Can i possibly make a recommendation?
I have noticed on the occasion you do tell us about newly published books and i trust your judgement and would always be interesting in purchasing them on your recommendation. Ive only bought 3 design books in the past and i am interested in buying more especially this one as im very into Wordpress at the moment. Can i suggest you include a category on your site called “I Recommend” or something similar so as and when i can buy books i know where to look and see everybodys elses views on the book through your comments? Just a suggestion.
Keep up the good work!
Mike
Stick in there, Cat. It does look sadly like SE Asia is last on the delivery list.
Thanks for the comments, and for the congrats, Andrew. Vim, I’m not sure how much the book costs. You’ll need to contact maomao for pricing.
Michael,
Good suggestion. I’ve thought about adding a “books” category for a while, and was waiting until I had a few more entries to include.
I’ve been trying to figure out a good gift for my boss for Christmas and I’m glad I found this post. He’ll love this book if I can find it, we’re an SEO company and we build blogs constantly.