Comments on: Graphic design bookstore

By: Bri Dold

Bri Dold — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:23:56 +0000

This is such a good idea!

By: David Airey

David Airey — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:43:07 +0000

Good answer. :) Have you read Michael Beirut's 79 short essays on design? It's recommended, and two on my reading list that others tell me are good are How to think like a graphic designer and Things I have learned in my life so far.

By: Douglas Bonneville

Douglas Bonneville — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:14:37 +0000

I don’t want to take the thread any more off topic…except just this once more:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/22/technology/auletta_maxims.fortune/?postversion=2009102609

There are some great quotes here that relate to ‘How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul’ by Adrian Shaughnessey and the idea of not focusing on the right things as a designer, and also the importance of following a passion:

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the 100 other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.” – Steve Jobs

David: Can you recommend any other books, or even articles, on being a graphic designer along these lines? Something more fundamental?

By: Douglas Bonneville

Douglas Bonneville — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:14:23 +0000

@ David: My soul-less eyes stared blankly back at my nephew…

Just kidding. I took the time to explain that “not losing your soul” was a metaphor for making good choices with your time on a certain level, but also that it could apply to any job. There are so many “important things to do”, it’s easy to get caught up in doing “needful” things instead of “most needful” things. If you get caught up doing “important”, but not “most important” you will indeed be sacrificing bits of your humanity while at the same time not getting what you are after. It’s hard, soul-searching work to exclude what you should not be doing. It’s much easier to not think so much and just do everything all the time and not see the cumulative lack of efficacy.

Swiss Miss had 2 great posts about this recently:

http://www.swiss-miss.com/2009/10/being-lazy-by-doing-too-much.html

http://www.swiss-miss.com/2009/09/working-hard-is-overrated.html

By: David Airey

David Airey — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:51 +0000

It is a worthy choice, Alex, and one that's listed in the graphic design category. What was your answer, Doug? It's a good question.

By: Douglas Bonneville

Douglas Bonneville — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:56:04 +0000

@ Alex: I have that book too, excellent choice. My 14 yr old nephew visited for the weekend and saw that book sitting on my art desk. He picked it up, perplexed, and questioned rather innocently, “Do you normally *have* to give your soul up to become a graphic designer?”

By: Alex Peterson

Alex Peterson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:48:01 +0000

I’d recommend ‘How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul’ by Adrian Shaughnessey.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:53:40 +0000

Edward de Bono’s books are all fantastic–can’t go wrong with any of those.

By: David Airey

David Airey — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:39:19 +0000

Hello Irina. I recommend two de Bono books in the thinking category. Have a read at the reviews. They're both good books.

By: Irina

Irina — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:46:59 +0000

Dear David! Thank you very much for your blog.

Which is the best practical Edward de Bono’s book about creativity by your opinion? This autor has a lot of them…
I need something interesting to read and to use in my speciality. I’m graphic designer.