Today through Monday, MyDesignShop.com is running an enticing sale—40 percent off 27 items hand-picked by the editors of Print and HOW. Below, find the full selection of our editors’ favorite books, webcasts, magazine issues, and more. To take advantage of the sale, click through to make your purchases before the end of the day Monday, July 23.
Identify: Basic Principles of Identity Design in the Iconic Trademarks of Chermayeff & Geismar by Sagi Haviv, Tom Geismar, and Ivan ChermayeffHere’s a party trick: Ask someone to name a famous logo from the last 50 years, and then open this book to see if it was designed by Chermayeff & Geismar. With memorable marks by Mobil, PBS, NBC, and Chase under their belts, your odds are pretty good. —Michael Silverberg, editor in chief, Print
Print, August 2012: The Trash IssueI only recently joined the team at Print, so this pick is not as self-serving as it may seem. And, really, the August issue is a gem: a truly excellent batch of stories focused on trash, with an amazing presentation by guest designers Sulki & Min. —Mason Currey, executive editor, Print..
Breaking into Freelance Illustration: The Guide for Artists, Designers and Illustrators by Holly DeWolfHolly DeWolf’s book is the very first HOW book I had the pleasure of working on—today it’s still one of my favorites. While it specifically targets illustrators, I think any creative freelancer will find this a helpful guide to running a successful creative business. —Scott Francis, managing editor, HOW Books
Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Intersection of Life and Design by Debbie MillmanDebbie’s collection of illustrated essays is a beautiful meditation on design, but it’s also the sort of book that I would recommend to people who have little experience with design—like, say, my mom. In fact, that’s a great idea. I’m going to get this for my mom. —Michael Silverberg, editor in chief, Print
Damn Good: Top Designers Discuss Their All-Time Favorite Projects by Tim Lapetino and Jason AdamTim and Jason just gave a great presentation about how to spot red-flag clients at the recent HOW Design Conference. In their first book, Damn Good, they show of the best work of designers around the country, whether the client actually bought it or not. These are the projects that designers are most proud of and that will inspire your best work, as well. —Megan Patrick, content director, HOW
Mastering Type: The Essential Guide to Typography for Print and Web Design by Denise BoslerI’ve worked with Denise a lot lately, and she’s an amazing resource for all things typography-related. She’s smart, down-to-earth and has a great eye for great type! —Sarah Whitman, executive editor, HOW..
George Lois: Damn Good Advice (For People with Talent!) (DesignCast)Lois, as anyone will tell you, is a legend in the worlds of design and advertising. I don’t know how anyone could resist the opportunity to soak up the practical advice and “kick-ass lessons” he offers in this webcast. —Mason Currey, executive editor, Print.
Magazine Publishing on the the iPad (DesignCast) by Scott DadichFor anyone interested in translating magazines onto the iPad, there’s no better resource than Condé Nast’s Scott Dadich. In fact, as we’ve been readying the first iPad edition of Print, we’ve turned to him for advice. Here, he offers an invaluable primer to creating beautiful, user-centric editorial design on the tablet. —Michael Silverberg, editor in chief, Print
Blogging for Creatives: How Designers, Artists, Crafters and Writers Can Blog to Make Contacts, Win Business and Build Success by Robin Houghton
Whether you’re trying to build a brand for your design business or just for yourself, there’s no more powerful tool to do that than a well-written blog. A blog will establish your credibility in the industry with clients or potential employers. Robin Houghton provides all the tips and advice you’ll need to get started with a creative blog or to improve your current blogging efforts. —Megan Patrick, content director, HOW
Caffeine for Your Ideas Collection by Stefan Mumaw & Wendy Lee OldfieldI hear countless creatives tell their stories for award-winning or noteworthy projects. The one common factor that links most of these is that the initial idea did not hit them while staring at their computer screen. Before you sit down for your next boring brainstorm meeting, challenge yourself or your team to step outside of their comfort zone and attempt a creative exercise. The Caffeine for Your Ideas Collection combines challenges for both individuals and teams. Give it a shot. —Jessica Kuhn, senior and online editor, HOW
The Designer’s Web Handbook: What You Need to Know to Create for the Web by Patrick McNeilPatrick McNeil is a wonderful at breaking down interactive design topics so that they are approachable. I love having this book on hand for information about my interactive design projects. —Bridgid McCarren, senior art director, HOW.
Mirko Ilic: Fist to Face by Dejan KrsicMirko Ilic is not exactly an undiscovered talent, but he’s an often overlooked one. This monograph, out in October, should change that, putting his work—brave political design from the Eastern bloc to New York City—on the level of other contemporary greats. —Michael Silverberg, editor in chief, Print.
The Strategic Designer: Tools & Techniques for Managing the Design Process by David HolstonI got to meet Dave at the last HOW Live event and sat in on one of his workshops – he’s the real deal. He’s able to simplify concepts of design – and just as importantly, client relationships – in ways that took me years to really figure out. Very helpful and just generally an excellent guide to work from. —Ronson Slagle, designer, HOW Books
Women of Design: Influence and Inspiration From the Original Trailblazers to the New Groundbreakers by Armin Vit and Bryony Gomez-PalacioThe duo behind the Austin firm Under Consideration takes a much-needed look at the many groundbreaking women designers, writers, teachers, and entrepreneurs who have produced amazing work and helped to define the profession. —Mason Currey, executive editor, Print
The Logo Brainstorm Book: A Comprehensive Guide for Exploring Design Directions by Jim KrauseOur Logo Design Awards’ call for entries just wrapped up, so logos are on my mind as I prepare to hand the fate of the entries over to judge Jim Krause, also the author of one of the most recent HOW Books. The Logo Brainstorm Book is not only stunning, but is something that I truly believe all designers can appreciate as they approach their next logo project. —Jessica Kuhn, senior and online editor, HOW
Nicholas Felton: On Information Design (DesignCast)Making sense of huge streams of data isn’t just a task for scientists anymore; designers are now routinely asked to build compelling narratives in infographics or data visualizations. Nicholas Felton, known for his personal annual reports and, more recently, his work for Facebook, is your ideal guide in the emerging field. —Michael Silverberg, editor in chief, Print
The Designer’s Guide to Marketing and Pricing: How to Win Clients and What to Charge Them by Ilise Benun and Peleg TopThe tagline of this book says it all: ‘How to Win Clients and What to Charge Them.’ How can you NOT live without this design business guide? —Sarah Whitman, executive editor, HOW..
Crumble Crackle Burn Deluxe Edition: 200+ Stunning Textures for Design and Illustration by Von GlitschkaAs an illustrator, I’m always looking for something to give my images a little extra texture and pop.
I feel like I’ve used almost every image in the book at one point – I love to turn to it, especially if I need to turn something around quick. —Ronson Slagle, designer, HOW Books.
The Corporate Creative: Tips and Tactics for Thriving as an In-House Designer by Andy EpsteinAuthor Andy Epstein is HOW’s go-to guy for in-house information. He’s the founder of In-Source and co-chair of the InHOWse Managers Conference. Consider this your in-house design bible. —Sarah Whitman, executive editor, HOW.
Just Design: Socially Conscious Design for Critical Causes by Christopher SimmonsIn every issue of HOW, I tell the stories of socially conscious design projects in the Designing Change column. I was thrilled when I found out that HOW Books was working with the talented Christopher Simmons to spotlight even more of these stories in “Just Design” by showcasing inspiring projects, people and causes. —Jessica Kuhn, senior and online editor, HOW
Above the Fold: Understanding the Principles of Successful Web Site Design by Brian D. MillerThis is a great overall view of fundamental web design principles that are very helpful in learning how best to communicate with your audience. —Bridgid McCarren, senior art director, HOW..
The Accidental Creative (DesignCast) by Todd HenryWhen I listened to Todd Henry’s DesignCast series The Accidental Creative, it struck a chord with me. Creative professionals are often expected to generate their best work at a moment’s notice and it was usually expected yesterday. Sound familiar? In addition to dishing tips to better set yourself up for brilliance, Henry also pinpoints the root of this feeling as a problem in some workplace cultures and will arm you with tactics to help alleviate the tension and encourage a more successful and pleasant culture where brilliant ideas are harvested naturally. —Jessica Kuhn, senior and online editor, HOW
The Design of Dissent (DesignCast) by Mirko Ilic and Milton GlaserSo many designers these days want to use their work to effect social change, and you couldn’t ask for two better guides to politically-driven graphics than Mirko Ilic and Milton Glaser. —Mason Currey, executive editor, Print..
Creating Your Digital Portfolio: The Essential Guide to Showcasing Your Design Work Online by Ian ClazieEvery designer should have this essential guide to showcasing their work in a digital portfolio in today’s marketplace. —Bridgid McCarren, senior art director, HOW..
Grow Your Skills as an In-House Creative Manager (DesignCast) by Andy EpsteinThis 4-part series is a must-have for any in-house manager! You’ll get a conference-worth of info for a fraction of the price of an event. —Sarah Whitman, executive editor, HOW..
Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills by David SherwinOne of my favorite sessions at the 2012 HOW Design Conference was a workshop led by David Sherwin. His creative challenges are fun and yield some amazing results—and this book features 80 of them! —Scott Francis, managing editor, HOW Books.
Milk Eggs Vodka by Bill KeaggyTake a break from your work and enjoy a laugh at these real-life grocery lists. This book is so funny, I bought it for my entire family for Christmas. —Sarah Whitman, executive editor, HOW...