Welcome to Canningvale Corner and our first blog post. Today, it's about the inspiration and general joy a design book can bring to your day. I love books of all kinds but find design books particularly invaluable in my work - I can't get enough of them. Often, a book is the first place I start when I'm looking for inspiration for a new design or a design story. I could blab on for pages and hours about my favourite books but I'd probably lose your interest so I'll keep it general for now. There are infinite categories of design books out there but it usually depends on my mood as to what I'll pick up: general pattern resource books, historic pattern design (either general or from a particular era), wallpaper design, wrapping paper design, stationary design, vintage dress fabrics, geometric patterns, apron design, Hawaiian shirts, children's books, illustrators from any period, typography, all things hand made, all things computer graphic, industrial design, furniture design, logos and advertising, and the list goes on. My current crush is on Japanese design books - they do so many about such specific themes and they are SO good (look out for matchbox cover and bubble gum wrapper design - sublime!).

A favourite past time of mine is lingering around the design section of a good book store but, when there's limited idle time for browsing, the world of online stores comes calling. I am forever adding new books to my wishlist at Amazon (of course there are an abundance of other online stores from which to shop - and many with free shipping!). There are also some absolutely fantastic websites that review design books and help with your decision making. For constant inspiration and new discoveries I go to book-by-its-cover and grainedit (not only great book reviews but also fantastic reviews of classic and contemporary design).

Categories:

books
inspiration

Posted by Frances | design and product development

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