Inspiring books

A non-exhaustive list of books that have inspired me and/or helped me grow as an illustrator and designer along the years…There are a few missing that I will add soon!

Matisse - Gouaches Découpées

by Gilles Néret - Taschen

Matisse’s work has always been so popular and everybody loves his colourful, quirky, playful work.

I love looking through the pages of this book and study Matisse’s work. His mastery of colour and shape is undeniable. I also love how imperfectly perfect some of his artworks are, you can almost feel the freedom behind it! It seems like Matisse had lots of fun painting, cutting, collaging.

The Creative Shopkeeper

by Lucy Johnston

This book is a wonderful resource for anyone thinking of opening their own cool shop…anywhere in the world.

And that’s something I’ve always dreamt of doing! So obviously this book is a real treasure trove for me. Full of tips and tricks from shopkeepers around the globe, I’m keeping it close by for when I actually take the plunge and open my own little shop…I thought this book was also very inspiring when it comes to interior design. You would still love it even though you don’t have plans to have your own shop, ever! This book is a little visual treat for anyone that likes good and quirky design.

How to make books

by Esther K. Smith

This is one of the first books I ever bought when I first came to the UK. It was a lonnnng time ago (on one of my trips to visit my brother when he was still living in Bristol).

I remember seeing the book and thinking: “Oh I want to make books so bad! Show me how!”. Although this is not a book about graphic design, it’s a book about crafts and the idea that you can make anything with your own hands, some paper and some glue (and some other bits too, sometimes). I love the idea that anyone can make an impression by creating something from scratch: not fancy, not pretentious, but just genuinely fun and inspirational.

Olimpia Zagnoli - Caleidoscopica

by Lazy Dog

Olimpia is an italian illustrator I have been a huge fan of for years now.

I’ve been in love with Olimpia’s work ever since I first discovered it a few years ago. I even tried to interview her for my magazine, Spellbound! (Unfortunately she was too busy at the time). For me, it’s the colours, the way she plays with shapes and the humour behind each piece. I also love how she can simplify her work in the most beautiful way and find the essence of what she’s trying to say through art.

40 Days of Dating

by Jessica Walsh and Timothy Goodman

You’ve probably already heard of Jessica and Timothy…If not because of this experiment, you’ve surely already seen both their work.

Jessica’s work is bold, colourful and ground-breaking. Timothy’s? Fun, heartfelt and super bold too. I picked up this book after listening to Debbie Millman’s conversation with them on her podcast. I thought it was such a weird (weird is always good), fun and thought-provoking experiment and I loved reading about it! It brings up themes that I care about: love, relationships, mental health…And obviously, the inner pages of the book all look amazing.

The Secret Lives of Colour

by Kassia St Clair

Haven’t you seen this awesome book before? And its wonderful cover design? If you’re a fan of colours and colour theory, then, I advise you to get it next time to stumble upon it!

I’ve always loved reading about colours, colour theory and how some colours make us feel and why. This book is about colours, but not just about any plain colour. This book is about colours that have names you’ve probably never heard of before; it’s about where they come from, how they are used, how they got their funny names, what they might mean…I still refer to this book when I choose a colour for a project, to make sure I truly understand the history and psychology behind the colours I pick. This book is a treasure trove for people in love with colours!

Gray Malin

by Abrams Books

Gray Malin is one of my favourite photographers. His work is bold, surprising, colourful and almost a little bit magical too.

You probably already know Gray Malin’s colourful photography. I absolutely love anything he does, from his pictures of colourful butterflies in the desert to his aerial shots of busy beaches. He travels the world and brings his own magic with him. All of his photographs are little paintings which never cease to amaze and inspire me.

How to think like a great graphic designer

by Debbie Millman

I precisely remember getting this book when I was still working as a graphic designer in London and reading it during my lunch breaks at the park…

If you don’t know it already, I LOVE Debbie Millman. I have been listening to her podcast for as long as I can remember. She’s super inspiring and has a very unique voice in the design world. Her work is great but what I love most about her is her dedication to shine a light on why design truly matters. This book is her interviewing a lot of other talented designers and trying to unravel the mysteries behind the creative process.

Do/Improvise

by Robert Poynton

I love the Do/books…All of them are awesome. I own a few of them, but this one definitely is my favourite.

The title probably gives away a lot, but that’s what attracted me to it (obviously). After reading this a few years ago, I changed the way I was working and tried to develop a better life/work balance. This small but mighty book made me realise that it’s ok to take time off, to have days off, to not do anything for a while. It’s ok not to be inspired, it’s ok to feel fed up. It’s ok to live your life and not just work your life. A must-read for freelancers!