The 15 Best Graphic Design Books for Entrepreneurs
Most lists of graphic design books are useless to a business owner.
They're bloated with academic textbooks and pretty-but-pointless coffee table books.
This isn't a list for students; it's a list for people who sign the cheques.
We've filtered the noise to find the books that treat design as what it is: a commercial weapon.
These playbooks provide a tangible return on investment by teaching you how to build a powerful brand identity that sells.
- The selected graphic design books for entrepreneurs focus on practical applications and strategic thinking rather than academic theory.
- Understanding design principles allows business owners to articulate needs and evaluate design work effectively.
- A strong brand identity acts as a business asset, enhancing recognition, loyalty, and profitability.
The Foundation: Books for Thinking Like a Designer
Business owners' biggest mistake is thinking they need to learn how to design. They don’t. You hire people for that. Your job is to learn how to think about design as a strategic tool.
It's about understanding the problem so clearly that you can write a sharp brief and recognise a powerful solution when you see one.
These books build that foundation.
1. The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier
This is the starting line. If you read only one book on this list, make it this one. Neumeier’s genius is his ability to distil complex branding concepts into a “whiteboard overview” that’s fast, clear, and immediately applicable. He demolishes the idea that a brand is a logo or a visual identity.
- New
- Mint Condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
Instead, he defines it as a person’s gut feeling about a product, service, or company. It’s what they say it is, not what you say it is. The book is the bridge between business strategy and design.
- Who it's for: Every single business owner, CEO, or marketer who thinks branding is just about aesthetics.
- Who should avoid it: Designers looking for a technical manual on creating brand assets. This is pure strategy.
- Key Takeaway: A brand isn't what you say it is; it's what your customers say. Your job is to influence that gut feeling.
- Practicality Score: 10/10
2. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
This book is small enough to read in an hour, but its message sticks with you. Kleon cuts through the myth of the lone genius and the paralysing pressure to be “original.” He argues that all creative work is built on what came before.
- By artist and writer Austin Kleon
- A collection of positive messages and exercises to realize your artistic side
- A New York Times Best-seller
For a business owner, this is liberating. You don't need divine inspiration to create a compelling brand. You must immerse yourself in your industry, collect ideas you admire, and remix them into something new and uniquely yours.
- Who it's for: Anyone feeling “uncreative” or overwhelmed by the pressure to innovate.
- Who should avoid it: Someone looking for a step-by-step design guide. This is a mindset book, not a process book.
- Key Takeaway: Stop worrying about being original. Focus on synthesising your influences into something new.
- Practicality Score: 8/10
3. How to by Michael Bierut
The title is deliciously ironic. This is not a “how-to” book in the traditional sense. It's a collection of 35 case studies from one of the world's leading designers.
Bierut walks you through the messy, non-linear, and often frustrating process of solving real-world design problems for clients like The New York Times and Hillary Clinton.
- Hardcover Book
- Bierut, Michael (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Reading this shows you what a design process actually looks like. It’s not a magic trick. It's a series of questions, dead ends, conversations, and strategic decisions. Understanding this will make you a far better client.
- Who it's for: Business owners who want a behind-the-scenes look at the design process to manage their projects better.
- Who should avoid it: Anyone who wants a simple, step-by-step instruction manual.
- Key Takeaway: Great design solutions result from a rigorous strategic process, not a sudden stroke of genius.
- Practicality Score: 7/10
The Nuts & Bolts: Books on Core Design Principles
You don't need to become a master typographer, but you do need to speak the language. Understanding the basics of typography, layout, and visual organisation is non-negotiable.
It allows you to give clear, effective feedback instead of saying “I don't know, it just doesn't feel right.”
4. Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton
This is the most accessible, practical, and well-respected introduction to typography you can buy. Lupton explains the essential concepts of lettering, text, and grids without getting lost in jargon. It answers the questions you might be afraid to ask.
- Lupton, Ellen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages – 03/14/2024 (Publication Date) – Chronicle Books (Publisher)
Why does one font feel modern and another feel traditional? How do you create a clear hierarchy on a page? This book gives you the vocabulary and the confidence to discuss typography intelligently.
- Who it's for: Absolutely everyone. You are a typographer if you create documents, presentations, or websites.
- Who should avoid it: Expert typographers who already own it.
- Key Takeaway: Typography is not about picking pretty fonts. It’s a tool for creating order, clarity, and a distinct voice for your brand.
- Practicality Score: 9/10
5. Making and Breaking the Grid by Timothy Samara
Ever wondered why some websites or brochures look clean and professional, while others look like a chaotic mess? The answer is usually a grid.
- Samara, Timothy (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages – 06/08/2023 (Publication Date) – Rockport Publishers (Publisher)
A grid is the invisible scaffolding that holds a design together, creating alignment, rhythm, and harmony.
This book does a brilliant job of showing the underlying structure of professional layouts. It provides dozens of examples and then indicates when and how to break that structure for creative effect.
- Who it's for: Business owners who want to understand the logic behind strong, professional-looking layouts.
- Who should avoid it: Anyone looking for a purely mathematical or theoretical exploration of grid systems. This is a visual, practical guide.
- Key Takeaway: A grid brings order to information, making it easier for your audience to consume.
- Practicality Score: 8/10
6. Draplin Design Co.: Pretty Much Everything by Aaron Draplin
This book is a breath of fresh air in an industry that can take itself too seriously. Aaron Draplin is a blue-collar designer who builds bold, practical, and enduring logos and identities.
- Hardcover Book
- Draplin, Aaron James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The book is part portfolio, part memoir, and part straight-talking advice.
For an entrepreneur, Draplin’s work ethic and no-nonsense approach are invaluable. He shows that great design must not be complex or trendy; it has to work. It’s a powerful lesson in substance over style.
- Who it's for: Entrepreneurs who appreciate craftsmanship, honesty, and a pragmatic approach to building a brand.
- Who should avoid it: Anyone looking for sleek, corporate, minimalist theory. Draplin is all about substance and bold simplicity.
- Key Takeaway: Focus on creating simple, robust, timeless designs that solve problems, not chasing fleeting trends.
- Practicality Score: 7/10 (More inspirational than instructional, but the ethos is 100% practical).
The Business End: Books on Branding and Identity
This is where design hits the balance sheet. A strong brand identity is a business asset that builds recognition, commands loyalty, and supports higher prices.
These books cover building a brand that connects with customers and drives growth. This is the work we live and breathe at Inkbot Design.
Crafting a brand identity is more than just a logo design service; it's about building a coherent system for growth.
7. Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler
If you plan a serious branding project for your company, buy this book first. It is the definitive, step-by-step guide to the entire process.
- Hardcover Book
- Wheeler, Alina (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Wheeler lays out a five-phase methodology that covers everything from research and analysis to brand launch and governance.
It’s structured like a textbook but written for professionals. It’s packed with checklists, case studies, and practical diagrams. It demystifies the branding process, turning it from a mysterious art into a manageable, disciplined project.
- Who it's for: Business owners leading a startup, a rebrand, or anyone wanting a comprehensive understanding of the branding process.
- Who should avoid it: Someone just looking for a quick logo for a side project. This is the whole five-course meal.
- Key Takeaway: A successful brand identity results from a rigorous, methodical process, not a weekend brainstorming session.
- Practicality Score: 10/10
8. Logo Design Love by David Airey
A logo is not your brand, but it’s the primary symbol for it. This book is the perfect guide for any business owner commissioning a logo.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Airey, David (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Airey walks through his process, showing how iconic logos are developed from the initial client brief to the final result.
It will teach you what makes a logo effective, what questions a good designer will ask, and what to expect from the process. It will stop you from hiring someone on a cheap marketplace and then wondering why the result is so poor.
- Who it's for: Anyone about to invest in a professional logo design.
- Who should avoid it: People who believe AI can generate a professional logo in 30 seconds for £5.
- Key Takeaway: A great logo comes from a great client-designer partnership built on a clear, strategic brief.
- Practicality Score: 9/10
9. Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
This marketing book will impact your design work more than most design books. Miller argues that businesses waste millions on marketing because their message is too complicated.
- Binding : Paperback
- Pages : 240
- Publisher : Harpercollins Leadership
He provides a 7-part framework (the SB7 Framework) to clarify your message so customers listen.
Once your message is clear, every design decision—from your website layout to your business card—becomes easier and more effective. It forces you to stop talking about yourself and start focusing on your customer's problem.
- Who it's for: Every single small business owner. No exceptions. Read this book.
- Who should avoid it: Anyone who stubbornly believes their product's technical features are more interesting than their customer's success.
- Key Takeaway: Your customer is the story's hero, not your brand. Your brand is the guide who helps them win.
- Practicality Score: 10/10
The Digital Frontier: Books for Web and UI Design
For most businesses today, the primary point of contact with customers is a screen. Your website, your app, your social media presence—these are your storefronts. These books focus on creating digital experiences that are clear, intuitive, and effective.
10. Don't Make Me Think, Revisited by Steve Krug
This is the foundational text on web usability. Reading should be required for anyone who owns, manages, or creates a website.
Krug’s core principle is simple: when people use a website, they shouldn't have to think about how it works. Every page should be self-evident, obvious, and unambiguous.
- New Riders Publishing
- Krug, Steve (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The book is short, funny, and filled with commonsense examples. It will permanently change how you look at your website and every other website you visit.
- Who it's for: Anyone who has a website. Full stop.
- Who should avoid it: Nobody. Seriously.
- Key Takeaway: Design your website for scanning, not reading, and ensure users can accomplish their goal with the least possible effort.
- Practicality Score: 10/10
11. Refactoring UI by Adam Wathan & Steve Schoger
This book is a tactical goldmine. It's written for developers and product people who have to build interfaces but don't have a design background. Instead of high-level theory, it provides hundreds of specific, example-driven tips.
It shows you how to use spacing to create clarity, build a colour palette that works, and establish a clear typographic hierarchy.
The tactical advice in this book is incredibly empowering for an entrepreneur who has to mock up an idea or give feedback on a design.
- Who it's for: Entrepreneurs, developers, and marketers must make day-to-day design decisions for their app or website.
- Who should avoid it: Anyone looking for brand strategy or high-level theory. This book is all about the pixels.
- Key Takeaway: A handful of tactical design principles, consistently applied, can transform an amateur-looking interface into a professional one.
- Practicality Score: 9/10
12. Storytelling with Data by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic
Every business runs on data, but most are terrible at presenting it. We overwhelm our audience with cluttered charts, confusing graphs, and spreadsheets that obscure the key message.
This book teaches you how to apply graphic design principles to data visualisation. It shows you how to eliminate clutter, focus your audience's attention, and build a straightforward narrative around your data.
Whether you're creating a pitch deck, a board report, or a marketing dashboard, this book will make your communication more persuasive.
- Who it's for: Any business owner or manager who needs to present data to make a point.
- Who should avoid it: Businesses that operate entirely on gut feeling (and are probably not long for this world).
- Key Takeaway: Good data visualisation isn't about showing all the data; it's about using design to tell a clear and compelling story.
- Practicality Score: 8/10
The Deep Dives: For When You're Ready to Go Further
These books are not the place to start. They are for when you've grasped the fundamentals and want to deepen your expertise in a specific area. They are powerful tools for the right person at the right time.
13. The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst
Where Thinking with Type is the perfect introduction, this book is the bible. It is a dense, poetic, and comprehensive masterwork on typography. It's less of a “how-to” guide and more of a philosophical and historical reference.
For 95% of business owners, this book is overkill. But if you discover a passion for typography and want to understand the art at the deepest level, this is the definitive text.
- Who it's for: The aspiring expert who has already absorbed the basics and wants to achieve mastery.
- Who should avoid it: Beginners and the vast majority of business owners.
- Key Takeaway: Typography is a beautiful and complex craft with centuries of conventions aimed at creating harmony and readability.
- Practicality Score: 4/10 (for a business owner), 11/10 (for a design professional).
14. Creative Confidence by Tom & David Kelley
Written by the founders of the legendary design firm IDEO, this book is not about graphic design but about a broader concept: design thinking. It’s a methodology for innovation and problem-solving.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Kelley, David (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Kelleys argue that creativity isn't a rare gift for the “artsy” few; it's a muscle that can be developed.
They provide processes and mindsets to help leaders build a more innovative culture. This is an inspiring and practical guide for a business owner looking to foster creativity throughout their organisation.
- Who it's for: Business leaders who want to build a culture of innovation.
- Who should avoid it: Someone looking for specific visual design techniques.
- Key Takeaway: Creativity is a learnable skill that can be applied to solve business challenges.
- Practicality Score: 7/10
15. Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
If Steal Like an Artist was about how to get ideas, this book is about how to get your ideas noticed. Kleon makes a robust case for sharing your process openly and consistently.
- Workman publishing
- Binding: paperback
- Language: english
This is the heart of modern content marketing for small businesses and entrepreneurs. By sharing what you’re working on, the challenges you’re facing, and the lessons you’re learning, you build an audience that trusts and wants to see you succeed.
It’s a new way of thinking about marketing that is more generous and more effective.
- Who it's for: Entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who must build a personal or company brand through content.
- Who should avoid it: Large, established corporations with rigid communication protocols.
- Key Takeaway: Don't wait for a finished product. Sharing your process is a powerful way to build an audience and a brand.
- Practicality Score: 8/10
So, Which Book Should You Actually Buy First?
This is a long list. Don't buy all of them. Start with the one that solves your most pressing problem right now.
- If your problem is “I don't know where to begin with branding,” buy The Brand Gap.
- If your problem is “Our message is confusing and our marketing isn't working,” buy Building a StoryBrand.
- If your problem is “Our website looks professional, but nobody knows how to use it,” buy Don't Make Me Think.
- If your problem is “Our brand looks inconsistent and amateurish,” buy Designing Brand Identity.
A Final Word on Your Bookshelf
These books are tools. They are not magic bullets. Reading them won't make you a designer, but it will make you a much better business owner.
They will give you the vocabulary to articulate what you want, the framework to evaluate the work you commission, and the confidence to use design as it's meant to be: a powerful lever for growing your business.
Knowledge of design principles lets you have more intelligent, productive conversations about your brand.
When you're ready to have that conversation with a team that understands the strategic thinking in these books and the pixel-perfect execution required to bring it to life, we're here.
Look at our graphic design services to see how we apply these principles, or request a quote if you have a specific project in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Graphic Design Books
What is the single best graphic design book for a total beginner?
For a business owner who is a total beginner, the best starting point is The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier. It's not about technical design skills but about the strategic role design plays in a business, which is the most valuable concept to grasp.
Do I need to learn design software like Photoshop to understand these books?
No. None of the books on this core list requires any knowledge of design software. They focus on strategy, principles, and thinking, which are far more valuable for a business owner than technical software skills.
Are there any good books specifically on colour theory for business?
While many of these books touch on colour, a dedicated, practical book on the topic is harder to find. A good starting point is Josef Albers' Interaction of Colour, but be aware it's more of an academic, experimental text. For most business owners, the sections on colour in Designing Brand Identity and Refactoring UI are sufficient.
Is it better to buy physical books or e-books for design?
For design books, physical copies are almost always better. The layout, paper quality, and ability to see spreads in their entirety are part of the experience and learning process, especially for books dealing with typography and design. E-books are convenient but often compromise the visual presentation.
How is this list different from others online?
This list is curated specifically for entrepreneurs and business owners, not design students. It prioritises practical application, strategic thinking, and business ROI over academic theory or visual inspiration.
What book should I read to get better at giving feedback to my designer?
How to by Michael Bierut will help you understand the designer's process. Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton will provide you with the vocabulary for discussing typography and hierarchy. Together, they will make your feedback more precise and effective.
Are there any good books about the business side of graphic design?
While this list is for design clients, an excellent book for understanding the business side from a designer's perspective is The Business of Expertise by David C. Baker. It provides insight into how creative professionals price their services and position their value.
Should I read these books before starting a branding project?
Absolutely. Reading The Brand Gap, Designing Brand Identity, and Logo Design Love before you hire a design agency or freelancer will make the entire process smoother, more collaborative, and ultimately more successful. You'll know what to ask for and how to evaluate the work you receive.
Are any of these books useful for social media marketing?
Yes. Building a StoryBrand principles directly apply to writing compelling social media copy. The visual hierarchy and layout tips from Refactoring UI can help you create cleaner, more effective social media graphics. Show Your Work! Provides an excellent philosophy for your entire content strategy.
Many of these books are a few years old. Are they still relevant?
Yes. This list intentionally focuses on books that teach timeless principles, not fleeting trends or software-specific techniques. Branding, typography, usability, and visual communication fundamentals do not change significantly yearly. They are as relevant now as they were when they were published.
Last update on 2025-09-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
