2D design / Graphic design: General resources

Blik, Tyler, Trademarks of the '60s & '70s, Chronicle Books, NC998.5.A1B57 1998

Blik, Tyler & Eric Baker, Trademarks of the '20s & '30s, Chronicle Books, NC998.5.A1B35 1985

Glitschka, Von, & Paul Howalt, Design: logo, Quarto, 2013 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

Gronlund, Jay, Basics of branding : a practical guide for managers, Business Expert Press, 2013 (Ebook available vai ProQuest Ebook Central)

Gross, Jenny, "When corporate rebranding backfires: Lessons from past successes and flops", Business Standard, March 9, 2025

Heinrich, Ally, "What is brand identity?", Harvard Business School Online, August 7, 2025

Hodgson, Michael, Recycling and redesigning logos : a designer's guide to refreshing and rethinking design, Quarto, 2010 (Ebook available  via ProQuest Ebook Central)

Slade-Brooking, Catharine, Creating a brand identity: a guide for designers, Laurence King, 2016 (Ebook available at ProQuest Ebook Central) 

Standards Manual series (reprints of institutional manuals):

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration graphics standards manual, NC999.4.D36N37 2015
• New York City Transit Authority graphic standards manual, NC1002.S54G73 2015

Trademark search, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Wheeler, Alina, Designing brand identity : an essential guide for the whole branding team, John Wiley & Sons, 2017 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

Wildbur, Peter, International trademark design: a handbook of marks, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, T324.W57
 

Calori, Chris, & David Vanden-Eynden, Signage and wayfinding design : a complete guide to creating environmental graphic design systems, John Wiley & Sons, 2015 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central) 

Gharipour, Mohammad & Irvin Cemil Schick (Editors), Calligraphy and architecture in the Muslim world, Edinburgh University Press, 2013 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central) 

Harland, Robert, Graphic design in urban environments, Bloomsbury, 2016 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central) 

Kling, Beate, & Torsten Krüger, Signage - spatial orientation : interdisciplinary work at the gateway to design, Detail Business Information, NC1002.S54K55x 2013 (Ebook also available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

"LA 84: Games of the XXIII Olympiad", Design Quarterly, No. 127, 1985 (Theme issue)

Lewis, Karen, Graphic design for architects : a manual for visual communication, Routledge, NC997.L485 2015 

Meuser, Philipp & Daniela Pogade (Editors), Wayfinding and signage, 2nd edition, DOM Publishers, NC1002.S54W39 2013

Smith, C. Ray, Supermannerism : new attitudes in post-modern architecture, Dutton, NA680.S56 1977 

Smitshuijzen, Edo, Signage design manual, Lars Müller, NK8643.45.S65 2007 

Brown, Kathan, Ink, paper, metal, wood; how to recognize prints, Point Publications, NE539.C76B76 1996

Drucker, Johanna, "Artist’s book", Grove Art Online, 2012

Gascoigne, Bamber, How to identify prints: a complete guide from woodcut to inkjet, Thames & Hudson, NE850.G37 1986

Gemini G.E.L. (Los Angeles artist's workshop and publisher of hand-printed limited edition lithographs, screenprints, etchings, and sculptures since 1966)

Griffiths, Antony, Prints and printmaking : an introduction to the history and techniques, University of California Press, NE400.G74 1996

Gunckel, Colin (Editor), Self Help Graphics & Art : art in the heart of East Los Angeles, 2nd edition, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Press, NC999.4.S45A4 2014

Hufts, Linda C., The Print the Western world: an introductory history, University of Wisconsin Press, NE400.H79 1996 

Ivins, William M., Prints and visual communication, MIT Press, NE430.I85 1969 

Michlig, Christopher, Brian Roettinger, Jan Tumlir, In the good name of the company : artworks and ephemera produced by or in tandem with the Colby Poster Printing Company, For Your Art, NC1807.U5I6 2013 (Artists tributes to a ubiquitous L.A. poster printer)

Pelzer-Montada, Ruth (Editor), Perspectives on contemporary printmaking : critical writing since 1986, Manchester University Press, 2018 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

Rosenthal, Mark, Artists at Gemini G.E.L. : celebrating the 25th year, Abrams, NE538.L67R67 1993

Self Help Graphics & Art (East L.A. institution since 1973)

American Printing History Association, Southern California Chapter

Armstrong, Helen (Editor), Graphic design theory : readings from the field, Princeton Architectural Press, 2009 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

"A Critical condition: design and its criticism", Design Issues, Vol. 13, No. 2, Summer, 1997 (PDF available via Jstor)

Design issues journal, MIT Press (PDFs of issues 1984-2019 available via Jstor)

Eisenstein, Elizabeth L., Divine art, infernal machine : the reception of printing in the West from first impressions to the sense of an ending, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

Eskilson, Stephen J., Graphic design : a new history, 3rd edition, Yale, NC998.H65 1994

Heller, Steven & Seymour Chwast, Graphic style : from Victorian to post-modern, Abrams, NC998.2.H45 1988

Hightower, Caroline, et al,  Graphic design in America : a visual language history, Abrams, NC998.5.A1G65 1989 

Holmes-Miller, Cheryl D., Here : where the Black designers are : a life in advocacy, Princeton Architectural Press, NC999.4.H65A3 2024

Journal of design history, Oxford (PDFs of issues 1988-2019 available via Jstor) 

Levit, Briar, Baseline shift : untold stories of women in graphic design history, Princeton Architectural Press, C998.B375 2021

Lupton, Ellen, et al., Extra bold : a feminist inclusive anti-racist nonbinary field guide for graphic designers, Princeton Architectural Press, NK1520.E98 2021

Meggs, Philip B., & Alston W. Purvis, Meggs' History of graphic design, John Wiley & Sons, 2016 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

Ong, Walter J., Orality and literacy : the technologizing of the word, Routledge, P35.O5 1988 (Also available as an ebook via ProQuest Ebook Central) 

Pater, Ruben, Caps lock : how capitalism took hold of graphic design, and how to escape it, Valiz, NC1001.6.P38 2021

Robertson, Frances, Print culture : from steam press to ebook, Taylor & Francis, 2013 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central) 

Sandhaus, Louise, et al., Earthquakes, mudslides, fires & riots : California & graphic design, 1936-1986, Metropolis Books, NC998.5.C2E27 2015

Skaggs, Steven, FireSigns : a semiotic theory for graphic design, MIT Press, N72.S46S59 2017 

Triggs, Teal, “Designing graphic design history”, Journal of Design History, vol. 22, no. 4, 2009, pp. 325–40 (PDF available via Jstor)

Börner, Katy, Atlas of knowledge : anyone can map, MIT Press, 2015. ProQuest Ebook Central 

Bradford, Peter (Editor), Information architects, Graphis Press, NK1510.I64 1996

Coates, Kathryn, & Andy Ellison, Introduction to information design, Laurence King, 2014 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central) 

Drucker, Johanna, Graphesis : visual forms of knowledge production, Harvard, P93.5.D78 2014 

Klanten, Robert, et al. (Editors), Data flow : visualising information in graphic design, Gestalten, NC998.4 .D38 2008

Klanten, Robert, et al. (Editors), Data flow 2 : visualizing information in graphic design, Gestalten, NC998.4.D38 2010

Mauldin, Sarah K. C., Data visualizations and infographics, Bloomsbury, 2015 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)  

Monmonier, Mark, How to lie with maps, University of Chicago Press, G108.7.M66 1991

Pettersson, Rune, Information design : an introduction, John Benjamins, 2002 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

Tufte, Edward R., Envisioning information, Graphics Press, P93.5.T84 1990

Tufte, Edward R., The Visual display of quantitative information, Graphics Press, QA276.3.T83 1983

Tufte, Edward R., Visual explanations: images and quantities, evidence and narrative, Graphics Press, P93.5.T846 1997 

Videos on basic printing processes:

• Block printing (linoleum, wood) - The Linoleum block printing process, Boarding All Rows
• Book printing (commercial) - Birth of a book: how a hardback book is made, The Telegraph
• Book printing (print-on-demand) - The Life of a book, Lulu Publishing
• Die cutting - What is die cutting? (And what is it used for), Oppaca Tube
• Intaglio (including engraving, etching, drypoint, aquatint) Intaglio printing, Jackson's Art
• Laser & inkjet printing - How do printers work? (color laser printer & inkjet printer), Mscope
• Lithography - How to make a lithographic print, National Museums Liverpool
• Monotype - Monotype printmaking, SUNY Oswego
• Offset lithography -  Offset lithography demonstration, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
• Risograph printing - What makes risograph printing so unique?, Doc Pop
• Screenprinting (a.k.a. serigraphy, silk screen) The Basics of screen printing, Craftsy

And info on printing substrates, mostly papers:

• Paper primer: a practical guide to understanding fine printing paper, Utah Valley University
• Substrate Bank "the largest independent material library of substrates for digital printing"
• Understanding substrate options, The Printery
• Venditti, Richard, "Paper grades (Short course)" (Concise summary of paper grades, weights, coatings, thickness, properties and more)

Adams, Sean, The designer's dictionary of type, Abrams, Z246.A335 2019 

Arabic Typography, Barcelona-based type foundry and vendor since 2000

Btrax, "Understanding Japanese type classifications" (Japan/USA design firm)

Burgess, Paul, & Tony Seddon, Design: Type : A seductive collection of alluring type designs, Quarto Publishing, 2012 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central) 

Chahine, Nadine, "Basic principles of Arabic type design", Communication Arts.

“Display + decorative typefaces”, International Designers Network (IdN), v. 29, #2, 2024 (Theme issue)

Émigré magazine, Bound issues for 1995-2001, 2004-5 are in the Kappe Library stacks. See Émigré's website for the range of innovative fonts for sale. 

Goines, David Lance, A constructed Roman alphabet : a geometric analysis of the Greek and Roman capitals and of the Arabic numerals, D.R. Godine, Z250.G65 1982

Google Fonts, "Type in China, Japan and Korea"  

Huang, Lisa, "About Chinese type design" 2023, Part 1 & Part 2 

Hustwit, Gary, Helvetica : a documentary film, Plexifilm, (Media shelf) Z246 .H454 2008

Lo-ol, Type foundry featuring Hangeul (Korean) & Latin fonts 

Müller, Lars, Helvetica : homage to a typeface, Lars Müller Pub., Z250.5.S24M84 2002 

Type Museum (Project of DMC Group, Vienna) (website features contributor snapshots of found typography)

“Typeface Design Issue — Much More Than Mere Words”, International Designers Network (IdN), v. 26, #3, 2020 (Theme issue)

Bringhurst, Roberts, The Elements of typographic  style, Hartley & Marks, Z246.B74 1996

Craig, James, Designing with type : the essential guide to typography, 5th edition, Watson-Guptill, Z246.C69 2006

Cullen, Kristin, Design elements, typography fundamentals : A graphic style manual for understanding how typography affects design, Quarto Publishing, 2012 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)  

"The Evolution of American typography", Design Quarterly, No. 148, 1990 (Theme issue, available via Jstor)

Graphis magazine, Bound issues for 1971-5, 1979-80, 1984, 2003-4 are in the Kappe Library stacks.

"Hofmann/Weingart: Basle School of Design", Design Quarterly, No. 130, 1985 (Theme issue, available via Jstor) 

Luna, Paul, Typography : a very short introduction, Oxford University Press, Z246.L85 2018

Lupton, Ellen, Thinking with type : a critical guide for designers, writers, editors, & students, Princeton Architectural Press, Z246.L87 2010

Lupton, Ellen, Type on screen : a guide for designers, developers, writers, and students, Princeton Architectural Press, Z246.T87 2014

McLean, Ruari, "Typography," Grove Art Online, 2003. 

Müller-​Brockmann, Josef, Grid systems in graphic design : a visual communication manual for graphic designers, typographers and three dimensional designers, Verlag Niggli, Z246.M95 2015 

Samara, Timothy, Making and breaking the grid : a graphic design layout workshop, Rockport Publishers, Z246.S23 2002

Staples, Loretta, “Typography and the screen : a technical chronology of digital typography, 1984-1997”, Design Issues, vol. 16, no. 3, 2000, pp. 19–34 (Available via Jstor) 

Tondreau, Beth. Layout essentials : 100 design principles for using grids, Quarto, 2009 (Ebook available via ProQuest Ebook Central)

Voelker, Ulysses, Structuring design : graphic grids in theory and practice, Niggli, Z246.V64 2020