Books That Shape My Designs
As a designer, I’m always looking to fill my creative cup and books are a favorite way of doing just that. Some of these reads have helped me zoom out to see the bigger picture, while others sparked new curiosity or grounded me when I was deep in the details. Each one has left its mark on my approach to design, creativity, and life. Below, I’m sharing a few that I return to again and again, along with a quick why.
01. Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel
📚 Genre: Art History | #️⃣ Page count: 944
This one reads like a sweeping novel but is, in fact, a deeply researched tribute to five groundbreaking women of abstract expressionism: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler. Beyond being a powerful feminist narrative, Ninth Street Women helped me see the value of community, vulnerability, and relentless experimentation in creative work. It’s a reminder that bold, meaningful design doesn’t happen in isolation.
02. The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler
📚 Genre: Psychology | #️⃣ Page count: 416
This one’s for all the recovering perfectionists (hi, me!). Schafler redefines perfectionism as a strength, not a flaw, and offers tools for working with it rather than against it. It gave me new language to understand my design process and permission to find peace within the chaos that can come with creation.
03. Find Your Artistic Voice by Lisa Congdon
📚 Genre: Art & Creativity | #️⃣ Page count: 132
Lisa Congdon’s warmth and honesty radiate off every page. This book is a pep talk for anyone who’s ever doubted their creative instincts (a.k.a. all of us). It gave me permission to follow my gut, make imperfect things, and embrace the evolving nature of style. I keep this one close when I’m feeling stuck or second-guessing. Also, loooove the illustration style!
04. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
📚 Genre: Creativity | #️⃣ Page count: 160
This little black-and-white book is packed with gold. Kleon makes the case that nothing is original and that’s freeing. Instead of chasing “new,” he invites us to remix, borrow, and build from what moves us. It taught me to stop overthinking originality and start making with what I already love with my own special insight.
05. Linchpin by Seth Godin
📚 Genre: Business | #️⃣ Page count: 256
Godin argues that to thrive in today’s world, we must become indispensable by being brave, generous, and original. Linchpin nudged me to see design not just as a skillset, but as a way of showing up with intention, creativity, and heart. It’s especially helpful when you’re looking to reframe your role or take your creative career into your own hands.
06. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
📚 Genre: Sociology | #️⃣ Page count: 304
Gladwell explores how small, seemingly insignificant changes can create big cultural shifts. This idea maps perfectly to design (how the smallest detail can dramatically influence user behavior or brand perception). The Tipping Point strengthened my belief in the power of nuance and the ripple effect of good choices.
07. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
📚 Genre: Psychology | #️⃣ Page count: 320
Clear’s book is a game-changer for lasting change. His steps for building positive habits streamlined my creative process, showing me that design, like habit-building, thrives on consistency. Atomic Habits helped me embrace systems over goals and focus on progress, not perfection.
08. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
📚 Genre: Creativity | #️⃣ Page count: 288
This book is like a deep exhale for creatives. Gilbert encourages a joyful, lighthearted relationship with creativity. One that’s led by curiosity instead of fear. Big Magic reminded me that design doesn’t have to be serious to be meaningful. In fact, playfulness often opens the door to powerful, human work.
Graphics and content created by Ellie Turner, April 2025
