Tilda Publishing Library that reads cool designers

Tilda Publishing Studio, where born the basic ideas for the development of the service, is located in the Artplay Design Center, in the heart of the artistic life of Moscow. Founder of service Nikita Obukhov, Being a guest of our column "Jobs" Layfhakeru said that when he and his colleagues just moved to the Lower Syromyatnicheskaya in the studio were the bare walls. But the efforts of the team, it gradually came to life, it has acquired distinctive details.

A small tour of the library held Tilda Publishing designer Irina Smirnova for us.

"As soon as we moved, almost immediately there were some bookcases in the studio, which gradually filled.

Books on the shelves appear spontaneously: to buy something special for the studio, something employees bring some books - gifts to friends. In just a few years to raise a decent library.

In July, we launched an educational section tilda EducationIn which we are preparing an online course on Web Publishing. During the preparation often have to refer to the theory, and very helpful, that the most important books are always at hand. "

Talk with the staff. We find out what they have read, read and recommend to read.

First of all, I recommend a wonderful book Victor Papanek "Design for the Real World». Victor Papanek very accurately and completely described, and that such a design who is a designer. I recommend to all beginners in order to clearly answer the question: "What I still do and what is design?". When I read it, she is constantly kept his notes quotes - so succinctly and finely Victor Papanek formulated many questions. That's cool. The book was written back in 1979, then republished in 1982. We open ourselves to the profession of designer, well, let's say, the last 15 years. Wonder how old this profession more than 30 years ago have been formulated concepts to which we are only now income.

Then, I recommend reading the book Alexandra Korolkova "Live typography».

It is quite nice and in a simple manner describes all the basic concepts related to typography and fonts. Not all osilivayut "Basics in typography style" Robert Bringhurst, so to start Korol'kova - what you need.

But the next book - just Robert Bringhurst "Basics in typography style» (2nd edition).

The book is quite extensive, and the people are divided into those who are above it falls asleep at once, and those who read it avidly. Yes, this area is. In any case, if you seriously want to work in the field of web design, you read it stands. It is basic knowledge that you need to have designers working with a large flow of information.

Understanding the laws of composition - it is also a basic skills designer. The book, which will help deal with them - «Photography as ..."Alexander Lapin.

In fact, this book should have been called "Fundamentals of Composition". It lists all the fundamental concepts and techniques. The composition is very difficult to learn, and in fact everyone sees it differently. The composition in design differs from the composition in painting.

Also, pay attention to the publishing of the book A Book Apart. It is, rather, "Manuals", so read them comfortably. I can not say that they fully disclose the claimed subject, but perfect to get acquainted with the basic concepts that are found precisely in web design.

These books - a balance of informative value and simplicity. They are familiar with all the basic concepts that need to know the designer.

A more complete list of books recommended by Nikita →

John Berger - Ways of Seeing

This book - a sort of paradox: it is written on the film. Film BBC Ways of Seeing on contemporary visual culture is made by John Berger in the 1960s. The ensuing book perfectly complemented and deepened the theme. In it several essays that explain how to change the perception of the same schedule with the change of epochs, and trace the origin of visual clichés. For example, it turns out that the rich family in the XVII century manor decorated self-portraits, in their aspirations were not much different from today's fans pofotkatsya phone.

Simon Garfield - Just My Type

It's kind of bedtime reading for designers. In this book there is a chapter on the history of typography. Perhaps this is the only book on the subject, that does not tell us how to distinguish early Italian resection of late UK. But it contains interesting stories from the lives of famous fonts: who and why they were created, how they are used and how to influence public opinion. From it I learned that Eric Gill was a little crazy, and his famous Gill Sans - a kind of perversion. Still there is an interesting story about the London Johnston Sans, an attempt to find the origin of writing, The Beatles and the head of the worst in the history of fonts (and how they they were).

Bruno Munari - Design as Art. Bruno Munari - a legendary Italian designer, he wrote a book about his vision of the principles of creative work in 1966. It's a long time. Typically, for such a long period, the book loses its relevance, but, thanks to the sharpness of thought and universal approach, all still read it. Munari talks about biodiversity, mimicry, contrast, styling, expressive typography and other methods of creating beautiful and useful things. He believes that the design - it is an art form, and the designer is different from the artist only in that uses their talents for the good of the people.

John Maeda "simplicity of laws. Design. Technologies. Business. A life»

This is an ideal book for nerds! If you love the beauty of the system, a pragmatic approach to everything and good style, it is certainly worth a read. Maeda thinks a lot about the basic principles of life processes in general and in particular design. He learns to clean up the data and functions that simplify complex and appreciate the empty space. I think they're a Bruno Munari might very well argue. Maeda says, "While a great art makes you think, great design makes everything clear» (While great art makes you wonder, great design makes things clear). And in the book is very beautiful layout and illustrations.

Deyan Sudjic - B is for Bauhaus Y is for Youtube. The latest addition to the collection - a new book Deyena Sudjic, director of the London Design Museum. This is a complete dictionary of contemporary culture. Sudjic has a unique base of knowledge about the culture and design. The subject of each essay - this is only the starting point: the author skillfully operates completely different, seemingly unrelated phenomena, to lead the reader to an unexpected conclusion. For example, in chapter A is for Authentic discussed old cars, highly polished, with the restoration complexity Jackson Pollock, a French cafe in New York and the American bar in Vienna, Gotham font and how it has discredited itself, and another green park author.

For example, Vladimir Nabokov. Sometimes I hear claims that his literary technique so complex that dwarfs form content. But it's good exercise for the designer: try to understand the logic of Nabokov, to understand his compositional schemes, and you will feel the harmony. Over time, Nabokov will be clearer, and your design - deeper and more diverse.

You can start with the romantic "Masha"But the most impressive work, in my opinion"Invitation to a Beheading».

«Soul begin to see» - a correspondence between the two great poets - Marina Tsvetaeva and Boris Pasternak.

They were deprived of the opportunity to meet and 10 years wrote letters to each other, rich, deep, passionate. In these letters, so many emotions, it seems that once you experience a thousand lives, so they are bright and different. But when the poet finally saw the meeting was cold. Two masters of the word only in the correspondence were able to open up to each other. I see in this a parallel with the work of the designer, who also need to feel people at a distance, to understand them and to make products that they will love.

«The Grapes of Wrath"John Steinbeck if I opened a second dimension and allowed to see our society is focused on the rich, successful and energetic, with different eyes. This book is a good read in tandem with the novel "Atlas Shrugged." Then the picture of the world opens to 360 degrees. This is also an important skill for a designer - to see the whole situation and be able to appreciate it from a different perspective.

I also recommend reading the poems of Mayakovsky, who, incidentally, was almost a designer by training. He studied at the School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Maybe that's why he has such a graphically style and perfect composition?

«Naive. Super» - a book of Norwegian writer Erlend Loe.

It is really very naive, and it's true super. At first glance it seems primitive, but this simplicity is some very clever and touching. Designers sometimes useful to be able to abstract from all the previous experience and to turn into a baby. Forget all the past work, all the clichés, which he had learned, and take the project naive. Then there will be a chance to do great work, because everything genius is simple.

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At the end of the meeting, we talked with the guys from Tilda books about the value of work and their impact on people.

"There are books to be read, because they help you learn some professional skills quickly. Neither the lecturer nor one course or training will not do what they can do three or four right books. Reading the book, you consciously or unconsciously they focus on what is missing in your work, in particular a specific task.

Books already written so much that it is always possible to find the same one that will tell the right decision. It does not matter, paper or Electronic it. It is important that people have learned to share their experience and knowledge to those who want to acquire this knowledge.

There are books that entertain, help to escape. They immerse you in another reality. There is not a movie and this kind of music, which could be compared with the books on the force of impact. When you read, the brain works differently.

There are books and completely unique. When you realize that the author knows about the life of something sacred. Reading a book like living my life all over again and finds new meaning in itself. "

Now we know that reading cool designers. We hope that you have taken note of many Tilda Publishing library.