Book Review: How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer

May 6, 2009 by Jennifer Farley

Posted under: Blog, Book Review, Graphic Design

This is a real page turner. I read it from cover to cover over two days and I know I will dip back into it on a regular basis. The book, How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer, written by Debbie Millman, consists of 20 interviews with some of the genuine “greats” of graphic design. The author states that the book does not provide a recipe for design greatness but rather a glimpse into the minds of the masters.

All of the interviews feel very natural and unstilted, they’re funny and philosophical and there really is something to be learned from each interviewee. When asked hot she would define the term “graphic design”, Paula Scher answers “I see design as the art of planning … I actually prefer to say I’m a visual planner”. I love that.

Here in Ireland, I feel there is no real culture of mentorship in the design field, which is why I said at the beginning I would dip into this book regularly. The interviewer has asked all the questions that I would like to ask and the interviewees have given honest and interesting answers. Highly, highly recommended.

The full list of interviewees in the book are; Milton Glaser, Paula Scher, Peter Saville, Chip Kidd, Stefan Sagmeister, Michael Bierut, Carin Goldberg, Neville Brody, Emily Oberman & Bonnie Siegler, James Victore, John Maeda, Paul Sahre, Jessica Helfand, Seymour Chwast, Lucille Tenazas, Vaughan Oliver, Steff Geissbuhler, Stephen Doyle, Abbott Miller, Massimo Vignelli.