Design books
Recommended by universities and colleges around the world, these books came about through the trust of publishers Pearson (Peachpit) and Quarto (Rockport), the generosity of talented contributors, and the invaluable support of good friends in the design profession.
Hugely grateful to everyone who contributed, reviewed, read, and shared. Thank you.
Identity Designed: The Process (2024)
“Atop superb layout and impeccable exhibits are incisive studies of the processes essential to the success of identity design assignments. I highly recommend Mr Airey’s new book to those interested in corporate identity specifically, and branding generally. I’m certain it will prove as valuable a guide to clients as it is to designers.”
— Lindon Leader, Leader Creative
“David Airey continues to produce some of the best books on branding. His new book breaks down the process of creating a brand identity into four sections that are accompanied by both current and historic implementation. This digestible read is a perfect addition to the shelves of both upcoming and senior designers as well as anyone interested in working in brand communication and development. It’s definitely one we will be using in the studio.”
— Matt Lamont, Designed Reviewed
“This book is a gem! Gorgeous and so informative. It will be a great resource for those involved with design and branding.”
— Marina Poropat Joyce, author, Designing for Print
“With Identity Designed: The Process David Airey has pressed his years of masterful brand stewardship into an exceptional gift to the field. Using case studies from some of today’s premier identity masters David illuminates the sequential path of research, strategy, design and implementation. Whether you’re laying the creative groundwork for your own company or are a designer preparing to breathe life into the next great brand, this identity roadmap is a cogent read that deserves your attention.”
— Bill Gardner, Gardner Design
“Every brand project is a product of trust, relationships, access, ambition and communication. The story of the design solution is only half the story without knowing how something came to be. As someone who is endlessly fascinated by the juicy behind-the-scenes stuff, this new book fulfils all my nosy tendencies! And because it's David, it's as beautiful as it is thorough.”
― Heidi Lightfoot, creative advisor
“Please consider making room on your bookshelves for this absolute beaut from David Airey.”
― Matt Baxter, Baxter & Bailey
Identity Designed (2019)
“Not just a beautifully designed book, but also beautiful in its depth and detail about the identity design process.”
— Khoi Vinh, principal designer, Adobe
“ID is an inspiring and intelligent resource for designers and their clients as they redesign their future. Sixteen global case studies offer an in-depth understanding of all of the considerations that contribute to original and lasting design solutions, and successful partnerships between clients and their consultants.”
— Alina Wheeler, author, Designing Brand Identity
“David Airey has a keen eye for design around the world and a commitment to design excellence. There are gems of original work throughout this book with insightful analysis about what makes each an effective solution.”
― Sagi Haviv, Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv
“Identity Designed is a brilliant book bursting with revealing discussion and inspirational work.”
― Luke Tonge, director, Birmingham Design Festival
Logo Design Love (2014)
“There are a lot of books out there that show collections of logos. But David Airey’s Logo Design Love is something different: it’s a guide for designers (and clients) who want to understand what this mysterious business is all about. Written in a reader-friendly, concise language, with a minimum of designer jargon, David gives a surprisingly clear explanation of the process, using a wide assortment of real-life examples to support his points. Anyone involved in creating visual identities, or wanting to learn how to go about it, will find this book invaluable.”
— Tom Geismar, Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv
“The design world is better off for this book.”
— Ben Terrett RDI, CEO, Public Digital
Work for Money, Design for Love (2012)
“I established my design firm in 2004 after 20 years of experience with some of the most highly regarded brand identity firms. I wish David had written this back then. It confirmed information that took me years to acquire and provided many useful insights into creating an online presence and moving beyond clients. David blends his own experiences with those of other designers from around the world to hit on every issue one needs to consider in running a design business.”
— Jerry Kuyper, Jerry Kuyper Partners
“Draws upon the experiences of many established creatives, each willing to share their knowledge so you can improve on yours. I’ve added this book to the required reading list for my students and I thoroughly recommend that you read it, too.”
— Con Kennedy, School of Art and Design, TU Dublin
“Skillfully collated and contextualised, the book is brimming with tips and lessons learned from designers such as Ivan Chermayeff, Simon Manchipp and Mike Dempsey.”
— Bobby Burrage, Creative Director, The Click
Many thanks for the interest. 💚