Books for Architects and Designers

Here you’ll find a curated selection of books for architects and designers with my review. These books cover a wide range of topics, from architectural theory and design process to the history of design and architecture. They provide valuable insights and inspiration for architects and designers at all levels, from students to professionals. With titles from some of the most renowned architects, designers and scholars in the field, this page is a go-to resource for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge and skills in architecture and design or finding the perfect gift for a designer friend.

Review of The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images, curated by The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism and published by Taschen

The Book of Symbols: A Treasure of Inspiration for Designers and Architects

Unlocking the hidden language of symbols is akin to discovering a secret code that speaks to the very essence of our existence. For designers and architects who strive to create spaces and visuals that deeply resonate with people, understanding the power of symbolic imagery is essential. In this quest for creative enlightenment, one book stands out as a true treasure trove of inspiration: “The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images,” published by Taschen in 2010. Whether you are engaged in brand development or exploring the symbolic value in architectural design, this book serves as an invaluable resource.

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Design as art Bruno Munari, book review by Giuseppe Gallo

Design as Art by Bruno Munari

Munari is a giant of 20th-century Italian design, a figure of incredible depth who helped define the role of the designer as we know it today. Design as Art, originally published in 1966, is probably not his most important book, but it represents an interesting journey through his thoughts. It is useful for young people aspiring to a design career as well as for experienced designers who want to improve the communication of their projects.

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Book review of A dictionary of Color Combination, by Sanzo Wada and Seigensha art publishing

A Dictionary of Color Combinations, Sanzo Wada

A Dictionary of Color Combinations is a book derived from the Haishoku Soukan, a collection of books published in the 1930s by the Japanese artist and costume designer Sanzo Wada. The book is useful for any designer. On 300 pages, it collects 348 colour combinations that will ensure a harmonious chromatic result for your projects. The dictionary has also inspired an open-source project: a web platform that gathers all palettes and colour codes in CMYK, RGB and HEX.

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Notes on the Synthesis of Form, Christopher Alexander

Notes on the Synthesis of Form, Christopher Alexander

The figure of Christopher Alexander is unique in the world of architecture. With his thinking, he touches on the central aspects of any design activity and has helped define models such as object-oriented programming and Agile. His first book, Notes on the synthesis of form, is the foundation on which Alexander built his famous pattern theory. For this reason, it is a must-read for architects, designers, computational designers, programmers and project managers.

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The Architecture of Happiness, a book by Alain de Botton

The Architecture of Happiness, a book by Alain de Botton

When they gave me the Architecture and Happiness, I’d just enrolled at university. I knew de Botton as a writer because of some of his novels. It was a pleasant surprise to read about Architecture, described even as something different from what I had in mind. After a few years, I’m happy to talk about it, also because in the meantime de Botton made a series of documentaries based on the book. The complete series is composed of three videos and it is available for free on YouTube.

Read More
Review of The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images, curated by The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism and published by Taschen

The Book of Symbols: A Treasure of Inspiration for Designers and Architects

Unlocking the hidden language of symbols is akin to discovering a secret code that speaks to the very essence of our existence. For designers and architects who strive to create spaces and visuals that deeply resonate with people, understanding the power of symbolic imagery is essential. In this quest for creative enlightenment, one book stands out as a true treasure trove of inspiration: “The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images,” published by Taschen in 2010. Whether you are engaged in brand development or exploring the symbolic value in architectural design, this book serves as an invaluable resource.

Read More
Design as art Bruno Munari, book review by Giuseppe Gallo

Design as Art by Bruno Munari

Munari is a giant of 20th-century Italian design, a figure of incredible depth who helped define the role of the designer as we know it today. Design as Art, originally published in 1966, is probably not his most important book, but it represents an interesting journey through his thoughts. It is useful for young people aspiring to a design career as well as for experienced designers who want to improve the communication of their projects.

Read More
Book review of A dictionary of Color Combination, by Sanzo Wada and Seigensha art publishing

A Dictionary of Color Combinations, Sanzo Wada

A Dictionary of Color Combinations is a book derived from the Haishoku Soukan, a collection of books published in the 1930s by the Japanese artist and costume designer Sanzo Wada. The book is useful for any designer. On 300 pages, it collects 348 colour combinations that will ensure a harmonious chromatic result for your projects. The dictionary has also inspired an open-source project: a web platform that gathers all palettes and colour codes in CMYK, RGB and HEX.

Read More
Notes on the Synthesis of Form, Christopher Alexander

Notes on the Synthesis of Form, Christopher Alexander

The figure of Christopher Alexander is unique in the world of architecture. With his thinking, he touches on the central aspects of any design activity and has helped define models such as object-oriented programming and Agile. His first book, Notes on the synthesis of form, is the foundation on which Alexander built his famous pattern theory. For this reason, it is a must-read for architects, designers, computational designers, programmers and project managers.

Read More
The Architecture of Happiness, a book by Alain de Botton

The Architecture of Happiness, a book by Alain de Botton

When they gave me the Architecture and Happiness, I’d just enrolled at university. I knew de Botton as a writer because of some of his novels. It was a pleasant surprise to read about Architecture, described even as something different from what I had in mind. After a few years, I’m happy to talk about it, also because in the meantime de Botton made a series of documentaries based on the book. The complete series is composed of three videos and it is available for free on YouTube.

Read More

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