26 Books like Creative Strategy and the Business of Design

Burn Your Portfolio

by Michael Janda • 2013

The business skills design school skipped, and why they matter more than the design itself.

4.14

679

📐 Business Of Design 💼 Freelance Design 🤝 Client Relationships 💰 Pricing Strategies 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Creative Teamwork

Burn Your Portfolio 97%

The business skills design school skipped, and why they matter more than the design itself.

by Michael Janda 2013

4.14

679 ratings

📐 Business Of Design 💼 Freelance Design 🤝 Client Relationships 💰 Pricing Strategies 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Creative Teamwork

How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul

by Adrian Shaughnessy • 2005

Design's missing curriculum: land clients, frame your worth, and keep your ethics intact.

3.98

5k+

💼 Design Business 🧑‍🎨 Creative Freelancing ⚖️ Design Ethics 👁️ Visual Literacy 🖌️ Studio Practice

How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul Summary

How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul 97%

Design's missing curriculum: land clients, frame your worth, and keep your ethics intact.

by Adrian Shaughnessy 2005

3.98

5k+ ratings

💼 Design Business 🧑‍🎨 Creative Freelancing ⚖️ Design Ethics 👁️ Visual Literacy 🖌️ Studio Practice

Starting Your Career as a Graphic Designer

by Michael Fleishman • 2014

Design skill is the starting line. Pricing, selling, and client survival are the race.

4.00

🎨 Graphic Design 💼 Creative Business 🌱 New Designers 📋 Professional Practice 🤝 Client Management

Starting Your Career as a Graphic Designer Summary

Starting Your Career as a Graphic Designer 96%

Design skill is the starting line. Pricing, selling, and client survival are the race.

by Michael Fleishman 2014

4.00

3 ratings

🎨 Graphic Design 💼 Creative Business 🌱 New Designers 📋 Professional Practice 🤝 Client Management

Logos that Last

by Allan Peters • 2023

Six weeks of iteration, vintage hunting, and one rule: build a logo that outlives the trends.

4.21

253

✏️ Logo Design 🏷️ Brand Identity ⚙️ Design Process 📻 Vintage Inspiration 🧩 Brand Systems

Logos that Last 96%

Six weeks of iteration, vintage hunting, and one rule: build a logo that outlives the trends.

by Allan Peters 2023

4.21

253 ratings

✏️ Logo Design 🏷️ Brand Identity ⚙️ Design Process 📻 Vintage Inspiration 🧩 Brand Systems

How to Launch a Brand

by Fabian Geyrhalter • 2020

Where brand names come from, how logos earn attention, and what turns a business into a brand.

3.90

191

🧭 Brand Strategy 🎨 Visual Identity 🏷️ Brand Naming 🎯 Brand Positioning 🚀 Startup Branding

How to Launch a Brand 96%

Where brand names come from, how logos earn attention, and what turns a business into a brand.

by Fabian Geyrhalter 2020

3.90

191 ratings

🧭 Brand Strategy 🎨 Visual Identity 🏷️ Brand Naming 🎯 Brand Positioning 🚀 Startup Branding

How Creativity Rules the World

by Maria Brito • 2022

Your best idea will arrive in silence, after a failure, or from someone unlike you.

3.78

251

🎨 Art And Business 💼 Creative Business 🛠️ Creative Process 🧘 Creative Solitude 💥 Embracing Failure

How Creativity Rules the World 96%

Your best idea will arrive in silence, after a failure, or from someone unlike you.

by Maria Brito 2022

3.78

251 ratings

🎨 Art And Business 💼 Creative Business 🛠️ Creative Process 🧘 Creative Solitude 💥 Embracing Failure

Hegarty on Advertising

by John Hegarty • 2011

An advertising legend on why data never made anyone care, and what actually works instead.

4.07

732

🏢 Advertising Industry 💡 Creative Philosophy 📖 Brand Storytelling 🔥 Creative Rebellion 🎯 Truth In Branding

Hegarty on Advertising 96%

An advertising legend on why data never made anyone care, and what actually works instead.

by John Hegarty 2011

4.07

732 ratings

🏢 Advertising Industry 💡 Creative Philosophy 📖 Brand Storytelling 🔥 Creative Rebellion 🎯 Truth In Branding

The Freelance Manifesto

by Joey Korenman • 2017

Motion designers can hit six figures freelancing. A field guide to portfolio, pricing, and trust.

4.52

551

🎬 Motion Design 💼 Freelance Business 🎨 Creative Careers 📁 Portfolio Building 🤝 Client Relationships

The Freelance Manifesto 96%

Motion designers can hit six figures freelancing. A field guide to portfolio, pricing, and trust.

by Joey Korenman 2017

4.52

551 ratings

🎬 Motion Design 💼 Freelance Business 🎨 Creative Careers 📁 Portfolio Building 🤝 Client Relationships

Hello, My Name Is Awesome

by Alexandra Watkins • 2014

A veteran namer's simple filter for brand names that charm strangers instead of confusing them.

4.13

983

🏷️ Brand Strategy ✏️ Identity Design 😊 Emotional Branding 💬 Word Of Mouth 💡 Creative Process

Hello, My Name Is Awesome 96%

A veteran namer's simple filter for brand names that charm strangers instead of confusing them.

by Alexandra Watkins 2014

4.13

983 ratings

🏷️ Brand Strategy ✏️ Identity Design 😊 Emotional Branding 💬 Word Of Mouth 💡 Creative Process

Manage Your Day-to-Day

by Jocelyn K. Glei • 2013

Reclaim your best creative hours from email and distraction with one rule that puts the work first.

3.98

28k+

🎨 Creative Workflow 🔕 Attention Management 🔄 Habit Design 📵 Digital Minimalism 🚧 Creative Constraints

Manage Your Day-to-Day 95%

Reclaim your best creative hours from email and distraction with one rule that puts the work first.

by Jocelyn K. Glei 2013

3.98

28k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Workflow 🔕 Attention Management 🔄 Habit Design 📵 Digital Minimalism 🚧 Creative Constraints

One Plus One Equals Three

by Dave Trott • 2015

From an ad legend: reframe anything, use disaster as fuel, and sell ideas that stick.

4.19

2k+

📢 Advertising Lessons 💡 Lateral Thinking 🏗️ Brand Building 🗣️ Persuasion 🎨 Creative Process

One Plus One Equals Three 95%

From an ad legend: reframe anything, use disaster as fuel, and sell ideas that stick.

by Dave Trott 2015

4.19

2k+ ratings

📢 Advertising Lessons 💡 Lateral Thinking 🏗️ Brand Building 🗣️ Persuasion 🎨 Creative Process

Brand Gap, The

by Marty Neumeier • 2003

Brands stumble not on bad strategy or poor design, but on the gap no one manages.

3.98

6k+

🧠 Brand Strategy 🧭 Brand Differentiation 💡 Design Thinking 🧩 Creative Collaboration 🌱 Brand Culture

Brand Gap, The 95%

Brands stumble not on bad strategy or poor design, but on the gap no one manages.

by Marty Neumeier 2003

3.98

6k+ ratings

🧠 Brand Strategy 🧭 Brand Differentiation 💡 Design Thinking 🧩 Creative Collaboration 🌱 Brand Culture

Creative Calling

by Chase Jarvis • 2019

Creativity is a practice, not a gift. The daily system for building one that lasts.

4.16

2k+

🧱 Creative Habits 💼 Creative Entrepreneurship 🌱 Aspiring Creatives 😨 Fear And Failure 👥 Community Building

Creative Calling 95%

Creativity is a practice, not a gift. The daily system for building one that lasts.

by Chase Jarvis 2019

4.16

2k+ ratings

🧱 Creative Habits 💼 Creative Entrepreneurship 🌱 Aspiring Creatives 😨 Fear And Failure 👥 Community Building

HTML5 for Web Designers

by Jeremy Keith • 2010

Ditch plugins and browser hacks: native audio, video, and responsive images arrive with HTML5.

3.98

3k+

🌐 Html5 💻 Front-End Development 🧱 Html And Css 📱 Responsive Design 🔄 Progressive Enhancement

HTML5 for Web Designers 95%

Ditch plugins and browser hacks: native audio, video, and responsive images arrive with HTML5.

by Jeremy Keith 2010

3.98

3k+ ratings

🌐 Html5 💻 Front-End Development 🧱 Html And Css 📱 Responsive Design 🔄 Progressive Enhancement

Emotion By Design

by Greg Hoffman • 2022

The creative principles that built Nike's most emotional campaigns, from a designer who rose to CMO.

3.69

769

🎨 Brand Identity 🌱 Creative Leadership ❤️ Emotional Branding 🎲 Creative Risk-Taking 📖 Authentic Storytelling

Emotion By Design 95%

The creative principles that built Nike's most emotional campaigns, from a designer who rose to CMO.

by Greg Hoffman 2022

3.69

769 ratings

🎨 Brand Identity 🌱 Creative Leadership ❤️ Emotional Branding 🎲 Creative Risk-Taking 📖 Authentic Storytelling

From Poop To Gold

by Chris Jones • 2018

The agency behind viral toilet humor reveals its real secret: culture, not creative genius.

3.85

156

🎨 Creative Culture 📈 Viral Marketing 📖 Brand Storytelling 🎯 Advertising Creative 👥 Hiring For Fit

From Poop To Gold 95%

The agency behind viral toilet humor reveals its real secret: culture, not creative genius.

by Chris Jones 2018

3.85

156 ratings

🎨 Creative Culture 📈 Viral Marketing 📖 Brand Storytelling 🎯 Advertising Creative 👥 Hiring For Fit

46 Rules of Genius, The

by Marty Neumeier • 2014

Break the rules, then build better ones: a designer's system for making creativity reliable.

3.85

302

🎨 Design Thinking 🧩 Innovation Frameworks 🔗 Systems Thinking ✂️ Simplification 🔍 Problem Framing

46 Rules of Genius, The 95%

Break the rules, then build better ones: a designer's system for making creativity reliable.

by Marty Neumeier 2014

3.85

302 ratings

🎨 Design Thinking 🧩 Innovation Frameworks 🔗 Systems Thinking ✂️ Simplification 🔍 Problem Framing

Craft, Inc.

by Meg Mateo Ilasco • 2007

The business playbook for makers: permits, pricing, branding, and getting into stores.

3.86

1k+

🧵 Craft Business 🎨 Creative Entrepreneurship 🏷️ Brand Identity Design 📢 Craft Marketing 💪 Creative Confidence

Craft, Inc. 95%

The business playbook for makers: permits, pricing, branding, and getting into stores.

by Meg Mateo Ilasco 2007

3.86

1k+ ratings

🧵 Craft Business 🎨 Creative Entrepreneurship 🏷️ Brand Identity Design 📢 Craft Marketing 💪 Creative Confidence

Creative Blindness (And How To Cure It)

by Dave Trott • 2019

Why the obvious answers hide in plain sight: a copywriter's field guide to creative vision.

4.27

549

📢 Advertising Creativity 🔄 Reframing Challenges 🧠 Audience Psychology 📺 Old School Advertising 💡 Practical Creativity

Creative Blindness (And How To Cure It) Summary

Creative Blindness (And How To Cure It) 95%

Why the obvious answers hide in plain sight: a copywriter's field guide to creative vision.

by Dave Trott 2019

4.27

549 ratings

📢 Advertising Creativity 🔄 Reframing Challenges 🧠 Audience Psychology 📺 Old School Advertising 💡 Practical Creativity

The Ten Faces of Innovation

by Tom Kelley • 2005

When every new idea gets shot down, ten specific roles can rescue innovation.

3.98

5k+

💡 Design Thinking 🏢 Innovation Management 🔧 Rapid Prototyping ❤️ Customer Empathy 🤝 Creative Collaboration

The Ten Faces of Innovation 95%

When every new idea gets shot down, ten specific roles can rescue innovation.

by Tom Kelley 2005

3.98

5k+ ratings

💡 Design Thinking 🏢 Innovation Management 🔧 Rapid Prototyping ❤️ Customer Empathy 🤝 Creative Collaboration

Feck Perfuction

by James Victore • 2019

Perfection kills more work than criticism ever did. A designer's guide to making things anyway.

4.04

2k+

🎨 Creative Process 🚫 Anti-Perfectionism 💪 Embracing Failure 🎭 Authentic Expression 🧨 Breaking Rules

Feck Perfuction 95%

Perfection kills more work than criticism ever did. A designer's guide to making things anyway.

by James Victore 2019

4.04

2k+ ratings

🎨 Creative Process 🚫 Anti-Perfectionism 💪 Embracing Failure 🎭 Authentic Expression 🧨 Breaking Rules

Visual Hammer

by Laura Ries • 2012

The emotional brain doesn't read. It sees. The brands that understand this rule the market.

3.88

161

🎯 Brand Strategy 👁️ Visual Branding ❤️ Emotional Branding 🔀 Differentiation 📍 Positioning School

Visual Hammer 95%

The emotional brain doesn't read. It sees. The brands that understand this rule the market.

by Laura Ries 2012

3.88

161 ratings

🎯 Brand Strategy 👁️ Visual Branding ❤️ Emotional Branding 🔀 Differentiation 📍 Positioning School

Art, Inc.

by Lisa Congdon • 2014

Turn your art into a business: diversify income, build a brand, and sell without selling out.

3.98

2k+

🎨 Art Business 💼 Creative Careers 🚀 Artist Entrepreneurship 🌱 Emerging Artists 📣 Art Marketing

Art, Inc. 95%

Turn your art into a business: diversify income, build a brand, and sell without selling out.

by Lisa Congdon 2014

3.98

2k+ ratings

🎨 Art Business 💼 Creative Careers 🚀 Artist Entrepreneurship 🌱 Emerging Artists 📣 Art Marketing

Creative Confidence

by Tom Kelley • 2013

Creativity is a muscle anyone can build: start with empathy, prototype fast, and learn from failure.

3.97

14k+

👥 Human-Centered Design ✍️ Creative Practice 😨 Fear Of Failure 🔄 Reframing Problems 🧪 Prototyping Methods

Creative Confidence 95%

Creativity is a muscle anyone can build: start with empathy, prototype fast, and learn from failure.

by Tom Kelley 2013

3.97

14k+ ratings

👥 Human-Centered Design ✍️ Creative Practice 😨 Fear Of Failure 🔄 Reframing Problems 🧪 Prototyping Methods

Red Thread Thinking

by Debra Kaye • 2013

Innovation isn't genius. It's connecting what you already have to what consumers won't say.

3.74

201

🔄 Innovation Strategy 🧠 Design Thinking 🔍 Consumer Research 📱 Product Design 🎨 Visual Communication

Red Thread Thinking 95%

Innovation isn't genius. It's connecting what you already have to what consumers won't say.

by Debra Kaye 2013

3.74

201 ratings

🔄 Innovation Strategy 🧠 Design Thinking 🔍 Consumer Research 📱 Product Design 🎨 Visual Communication

Conquer Your Rebrand

by Bill Kenney • 2023

Most rebrands are cosmetic. How to run one that turns identity into a growth engine.

4.28

🏷️ Brand Identity 🏢 B2b Branding 🔄 Rebranding 🧭 Brand Strategy 🎨 Visual Identity

Conquer Your Rebrand 95%

Most rebrands are cosmetic. How to run one that turns identity into a growth engine.

by Bill Kenney 2023

4.28

32 ratings

🏷️ Brand Identity 🏢 B2b Branding 🔄 Rebranding 🧭 Brand Strategy 🎨 Visual Identity

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