SURFACE PATTERN DESIGN READING LIST

I asked some fellow designers to share their summer reading list suggestions. Here are some books that they recommended, along with some of my faves.

PDA Students: I’ve included links to some of these books through the GVPL. *Illume* indicates that the title is available by request through Interlibrary loans

HISTORY OF DESIGN & DESIGN PRINCIPLES

• The Complete Pattern Directory by Elizabeth Wilhide *Illume*
• The Pattern Sourcebook: A Century of Surface Design by Drusilla Cole
• The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones
• The Grammar of Chinese Ornament by Owen Jones
• The Grammar of Japanese Ornament by Owen Jones
• Studies in Design by Christopher Dresser
• The History of Ornament by A Speltz
• The Encyclopedia of Ornament by A Racinet
• The Decorative Art of Arabia, Press D’Avennes
• Classic Textile Design, Dupont Auberville
• Pattern Design by Lewis F Day
• Pattern Design, an Introduction to the Study of Formal Ornament by Archibald H Christie
• Geometric Patterns from Islamic Art & Architecture by Robert Field
• Collecting Textiles by Patricia Frost
• Bitten By Witch Fever, Wallpaper & Arsenic in the Victorian Home by Lucinda Hawksley *Illume*
• Spectrum, Heritage Patterns and Colors by Ros Byam Shaw *Illume*
• Pattern Design Secrets: A Guide for Lovers of Art, Craft and Design Who are Wanting to Create Successful Pattern Designs by Rachelle Holowko
• The V&A Sourcebook of Pattern and Ornament by Amelia Calver
• Pattern Design: A period design sourcebook by Sian Evans
• Love Pattern and Colour: The Essential Guide by Charlotte Abrahams
• Living with Pattern: Colour, Texture and Print at Home by Rebecca Atwood
• Wallpaper by Zoe Hendon
• Wallpaper by Michael Lech
• Crafting Modern Florals: Creating botanical patterns with petals, pencils and paint by Hanna Wendelbo
• Textile Designs: 200 Years of Patterns for Printed fabrics arranged by Motif, Colour, Period and Design
• Basics Textile Design: Sourcing Ideas: Researching Colour, Surface, Structure, Texture and Pattern
• Victoria and Albert Museum Pattern
• How to French Country, colour and design inspiration from the southwest of France, Sara Silm

WRITING / CONTENT CREATION

• Everybody Writes, Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley

BUSINESS

• Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, Pricing & Ethical Guidelines 16th Edition
• Art Inc The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist by Lisa Congdon
• How to Grow your Small Business by Donald Miller
• Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
• The Fundamentals of Printed Textile Design by Alex Russell
• Owning it: A creatives guide to copyright, contracts and the law by Sharon Givoni (for sale here)

CREATIVE PROCESS, WORKFLOW & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Big Magic, Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The 5am Club by Robin Sharma
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Finish by John Acuff
• Ignore everybody and 39 other keys to creativity by Hugh MacLeod