10 Essential Books to Spark Your Creativity

We take a look at Helio Vega’s reading collection and find out what his go-to books are when looking for inspiration

In order to stimulate our creativity, we sometimes need to stop what we are doing and look for inspiration elsewhere: see a movie, spend time in nature, have a conversation with a friend or, even better, read a book. Even if the book is not remotely about the ideas we are working on, we may find the spark we need to boost our inspiration in its pages.

Helio Vega (@heliovega) –creative, storyteller and producer, who teaches the Domestika course Art Direction for Motion Graphics– lists here some of the publications he regularly refers to in order to stimulate his creativity:

How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing your Soul, by Adrian Shaughnessy

Although it requires a high dosage of creativity and communicative problem-solving skills, the job of a graphic designer can be monotonous at times.
In this book by Adrian Shaughnessy, you will find practical advice–also applicable to other creative professions–on making your day-to-day tasks flow and to remind you why you are a designer.

The Animator's Survival Kit, by Richard Williams

Written by the famous director, film animator, and character designer (he was animation director on Who Framed Roger Rabbit?), this book is–by Helio Vega’s standards–indispensable for anyone who wants to be a film animator.

The Creativity Challenge, by Tanner Christensen

In this book, Tanner Christensen invites us to explore our own minds to enable creative ideas to flow and function. An invitation to inspiration.

El Libro del Cine (The Book of Cinema), by Various Authors

Cinema is a limitless source of inspiration for all creatives and especially for storytellers. This publication, amongst many others, besides helping you build a cinematic library and revisit the most relevant movies in the history of cinema, also tells you the story behind each production.

The Red Book of Advertising. Ideas Which Move Mountains, by Luis Bassat

Luis Bassat is one of the most prominent Spanish publicists of our time and his Red Book of Advertising. Ideas Which Move Mountains is a classic publication that should have a place of honor in any creative’s collection. Whether your professional projects are in advertising or not, the techniques, expertise, and observational insight of this creative giant will be of interest to you.

The Secrets They Never Told You, by Albert Espinosa

Sometimes it is necessary to take a step back, remove yourself from a project to gain a new perspective and more clarity to complete a job. It is in those moments that Helio recommends you read books far from the subject you are working on, to help you think more clearly and efficiently. A good example is Albert Espinosa’s book ‘The Secrets They Never Told You,’ full of advice to organize your day and motivate you according to your mood.

The Complete Stories Vol. 1, by Isaac Asimov

Helio Vega’s passion for science fiction is evident in one of his main sources of inspiration, the stories of Isaac Asimov. If you are also a fan of this subject, follow his recommendation, or dive into the classics of your favorite genre and awaken your creativity through the pages of a novel.

Open: an Autobiography, by Andre Agassi

Biographies are another incredible way to discover new stories and are particularly useful to help us create fictional characters, starting from the life experiences of real people.
Helio is especially attracted to the life of Andre Agassi, one of the best tennis players in history, and how he started to hate this sport because of the pressure put on him by his family.

Saul Bass: A Life in Film & Design, by Pat Kirkham

Saul Bass is probably one of the most recognized and popular cinema poster designers in the world. His daughter designed this book which contains more than 1400 illustrations, –many of which unpublished– that will easily inspire you, all in the unmistakable Bass style.

Art: The Whole Story, by Stephen Farthing

This publication includes centuries and centuries of Art History to inspire you. There are innumerable pieces for all tastes in the pages of this book, ready to be leafed through and beat the creative block.

What are your go-to books to inspire your creativity?

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