5 Lettering and Typography Books to Inspire Your Projects

The lettering artist James Lewis shares some of his reference books with you.

James Lewis (@jamesllewis) always felt that his handwriting was bad, so he set out to improve it. That is where he began his journey in the world of letters and calligraphy, which has taken him to collaborations with brands such as BBC, Amazon, and Montblanc.

For every designer, it’s essential to create a library of reference books and inspirations. With this in mind, today, James shares with you 5 essential books about lettering and typography that will stay with him on his journey:

Shadow Type: Classic Three-Dimensional Lettering, by Steven Heller and Louise Fili

A perfect book for anyone who loves vintage graphics, this work collates information about some of the most influential typographies of the 20th and 21st centuries. The three-dimensional letters, with its monumental and architectural structure, formed part of important periods in the history of typography. You will find an explanation of more than 300 fonts from different countries, which will undoubtedly provide you with guidance and inspiration for your own creations.

The ABC of lettering, by Ivan Castro

Ivan Castro, a graphic designer specializing in lettering (@ivancastro), explains in his book the basic concepts and indispensable techniques needed to dominate this discipline. His methods are based on more than a decade of teaching calligraphy, along with more than 15 years as a lecturer, workshop organizer and speaker at renowned design festivals.

Expressive Type: Unique Typographic Design in Sketchbooks, in Print, and On Location around the Globe, by Alex Fowkes

This book compiles the work of notable designers from around the world, who use typography in fields as diverse as branding, publicity, product design, and personal projects. You will also find real-life briefs that will help you understand how each project takes shape.

Designing Type, by Karen Cheng

Cheng’s work assesses the influence of typography in graphic design as a whole, as well as in printed graphics. It is an essential source that explains the processes that underpin the design of typographies and the components that characterize them: structure, visual compensation, legibility and shape. You will find explanatory diagrams, analysis of typographies, punctuation marks, numbers and more.

Custom Lettering of the 60s And 70s, by Rian Hughes

The author celebrates the styles that were crafted from hand-drawn letters in the sixties and seventies, before computers became popular. In these years, designers experimented freely with design solutions characterized by the audacity of the age. You will find more than 400,000 examples of lettering with dramatic and memorable effects, providing inspiration for both students and designers alike.

If you want to learn more from James, sign up to his course Introduction to Brush Lettering, and learn to use tools like the brush pen and brushes to illustrate letters, words and entire phrases.

English version by @garethplatt49.

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