In the last few years I have become quite a reading fiend. In isn’t out of the ordinary to see two, three, or even four books stacked on my nightstand at any given time. Most of the books I read are fictional novels to help me forget about the stresses of the day, but I have also built up my library of logo design books and have had some wonderful reads.
The lastest addition to my collection is Designing Logos: The Process of Creating Symbols That Endure by Jack Gernsheimer. It is always tough to decide if a book will be worth the purchase. As a graphic designer I am always tempted to judge a book by its cover. (I do the same for wine labels). To be honest I randomly came across this book on Amazon when I decided to purchase it. The cover wasn’t what drew me in (though after reading the book I now see the reason behind the cover design). Instead, it was the title as well as the reviews of the book that piqued my curiosity.
Designing Logos by Jack Gernsheimer
Gernsheimer has created over 500 logos in a span of 40 years and in his book he sets up a solid foundation of logo history and the design process. Each chapter focuses on a specific topic relevant to any logo designer. The author also includes a timeline of classic logos that date as far back as 1865.
One of my favorite parts of the book though has to be the chapters showing Gernsheimer’s logo process. Instead of just showing how he created the final logo, he takes the reader through a few ideas that all had merit and gives an explanation of the pros and cons of each. This shows that there is rarely a single design solution to a design problem.
Designing Logos by Jack Gernsheimer
If you are looking for a book to help you start down the path of becoming a logo designer or just want to admire the experience of a designer who has been in the industry for decades this is a great read and definitely worth having in your collection.
