Books for creative entrepreneurs
Most of these books tend to be white in colour with bold text covers, short, bit sized and applicable to not only the creative industry but to a wider audience too. Often broken up into topics they are easy to pick up and put down and pick up again. These books are not only good to learn from but provide a vast array of inspiration through language and visuals for creative entrepreneurs.
The Brand Gap, Marty Neumeier
The Brand Gap is the first book to present a unified theory of brand-building. Whereas most books on branding are weighted toward either a strategic or creative approach, this book shows how both ways of thinking can unite to produce a “charismatic brand”—a brand that customers feel is essential to their lives.
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Zag, Marty Neumeier
Zag is fresh view of brand strategy it follows the ultra-clear "whiteboard overview" style of the author’s first book, The Brand Gap, but drills deeper into the question of how brands can harness the power of differentiation. The author argues that in an extremely cluttered marketplace, traditional differentiation is no longer enough―today companies need “radical differentiation” to create lasting value for their shareholders and customers.
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Show your work, Marty Neumeier
Show your work, with it’s nice to touch velvet laminated cover, is full of practical tips to getting your work seen and heard by showing your process and giving away value so others can discover you. “The key is process, not product. Share something new every day (but don’t turn into human spam). Keep an amateurs mind - where the possibilities are limitless. Be a connector, a teacher, an open node. Don’t hoard.”
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Building a Story Brand, Donald Miller
Building a story brand is packed with so much great information that I'm going to need to read it a couple of times to really get to know it! Donald Miller talks about how to clarify your message, develop quality websites, email funnels and how to communicate your message internally and externally to grow your business. The main thing is to simplify things, he says "Clarify your message, so your customers will listen."
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Creative Mischief, Dave Trott
Creative Mischief collects together all the highlights from Dave Trott’s online blog about advertising. Part autobiography, part short story, part how-to advice, each of the entries will refresh your thinking about any creative process, whether it belongs to advertising, writing a book, or managing a team of employees.
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It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be, Paul Arden
The world's top advertising guru, Paul Arden, offers up his wisdom on issues as diverse as problem solving, responding to a brief, communicating, playing your cards right, making mistakes, and creativity - all endeavours that can be applied to aspects of modern life.
This uplifting and humorous little book provides a unique insight into the world of advertising and is a quirky compilation of quotes, facts, pictures, wit and wisdom - all packed into easy-to-digest, bite-sized spreads. If you want to succeed in life or business, this book is a must.
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Creative Confidence, Tom Kelley & David Kelley
A powerful and inspiring book from the founders of IDEO, the award-winning design firm, on unleashing the creativity that lies within each and every one of us. Too often, companies and individuals assume that creativity and innovation are the domain of the 'creative types'. But two of the foremost experts in innovation, design and creativity on the planet show us that each and every one of us is creative. David and Tom Kelley identify the principles and strategies that will allow us to tap into our creative potential in our work lives, and in our personal lives, allow us to think outside the box in terms of how we approach and solve problems. 'Creative Confidence' is a book that will help each of us be more productive and successful in our lives and in our careers.
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Logo, Michael Evamy
Found in most design studios, this book provides graphic designers with an extensive reference source for contemporary logo design. With over 1300 logos organised into categories it is easy to navigate. As most of the logos are in black and white they are easy to compare whilst in the research phase of an identity project.
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Company of One, Paul Jarvis
Paul Jarvis left the corporate world when he realised that working in a high-pressure, high-profile world was not his idea of success. Instead, he now works for himself out of his home, and lives a much more rewarding and productive life. He no longer has to contend with an environment that constantly demands more productivity, more output and more growth.
This book is next on my list for all the reasons above!
