Top books on branding, naming, design, logo design, marketing, creativity, presentation skills and entrepreneurship
(my absolute favourites in bold)
Branding
Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team by Alina Wheeleer
Good and practical approaches to branding as well as all key branding concepts. The one to start with, and probably the best intro book into branding.
Brand Hijack: Marketing without Marketing by Alex Wipperfurth
Practical and less traditional – where branding is/was going.
Kellogg on Branding: The Marketing Faculty of the Kellogg School of Management by Philip Kotler
More academic but still practical with good summaries of different well-tested branding processes – this one I would buy later if you still need more info on branding.
THE BRAND AND THE BAND: Authentic brands through sonic branding by Laura Montarroso Daher
If you’re a musician or brander read this ebook on branding and music industry. A very well research book on key aspects of becoming a music brand, sound strategy in brand identity, history of music in advertising, contemporary strategies of advertising agencies, guidance for artists seeking brand partnership, advice for marketing professionals aiming to improve their music strategy, exclusive insight from leading figures in marketing and the music industry as well as case studies illustrating how music affects brand success. Free to read on Kindle Unlimited.
Essential Element for Brand Identity: 100 Principles for Designing Logos and Building Brands
It outlines and demonstrates basic logo and branding design guidelines and rules through 100 principles including the elements of a successful graphic identity, identity programs and brand identity, and all the various strategies and elements involved.
Naming
Hello, My Name Is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names That Stick
One of the best brand naming guide available – quick, easy read.
Design
Universal Principles of Design, Revised and Updated: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design
This is the top comprehensive, cross-disciplinary encyclopedia of design. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, it pairs clear explanations of every design concept with visual examples of the concepts applied in practice. From the “80/20” rule to chunking, from baby-face bias to Occam’s razor, and from self-similarity to storytelling, every major design concept is defined and illustrated for readers to expand their knowledge.
Logo design
Logo: The Reference Guide to Symbols and Logotypes
For a pure logo inspiration and ideas, this book is one of the best. There are 1200 logos inside this volume, sorted by very neat 75 categories for easy reference. It’s an essential reference book for any logo enthusiast or anyone looking for inspiration.
The Ultimate Guide to Logo Design
Kyle Courtright’s ebook is one of the definitive guides to logo design, with 90 pages detailing every aspect of logo & brand identity design, and presented in a concise manner that you can truly understand, perfect for both beginners and professionals.
Marketing
PRE-SUASION: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade by Robert Cialdini
American psychologist Dr Robert Cialdini identified six principles of persuasion: reciprocity (giving something to get something), authority (we follow the advice of experts), consistency (sticking to one message), consensus (others doing what you’re trying to make someone to do), scarcity (people are of what they might lose) and likability (we say yes to people we like).
Creativity
Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky
It’s not enough to have ideas. You also have to make them happen, and Belsky shows us how to merge creativity with productivity.
Elastic: Flexible Thinking in a Constantly Changing World by Leonard Mlodinow
Learn how to think creatively, solve problems, and even how to procrastinate…
Presentation skills
Entrepreneurship
Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferriss
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
Business
Summaries of top business books
The 100 Best Business Books of All Time
Looking for more books on these subjects – just google for “top books on ….”
If you know of any better books, please let me know.