This list of furniture design books includes titles from different areas of design thinking and practice. It ranges from design anthologies to important texts on contemporary design that address cultural and philosophical aspects of how we live with objects. It also features manuals and monographs by designers and brands that have been very influential.
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The Best Furniture Design Books: Anthologies
To explore the list of the best design books, let’s start with anthologies: atlases, collections, and design bibles that every professional and enthusiast loves to have in their library.
Atlas of Furniture Design, Vitra Design Museum
The Atlas of Furniture Design is a substantial volume, truly a bible of design. It contains an astounding number of resources: 1,740 objects by 546 designers and 565 manufacturers, and over 2,500 images. Compiled by the curator of the prestigious Vitra Design Museum, this book provides insights into the history of design, historical movements and their key figures, contemporary designers, and information on projects and products. It is an encyclopedic resource and a true delight for design lovers.
Designed for Life, Phaidon
Designed For Life showcases 100 of the world’s most innovative designers, highlighting contemporary trends in product design. The book features works by Mac Collins, Nifemi Marcus-Bello, and Jasper Morrison, showcasing new materials and technologies. Among the designers are also Barber Osgerby, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, and Faye Toogood, who explore sustainability and diversity in design. Curators, journalists, and international gallerists have selected these talents, demonstrating how design can contribute to creating a better world.
1000 Chairs. Revised and updated edition, Charlotte & Peter Fiell
Charlotte and Peter Fiell are a duo of scholars who have written over 60 books on the design (some of which are in this list). For the publishing house Taschen, they have created numerous titles for design enthusiasts, simple yet comprehensive collections that chronologically showcase famous design objects, designers, and projects that have made history. 1000 Chairs is their most successful editorial project, a straightforward and effective book that has been a bestseller for years. It serves as the perfect introduction to the world of design through the chair—one of the most beloved objects by designers, who have been engaging with this architectural and versatile item for over a century.
1000 Lights, Charlotte & Peter Fiell
1000 Lights is effectively the twin book to 1000 Chairs; the two volumes often sit side by side on many shelves. This time, the Fiells delved into the history of lamps and lights, a subject as captivating as that of chairs. Within its pages, you’ll find the first Bauhaus lamps by Marianne Brandt, the story of the famous Tiffany lamps, as well as modern design icons like the Snoopy and Arco lamps. It’s perfect for discovering the history of lighting design through objects, designers, and anecdotes. This book was an indispensable read for the writing of the article Iconic Designer Lamps still in Production today.
Design Encyclopedia. Museum of Modern Art, Mel Byars
Among the anthological volumes on the history of design, the Design Encyclopedia by the Museum of Modern Art in New York is indispensable. This book on furniture design lists thousands of entries, including objects, designers, movements, and manufacturers. The reference collection this time is that of MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which have one of the best design collections in the world. This is the perfect book for those who appreciate an old-school aesthetic without compromising on fascinating content.
Design Culture: Ideas and Philosophy of Objects and Furniture
In this section, we have gathered some of the books by philosophers and thinkers who have influenced generations of designers and made substantial contributions to the culture of design. From the Japanese philosopher Soetsu Yanagi to Jasper Morrison, and including Bruno Munari, these are some books that help us understand the culture of design and how the production of furniture and objects changes with the evolving society and culture.
The Beauty of Everyday Things, Soetsu Yanagi
This small book by Japanese philosopher Soetsu Yanagi (father of legendary Japanese master Sori Yanagi) is a radical and powerful source of inspiration that has influenced entire generations of makers and designers. The Beauty of Everyday Things focuses on the beauty of everyday objects, created to last and be loved by those who use them daily. The author introduces an important concept: the objects in our daily lives contribute to creating the realm of beauty we want to live. Therefore, they must be respected and treated with affection. According to Jasper Morrison: the notion of Zen and the art of design by Soetsu Yanagi continues to inspire all those involved in shaping our everyday world.
Super Normal, Naoto Fukasawa & Jasper Morrison
Super Normal is a book by a duo of designers Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa. The book follows a famous design exhibition with the same title that the two organized in Tokyo, and features 204 objects that adhere to the principle of Super Normal. These are both anonymous objects or items by famous designers that share a common quality: they do not seek to attract attention, they are useful, durable, and often create a special atmosphere in the environment they belong to. This book has influenced a generation of designers and remains fundamental for understanding the aesthetics of contemporary design.
The Design Of Everyday Things, Donald Norman
The book The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman explores user-centered design, emphasizing the importance of creating intuitive and accessible products. It discusses key concepts such as affordance, feedback, and mapping, demonstrating how everyday objects should be designed to facilitate use. Through practical examples, Norman highlights common design errors and proposes solutions to make products more understandable and functional. This work is essential for anyone interested in product design, ergonomics, and human-machine interaction, promoting an approach that focuses on human needs and capabilities.
Design History Manuals
For those who want to delve into the evolution and history of design, from the Industrial Revolution to the contemporary era.
DESIGN BY ACCIDENT, ALEXANDRA MIDAL
Alexandra Midal is a curator, university professor, and historian of art and design. In Design by Accident, Midal aims to write a history of design that emancipates itself from art and architecture, to which it too often has to defer. The book is the result of extensive research on the fundamental texts of design history, and as the title promises, it offers a new perspective on the history of the discipline. It views design as an independent field, rich in its own right, separate from other areas of research and expression.
The Best Design Books on Brands & Manufacturers
The history of design is also shaped by a series of companies that, through their cultural and production activities, are among the most important agents in design.
Echoes: Cassina. 50 Years of iMaestri
Presented at the 2023 Fuorisalone during the Echoes Cassina exhibition (curated by the creative director of the brand Patricia Urquiola in collaboration with design curator Federica Sala), Echoes Cassina is an essential book for anyone wanting to discover how Cassina established itself as a producer of historical, classic, and iconic furniture. Since 1965, Cassina has acquired the rights to the furniture of Le Corbusier, Perriand, and Jeanneret, and has continued to reproduce modernist classics while adapting production techniques to technological advancements with a sensitivity to sustainability. This book compiles all the works of the Masters in the Cassina collection, along with illustrations, photos, images, and curatorial essays that explain the producer’s approach to the great classics of the past.
HAY
Published on the occasion of the brand’s twentieth anniversary, this concise yet captivating monograph explores the heart of HAY, the revolutionary Scandinavian producer founded by Rolf and Mette Hay. The company has reinvented the essence of Scandinavian style, enriching everyday objects with functionality, elegance, and vibrant, interesting palettes. The book reveals how HAY’s practical approach to design has made quality design accessible to everyone. Through collaborations with design giants like Herman Miller and IKEA and various partnerships in the visual culture and fashion world, the book celebrates HAY’s exceptional journey from its inception to its establishment as a reference point in contemporary design.
Herman Miller: A Way of Living
For over a century, Herman Miller has played a crucial role in the evolution of modern and contemporary design, producing timeless classics and creating a culture that has had an unparalleled impact on the design world. In this extensive overview, both new and archival photographs illustrate the evolution of Herman Miller’s furniture designs over the century. Through the stories and creations of legendary designers like Ray and Charles Eames, George Nelson, and Alexander Girard, and with hundreds of illustrations, this book narrates the story of Herman Miller, documenting its key moments and prominent leaders.
