by ibby
Discover 6 Taschen coffee table books that blend bold design, ads, logos, and color theory, essential inspiration for designers and visual creatives.
Few publishers know how to turn a book into a design object quite like Taschen. Their releases balance scholarship with spectacle, oversized pages, bold layouts, and photography that feels as collectible as the subjects themselves. For designers, artists, and anyone drawn to visual culture, these volumes are more than references; they’re sources of daily inspiration. Below, we’ve rounded up six Taschen coffee table books—some entirely new, others fresh new editions, that push the boundaries of form and content, each one ready to earn a permanent spot in your creative space.
The Package Design Book 8 (2023–24 winners)
Now in its eighth edition, this annual series presents over 600 award-winning packaging designs from global Pentawards competitors. It’s an endless source of creative inspiration, from concept to shelf-ready execution, perfect for designers attuned to branding and visual storytelling across surfaces.
Graphic Design. 1890–Today. Basic Art (New release)
Part of Taschen’s “Basic Art” series, this title surveys the evolution of graphic design across more than a century, from early poster art to modern digital expression. A concise, richly illustrated primer that makes design history approachable and visually enticing.
The Book of Colour Concepts. 45th Edition (New)
For designers who seek inspiration in palettes and theory, this new edition revisits color across historical and contemporary contexts. The “45th Ed.” design signals a collector-friendly, framework-driven exploration of color’s creative potential.
Logo Beginnings. Logo Modernism. 45th Ed. by Jens Müller
A visual feast for designers, a sprawling anthology of over 3,000 logos tracing the evolution of iconic trademarks from the mid-1800s to 1980. This masterful compendium (combining the original Logo Beginnings and Logo Modernism volumes) is meticulously organized by visual categories—Pictorial, Form, Effect, Typographic—and then further divided by elemental forms like circles, lines, overlays, and dots. With essays offering historical perspective alongside profiles of luminaries like Paul Rand, Yusaku Kamekura, and Anton Stankowski, it’s more than a design reference—it’s a cultural journey through brand identity.
Mid-Century Ads
A time capsule of the golden age of advertising, this volume highlights American print ads from the 1950s and 1960s—an era defined by bold typography, hand-illustration, and the birth of modern consumer culture. Each spread is a vivid reminder of how mid-century aesthetics shaped visual communication and brand storytelling.
Menu Design in Europe
Menus are more than functional—they’re cultural artifacts. This Taschen release collects over a century of European menu design, from ornate Belle Époque flourishes to sleek modernist layouts. It’s a rare look at how design mediates between food, hospitality, and visual style, making it a delicious resource for both designers and history lovers.
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