If “reading more” is one of your New Year’s resolutions, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of 12 books to look forward to in the next few months. Topics run the gamut from video game making to an illustrated eulogy for 20yCinemas of the century. Whatever suits you, there is something here for academics and design enthusiasts alike. Happy New Year – and happy reading.
The women who changed architecture
This book puts things in perspective regarding the transformative impact that women have had on architecture. Through in-depth profiles and photos of more than 100 women in architecture — from Lily Reich, the rarely credited architect and longtime partner of Mies van der Rohe, to Jane Gang, a Chicago-based architect known for her sustainable practice and adventurous designs — he tells The book: Challenges and Triumphs of Female Architects from the Nineteenth Century to Today. It also comes with introductions and introductions by two powerful architectural forces: Amale Andraos and Beverly Wills. $50; in March
Why design matters
Debbie Millman started her first design podcast in 2005. In the past 16 years, Design Matters has seen people of creative minds share a recording studio with Millman. This illustrated anthology begins with a classy introduction by Roxanne Gay (also married to Millman), and features over 80 of Millman’s most timeless interviews with people like Marina Abramović, Milton Glaser, and Thelma Golden. $60; in february
Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech
In 2017, a museum dedicated to legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent opened in Marrakech, Morocco. In January 2022, Phaidon will publish a book dedicated to the creation of the museum. Saint Laurent’s love affair with Marrakech is widely documented (he and his partner Pierre Bergé even bought a house there in 1966). Filled with the gorgeous sandstone hues for which Marrakesh is famous, this book is as much a tribute to the city as it is to the fashion giant, and will take you behind the scenes of creative collaborations where architecture and design meet fashion. $49.95 in January
design emergency
What started as an Instagram Live series exploring the role of design in building a better future has now evolved into a must-have book. Written by Alice Rawthorn and Paola Antonelli, two of the world’s most influential design personalities, the book covers four topics – technology, society, communication, and the environment. design emergency It highlights a group of designers, architects, engineers, artists, scientists, and activists, painting a rich and optimistic portrait of the creative minds who propell us forward. $29.95 in April
Cinemas
The US is dotted with dilapidated movie theaters that were once opulent movie palaces. Since 2005, photographic duo Yves Marchand and Roman Mifer have been traversing the country capturing 20th century antiquities and their crumbling interiors with a large format camera. This exquisitely illustrated eulogy looks especially poignant after the pandemic has dealt a blow to the big screen. $80; in january
Louis I Kahn: Revised and Expanded Edition
Louis Kahn was one of the greatest architects of the 20th century, known for his monumental and brutal style. This illustrated overview is an updated and redesigned version of Robert McMarter’s highly acclaimed 2005 study. It features projects both built and unbuilt, including the Salk Institute and some of Kahn’s masterpieces in India and Bangladesh, as well as New York City’s Four Freedoms Park, which he realized 40 years after his death from drawings found in a suitcase was the day he died. $150; in february
Rhysom sex, a seat at the table
Danish-American furniture designer Jens Risom was one of the first to introduce Scandinavian design to the United States. This first-of-its-kind study takes readers through his life in Copenhagen, his nascent New York career, and during his early years at iconic Knoll Furniture, where his designs helped establish the company as an early source for modern design. $125; in january
green command
Victor Papanik has been arguing for decades for recyclable materials and thoughtful packaging. A pioneer of sustainable design, the Austrian-born American designer and educator is known mostly for his seminal work, Design for the real world, but a new version of his other classic, green commandIt will now be released in February. First published at the end of the 20th century, the book is filled with urgent criticism and advice on how to combat the climate crisis. $16.95; in february
Reimagining the design
Design is much more than just an add-on. In this book, design expert Kevin Python explains the problem-solving aspect of design and how it can be leveraged to advance innovation. In doing so, he describes his journey as a black professional through corporate America, from his role at Nike, where he designed Air Jordans, to founding his own design and innovation consulting practice. Diversity, equality, and inclusion are a common thread in this book, which puts interdisciplinary collaboration at the heart of innovation. $24.95 in March
making video games
How were some of the world’s leading video games designed? This book depicts the amazing craft of building the world of video games across 12 chapters, each dedicated to a specific game. From movies like Rise of the Tomb Raider To cult hack games like No Man’s SkyThe book features eye-catching in-game footage that will impress video game developers and video game enthusiasts alike. $40; in April
Reinventing brutality
Brutalist architecture is enjoying its twenty-first century moment. Born in the 1950s, the movement once dominated institutional buildings such as schools, public housing, and government offices. Now, brutality is being reinterpreted in luxury apartments, houses of worship, and museums. This book examines 50 modern models, from a monolithic house in Mexico to a high-rise apartment complex in Switzerland reminiscent of 3D puzzles. $50; in january
Between Memory and Invention: My Journey in Architecture
Part autobiographical, part institutional history, this book by architect, historian, and educator Robert A. Stern chronicles half a century of architectural practice in New York and beyond. Powered by a mix of photographs from Stern’s own archive, this revealing memoir also reads as a candid review of architecture today. $60; in february