A masterclass in lively, structured, coordinated, cohesive, rarely-bettered design strategies. A must for anyone interested in the form and structure of graphic design and its place in the world.

You could buy JMB's own 'Raster Systeme' and get it from the horse's mouth, but this beautifully written and assembled document is both the best introduction to and overview of the great man's career.

A wild card entry, being about a baseball team's management strategy; but its theme - the power of rethinking convention - is relevant to every business and has been of great value to us.

'Penguin by Design' may be the go-to guide for a history of Penguin jackets, but this chubby little book provides a richer variety of art from Penguin's extraordinary history. Instant inspiration.

These short films gave me a severe case of the willies as a student, and still do. JS is a master of freakish surrealism and will make you want to down your laptop and get your hands dirty again.

Matisse is a friend to designers due in part to the beautifully graphic style of his awe-inspiring cutouts. If you're struggling with colour and composition, this is your one-stop shop.

Time for some humility. If you get to the stage where you think graphic design is everything, read this and remember - sometimes it's only lines on paper.