The best design books of 2024

From an atlas of never-built architecture to a monograph on Alexander Girard, 2024 had a wealth of exciting design books.

I think about this year-end list of design books all year long, collecting stacks, reading hundreds of pages, pouring over countless images. I keep a list of the books that stick with me and feel like they show me something new. But it’s only when I narrow that long list down for publication that I can see the trends that emerged over the year. Regardless of circumstance, it seems there are always threads connecting the books that have meant the most to me. As I look over my favorite books of 2024, I’m struck by their optimism. The books I couldn’t seem to get out of my head this year feel the opposite, in many ways, of how the year felt. This list, then, is a list filled with color, with inspiration, with excitement, and with joy.