Books for November: Five recommended reads to add to your shelves this month

From the history of web design (thanks Rob Ford for putting together such a detailed overview) and a comprehensive look at three decades of The Designers Republic™ to what Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers got up to, and more importantly, what he took during his career – November has some excellent releases to devour.

A-Z of The Designers Republic™ by Unit Editions

Brought to you by Unit Editions, this beautiful new book by Ian Anderson, founder of The Designers Republic™, explores the studio's output and its influence over the past 30 years. From its earliest designs for the FON label in the mid-1980s and sleeves for Age of Chance, Chakk and Cabaret Voltaire, right up to its recent projects for The Cinematic Orchestra, Led Bib and the Gulbenkian Foundation.

In Anderson’s words: "You could call it Volume One if it helps. It’s not a monograph, it’s our idea of what ideas look like — a mix(ed) up of what you want to see, and what we want you to see, refereed by Tony, Adrian and Mark at Unit. Hopefully, it’s a book about why we do what we do featuring the usual suspects and a few suspect devices. Critics might call it an overview — we call it a mission statement."

Acid For The Children: The autobiography of Flea, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers legend

He's the iconic bassist and co-founder of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The one you couldn't take your eyes off, despite Anthony Kiedis' enormous stage presence. Flea finally reveals his fascinating story, complete with everything you'd expect – the "highs" and the gutter lows from an "LA street rat turned world-famous rock star". A must for all music fans everywhere.

Type for Type: Custom type solutions for identity design by Victionary

If custom typefaces are your thing, then Type for Type is the latest book from Victionary that collates some of the best creative work around the world. It also features cover stories that offer insights by some of the top design studios in the industry as well as compelling project and technique-related details to inspire both designers and clients alike. Beautifully designed, as you'd expect, this is an inspiring read and ongoing reference.

Web Design: The Evolution of the Digital World 1990-Today by Rob Ford

Since its debut in 1990, the Internet has seen over a billion web pages. But it wasn’t always sleek interfaces. This new book by Rob Ford, pioneer of the Favourite Website Awards, he takes us through history, presenting the very earliest examples of what we take for granted today. From the first website to use surround sound to the first 'upload-your-face' function and YouTube-like page. Complete with year-by-year factsheets, Google insights, and commentary from the creators themselves, it’s a must-have for anyone looking to design the future.

The Fundamentals of Graphic Design by Gavin Ambrose, Paul Harris, and Nigel Ball

This bestselling introduction to graphic design has been completely updated throughout for 2019's students to include more on electronic media and screen-based design, including new material on social media, apps and design for the web, and a new section on digital design tools. But it's not just for students; it's always good to brush up on one's skills no matter how established.