The Color Theory Books Every Designer Needs
1.6K views · 2026-02-26
Visual & Graphic
Want to be a better artist, graphic designer, or maker but always feel a little fuzzy about color theory? I'm sharing 7 essential books that completely transformed how I understand and use color. From the text books I learned from in art school to the prettiest coffee table books out there, here are my very favorite books to fill your eyeballs with a beautiful new color palette and fresh inspiration.
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New here? I’m Janelle! I’m a freelance graphic designer who loves chatting about creativity, freelance life, and how on earth you build a sustainable career as a working creative while keeping your sanity.
REFERENCED IN THIS VIDEO //
Interaction With Color, Josef Albers - https://amzn.to/4r0L83L
Interacting With Color, Fritz Horstman - https://amzn.to/40rhTMO
Color-Aid - https://amzn.to/46ojKFM
The Secret Lives Of Color, Kassia St. Clair - https://amzn.to/4rCFsOR
The Designer's Dictionary Of Color, Sean Adams - https://amzn.to/4azdnlm
Palette Perfect, Sara Caldas - https://amzn.to/4qXpxtc
Color Collective's Palette Perfect Vol. 1, Lauren Wager - https://amzn.to/478z0GQ
Color Collective's Palette Perfect Vol. 2, Lauren Wager - https://amzn.to/4qYQRHx
Spectrum: Heritage Patterns and Colors, Victoria & Albert Museum - https://amzn.to/4aQD53H
Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color, Leatrice Eisema & Keith Recker - https://amzn.to/4baTaT6
Grab my Free Guide To Color Codes here: https://janellehugel.kit.com/72647239ed
And browse my color palette library here: https://www.janellehugel.com/color-palette-library
CONNECT WITH ME //
Portfolio -- https://www.peregrinecreative.co
Resources for creatives -- https://www.janellehugel.com
Templates -- https://www.janellehugel.com/shop
CHAPTERS //
00:00 Color theory is weird
01:08 Interaction With Color by Josef Albers
04:09 The Secret Lives Of Color
04:38 The Designer's Dictionary Of Color
05:52 Palette Perfect
07:09 Color Collective's Palette Perfect Vols 1& 2
08:51 Spectrum by the Victoria & Albert Museum
09:50 Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color
---
New here? I’m Janelle! I’m a freelance graphic designer who loves chatting about creativity, freelance life, and how on earth you build a sustainable career as a working creative while keeping your sanity.
REFERENCED IN THIS VIDEO //
Interaction With Color, Josef Albers - https://amzn.to/4r0L83L
Interacting With Color, Fritz Horstman - https://amzn.to/40rhTMO
Color-Aid - https://amzn.to/46ojKFM
The Secret Lives Of Color, Kassia St. Clair - https://amzn.to/4rCFsOR
The Designer's Dictionary Of Color, Sean Adams - https://amzn.to/4azdnlm
Palette Perfect, Sara Caldas - https://amzn.to/4qXpxtc
Color Collective's Palette Perfect Vol. 1, Lauren Wager - https://amzn.to/478z0GQ
Color Collective's Palette Perfect Vol. 2, Lauren Wager - https://amzn.to/4qYQRHx
Spectrum: Heritage Patterns and Colors, Victoria & Albert Museum - https://amzn.to/4aQD53H
Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color, Leatrice Eisema & Keith Recker - https://amzn.to/4baTaT6
Grab my Free Guide To Color Codes here: https://janellehugel.kit.com/72647239ed
And browse my color palette library here: https://www.janellehugel.com/color-palette-library
CONNECT WITH ME //
Portfolio -- https://www.peregrinecreative.co
Resources for creatives -- https://www.janellehugel.com
Templates -- https://www.janellehugel.com/shop
CHAPTERS //
00:00 Color theory is weird
01:08 Interaction With Color by Josef Albers
04:09 The Secret Lives Of Color
04:38 The Designer's Dictionary Of Color
05:52 Palette Perfect
07:09 Color Collective's Palette Perfect Vols 1& 2
08:51 Spectrum by the Victoria & Albert Museum
09:50 Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color