We like consuming words on the page almost as much as we like consuming food on the plate. Welcome to the Scout Book Club: a brief and regular rundown of what we’re reading, what’s staring at us from the bookshelf begging to be read next, and what we’ve already read and recommend.

In this edition of the Scout Book Club, we’re shaking things up by eliciting recommendations for design-related books from Becki Chan, of Open Format Arts & Culture and Director of the upcoming Design Vancouver Festival (September 19-29), and Marianne Amodio, Pecha Kucha Night Host and one half of the local architecture firm, Marianne Amodio and Harley Grusko Architects Inc..

For more details about the DVF, check out our rundown of the event here.

Currently Reading & Recommended

Rings (Accessories) (Thames & Hudson, 2017), by Rachel Church | A comprehensive illustrated compendium of Victoria and Albert Museum’s famous ring collection, this book features over 200 unique jewellery designs, dating from the Middle Ages to the 1950s. We don’t make rings like this anymore, with such care and thoughtfulness going into every little detail. The rings presented in this book were custom made for someone, imbued with personal history and memory. If only rings could talk… DETAILS. — BC

Design by wangzhihong.com: A Selection of Book Designs 2001-2016 (Faces Publications, 2016) | Wang Zhi-Hong is one of my favourite book cover designers. I love that I get to learn a bit more about Asian culture through his work, which skillfully and boldly blends traditional cross-cultural influences from China, Japan and Taiwan with modern Western design. I really appreciate the subtle graphic transformations of East Asian typography in his work. I followed Wang’s work for many years, and when Sort featured this book on their Instagram, I bought their only copy right away. It is a beautiful and comprehensive graphic summary of his work to date. DETAILS. — BC

Shoplifters 8: New Type Design, 2019 (Actual Source, 2019) | I own a few books from Actual Source… I often wish that I could have studied typography instead of architecture. How does one find design balance and refinement working within such restrictions? This is a graphic book featuring over 1000 new typefaces and an endless source of design inspiration. Notably, one of the fonts features is by Abi Huynh, a super talented type designer based in Vancouver. DETAILS. — BC

Reside. Contemporary West Coast Houses (Figure1 Publishing, 2024), by Dr. Michael J Prokopow | This book features original house designs in the West Coast Contemporary style, a rich and unique modern architectural tradition native to our Pacific Northwest region. The houses featured include work by MA+HG Architects, Leckie Studio Architecture + Design, and STA Office Architecture – all of whom will be participating in this year’s DVF Open Studios – as well as many other notable local architects. DETAILS. — BC *Figure1 Publishing will be hosting a book launch for Reside. Contemporary West Coast Houses at Inform Interiors (50 Water St.) on Tuesday, September 24th (5-7pm) as part of the Design Vancouver Festival. Find out more. — BC

The Creative Act: A Way of Being (Penguin Random House, 2023), by Rick Rubin | Trendy, I know, but for good reason. While I was expecting tales on how my favourite songs were created, I instead got a meditation on how to open the mind, how to find awe in the everyday, and how to build the confidence to express individual thought, especially when it goes against the grain. I also love how Rubin’s instructions are essentially ancient wisdom teachings, framed in a way that makes it accessible to everyone, not just artists or creators. Favourite quotes: “The imagination has no limits. The physical world does. The work exists in both…” and “Listening is suspending disbelief.” — MA

Order your copy of The Creative Act: A Way of Being from local independent booksellers such as Massy Books, Iron Dog Books, and Upstart & Crow.

Theory of Colours (MIT Press, 1970), by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe | I love this book – mostly because it is someone’s learned and subjective thoughts on colour psychology, that so accurately reflects our collective understanding of how colour makes us feel. No evidence required; the analysis is so self-evident, you just know that it’s true. When I read it, it takes me back to the time when colour must have been thought of as magic. Favourite quote: “We find from experience that yellow excites a warm and agreeable impression… The eye is gladdened, the heart expanded and cheered, a glow seems at once to breathe toward us.” — MA

Theory of Colours is available to special order from local independent booksellers including Massy Books, Iron Dog Books, and Upstart & Crow.

*It would be remiss for me not to mention Vancouver’s various other independent and used book stores, and encourage you to pay them an in-person visit to seek out these and other titles.

WORD: Connection | The theme of this year’s first official Design Vancouver Festival is ‘Connection’, which is apt, since its comeback is thanks to Open Format Arts & Culture (also responsible for the popular PechaKucha live talk series), whose mission is to “to bridge the gaps in urban life by offering presenters a platform to share real-world stories and experiences, inspiring audiences and enhancing community wellbeing.”