August 2016 Bench #5 -- When a Website is a Plethora of Good Reads

I'm back temporarily sitting on another bench after a summer respite --ready to resume my blog walks for the Fall. However, before my strolls return on September 1, I have an extraordinary website, Designers & Books created by Steve Kroeter, the website's editor and chief to share with you. As Steve explains in his introduction to his website, it is an advocate for books as an important source of inspiration for creativity, innovation, and invention. The main way we do this is by publishing lists of books that esteemed members of the international design community identify as important, meaningful, and formative—books that have shaped their values, their worldview, and their ideas about design."

The website indeed lives up to this goal! It has 2,000 books from 178 designers on the site---and well over 200 contributors including writers, editors, curators, and critics who have sent in lists.  One of the ones I discovered is Chris Bangle, a car designer living in Italy who is the principle of Chris Bangle and Associates. I think his book recommendations are important for anyone who loves watches from a mechanical as well as artistic viewpoint. He also has initiated The Big Bench Community Project, another reason to appreciate his book choices and design philosophy.

And if your autumn strolls take you to New York in November, do visit the Designers & Books Fair 2016™ on Saturday, November 12, 2016.