I’ve compiled a list of 8 exciting publishers that you may never heard of but they certainly will catch your eye in the bookstore. They produce finely designed art books, limited artist editions, and posters. Some of them focus on emerging artists while others reprint the work of already established artists. Some cover art exclusively, and some write about adjacent topics like architecture or management. There’s no faster way to a designer’s heart than a greatly designed book — with these publishers you can be confident that you’re getting a book with outstanding aesthetics and quality.
Counter-Print
https://www.instagram.com/counterprintbooks
London, UK
Counter Print Books is an online bookshop and indie publisher centered on beautiful art and design books. Selling classic titles that they found on their travels, the business began as a little side project, something they did in their spare time. The couple’s first website only had a few second-hand books available but every time they put them online, they would quickly sell.
Viction
https://www.instagram.com/victionworkshop
Hong Kong
Founded by Victor Cheung in 2001, viction workshop ltd. began as a passion project that focused on producing design publications and has since expanded its portfolio to include a broader array of themed collections, art prints, travel guides, children’s books, and games under two additional brands, VICTION-VICTION and CITIx60.
Actual Source
https://www.instagram.com/actual_source
USA
Actual Source is the collaborative design practice of Davis Ngarupe (Cook Islands / USA) and JP Haynie (USA). Together, and with their community of collaborators, they design and execute publications, visual identities, websites, packaging, apparel, and physical spaces for clients in many diverse fields at large and small scale.
Phaidon
https://www.instagram.com/phaidonsnaps
Vienna
Phaidon is the premier global publisher of the creative arts. They work with the world’s most influential authors to produce innovative books on art, photography, design, architecture, fashion, food, and travel, and illustrated books for children. Phaidon has a long and distinguished history as an art-book publisher with over 1,500 titles in print.
Rizzoli Publications
https://www.instagram.com/rizzolibooks
New York
Rizzoli New York joined such prestigious American institutions as Tiffany’s, Saks, and Cartier when it first opened the Rizzoli Bookstore on Fifth Avenue in 1964. In the following years, its landmark building in New York became the center for the company’s national expansion, adding new bookstores throughout the country and, a decade later, establishing an eminent publishing house renowned today for high-quality, illustrated books.
MÖREL Books
https://www.instagram.com/morelbooks
London, UK
Non-profit publisher specializing in limited edition Photo and Art Books.
Art and Theory
https://www.instagram.com/artandtheory
Stockholm, Sweden
Art and Theory Publishing is dedicated to publishing books with artists, writers, curators, cultural institutions, architects, designers, photographers, and fashion designers. They also publish artists’ monographs, special editions, and ephemera.
Hatje Cantz Verlag
https://www.instagram.com/hatjecantzverlag
Berlin, Germany
Hatje Cantz Verlag is a German book publisher specializing in photography, art, architecture, and design. It was established in 1945 by Gerd Hatje and has offices in Stuttgart and Berlin. Hatje Cantz Verlag has a backlist of nearly 800 titles.