Shelf

The best book on how design decisions compound over time. Changed how I think about every structure I walk into. Brand's layers of change framework (site, structure, skin, services, space plan, stuff) applies to far more than architecture.

The tool I use for all visual design work, including video thumbnails and site mockups. Collaborative, fast, and the auto-layout system is genuinely well-designed. Proof that design tools can be as thoughtful as the things made with them.

The definitive account of how one person's design and infrastructure decisions reshaped New York City. Required reading for anyone investigating the built environment. Dense, rewarding, and a masterclass in how power operates through physical space.