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Unit Editions is an independent[1] British book publishing company founded in 2009[2] by Adrian Shaughnessy and Tony Brook and Patricia Finegan of the design studio Spin.[3]

Key Information

Based in London,[4] the company is known for its elaborately produced publications that focus on niche topics in graphic design and visual culture.[5][6][7][8][9] Its stated mission is to publish books on “subjects that are either neglected or ignored by mainstream publishers”[10] and its founding was "prompted by frustration at the quality of design books available and a faith that quality in both design and writing would find a market".[11]

Unit Editions was notable for establishing its reputation online and via social media[12] and for producing a range of illustrated research papers (the first of which was on Ronald Clyne's work for the Folkways record label) as well as books.

The company distributes books directly to customers,[13] selling about 85% of them through its website,[14][15] and occasionally employing crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Volume.[16] Most of its books are produced in relatively small print runs of 1000–3000 copies,[14] and some titles sell out quickly.[17][18][19] The majority of its first 50 titles were designed by Spin.[20][21]

In 2023, British publishing house Thames & Hudson acquired the rights to Unit Editions’ past publications and future titles.[22] Since the acquisition, new books have been published on the work of designers MuirMcNeil, Chris Ashworth,[9] North and Fred Troller[23] with a second edition of its 2012 monograph on the late Ken Garland appearing in 2025.

Awards and recognition

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Eating with the eyes, a collection of photographs by designer and Pentagram partner Harry Pearce, designed by Pentagram and published by Unit Editions in 2016, won a 2016 D&AD Award.[24] Unit Editions was nominated in the graphic design section of the 'Beazley Designs of the Year' exhibition at London's Design Museum in 2017[25][26] and included in Creative Review’s Creative Leaders list in 2018.[27]

Published titles

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Selection of titles published by Unit Editions

As of 2025, Unit Editions’ imprint includes more than 50 published titles, including monographs on celebrated graphic designers like FHK Henrion,[28] Lance Wyman,[29][30] Pentagram,[31][32] Ken Garland,[33] Herb Lubalin,[34][35] and Paula Scher.[36][37] Each title published by Unit Editions is identified with a sequential number, usually placed on the book’s copyright page or covers.

Books published by Unit Editions
Unit Title Subject Year ISBN
1 Studio Culture: The Secret Life of the Graphic Design Studio Interviews with graphic design studio owners[38] 2009 ISBN 978-0-9562071-0-4
2 Supergraphics Supergraphics[39] 2010
3 TD 63-73: Total Design and its Pioneering Role in Graphic Design Work by Total Design[40] 2011
4 Wim Crouwel: a graphic odyssey catalogue Catalogue to accompany Wim Crouwel exhibit at Design Museum 2011 ISBN 978-0-9562071-3-5
5 Projekt: The Polish Journal of Visual Art and Design Projekt magazine[41][42] 2011 ISBN 978-0-9562071-4-2
6 Kwadraat-Bladen – A Series of Graphic Experiments 1955-1974 Work by Pieter Brattinga 2012 ISBN 978-09562071-5-9
7 Herb Lubalin American Graphic Designer 1918–81 Work by Herb Lubalin[43][44][45] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-6-6
9 Ken Garland: Structure and Substance Work by Ken Garland[46] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-9-7
10 Jurriaan Schrofer (1926-90): Restless Typographer Work by Jurriaan Schrofer[47] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-8-0
11 Scratching The Surface: Essays 1995-2013 Essays by Adrian Shaughnessy 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-0-8
12 Type Only Contemporary typography[48] 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-1-5
13 FHK Henrion: The Complete Designer Work by FHK Henrion[49][50] 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-2-2
14 Herb Lubalin: American Graphic Designer 1918–81 (compact edition), re-issued Work by Herb Lubalin[51] 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-3-9
15 Manuals 1: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals[1][52] 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-4-6
16 Supernew Supergraphics Supergraphics[53] 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-5-3
17 Type Plus Contemporary typography 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-6-0
18 Manuals 2: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals[54] 2014
19 SPIN: 360º Work by design studio Spin[55] 2015 ISBN 978-0-9575114-8-4
20 Lance Wyman: The Monograph Work by Lance Wyman[56][57] 2015 ISBN 978-0-9575114-9-1
22 TD 63-73: Total Design and its Pioneering Role in Graphic Design, expanded Work by Total Design[58][19] 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-0-5
23 Eating with the eyes Photographs by Harry Pearce 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-3-6
24 Graphic Stamps: The Miniature Beauty Of Postage Stamps Postage stamps[59][60] 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-4-3
25 Herb Lubalin: Typographer Typography by Herb Lubalin 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-5-0
26 Action Time Vision – Punk & Post-Punk 7" Record Sleeves Punk and post-punk record covers[61][62] 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-6-7
27 Impact 1.0: Design Magazines, Journals and Periodicals (1922-1973) Magazine covers, 1922–1973 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-8-1
28 Impact 2.0: Design Magazines, Journals and Periodicals (1974-2016) Magazine covers, 1974–2016 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-9-8
30 Paula Scher: Works Work by Paula Scher 2016 ISBN 978-0-9956664-1-2
31 Spin/Adventures in Typography Experimental work by design studio Spin[63][64] 2017
32 andreas uebele material monograph volume 3, 2003–2016 Work by Andreas Uebele 2016 ISBN 978-0-9956664-2-9
33 National Theatre Posters: A Design History Posters for National Theatre[65][66] 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-3-6
34 Letraset: The DIY Typography Revolution Typefaces and history of Letraset[67][68] 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-4-3
35 Octavo Redux 1:1 — a record of Octavo, journal of typography 1986–1992 Work by design studio 8vo[69] 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-5-0
36 Spin/Adventures in Typography II Experimental work by design studio Spin 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-6-7
37 Paula Scher: Works (concise edition), re-issued Work by Paula Scher 2018 ISBN 978-0-9956664-7-4
38 Vaughan Oliver: Archive Materials & Fragments Work by Vaughan Oliver 2018
40 VNIITE: Discovering Utopia – Lost Archives of Soviet Design Work by VNIITE[70] 2018 ISBN 978-1-9164573-0-0
41 Lance Wyman: Process. A proposal for the 1976 USA Bicentennial identity Brand identity for the United States Bicentennial[29][30] 2018 ISBN 978-1-9164573-1-7
42 Karlssonwilker On America Visual essay on America by design studio Karlssonwilker[71][72] 2018 ISBN 978-1-9164573-2-4
43 What is Universal Everything? Work by Universal Everything[73] 2019 ISBN 978-1-9164573-3-1
44 AZTDR™ – A—Z of The Designers Republic™ Work by The Designers Republic[74][75][76] 2019 ISBN 978-1-9164573-4-8
45 Studio Culture Now: Advice and guidance for designers in a changing world Interviews with graphic design studio owners 2020 ISBN 978-1-9164573-6-2
46 Ed Fella: A Life in Images Work by Ed Fella[77][78][79] 2022 ISBN 978-1-9164573-7-9
50 Pentagram: Living by Design Work by Pentagram[31] 2022 ISBN 978-1-9164573-8-6
52 North: Extracts from visual identities Work by design studio North[80] 2023 ISBN 978-0-5008802-2-7
53 1,000 Marks Logotypes by Pentagram[32] 2024
54 Disorder: Swiss Grit Volume II Work by Chris Ashworth[9][81] 2025
55 Fred Troller Design Work by Fred Troller 2024 ISBN 978-0-500-88039-5
56 Ken Garland: Structure and Substance, re-issued Work by Ken Garland 2025


References

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