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Unit Editions
Founded2009; 16 years ago (2009)
FounderAdrian Shaughnessy, Tony Brook, Patricia Finegan
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Headquarters locationLondon
Publication typesBooks
Nonfiction topicsDesign
Official websitehttps://uniteditions.com

Unit Editions is an independent[1] British book publishing company founded in 2009[2] by writer Adrian Shaughnessy and graphic designers Tony Brook and Patricia Finegan.[3] Headquartered in London,[4] Unit Editions is known for elaborately-produced publications that focus on niche topics in graphic design and visual culture.[5][6][7][8] Their stated mission is to publish books on “subjects that are either neglected or ignored by mainstream publishers.”[9]

Unit Editions distributes books directly to customers, selling about 85% of them through its website,[10][11] and occasionally employing crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Volume.[12] Most of its books are produced in relatively small print runs of 1000–3000 copies,[10] and some titles sell out quickly.[13][14] The majority of books are designed by Spin Studio, run by the imprint’s co-founder Tony Brook.[15][16]

In 2023, British publishing house Thames & Hudson acquired rights to Unit Editions’ past publications and future titles.[17]

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 the 2016 D&AD Award.[18] Unit Editions was nominated in the graphic design section of the 'Beazley Designs of the Year' exhibition at London's Design Museum in 2017[19][20] and included in Creative Review’s Creative Leaders list in 2018.[21]

Published titles

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As of 2025, Unit Editions’ imprint includes more than 50 published titles, including monographs on celebrated graphic designers like FHK Henrion,[22] Lance Wyman,[23][24] Pentagram,[25][26] Ken Garland,[27] Herb Lubalin,[28][29] and Paula Scher.[30][31] 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[32] 2009 ISBN 978-0-9562071-0-4
2 Supergraphics Supergraphics[33] 2010
9 Ken Garland: Structure and Substance Work of Ken Garland[34] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-9-7
10 Jurriaan Schrofer (1926-90): Restless Typographer Work of Jurriaan Schrofer[35] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-8-0
12 Type Only Typography[36] 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-1-5
15 Manuals 1: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals 2014
16 Supernew Supergraphics Supergraphics[37] 2012
18 Manuals 2: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals 2012
23 Eating with the eyes Photographs by Harry Pearce 2016
24 Graphic Stamps: The Miniature Beauty Of Postage Stamps Postage stamps[38][39] 2016
26 Action Time Vision – Punk & Post-Punk 7" Record Sleeves Punk and post-punk record covers[40][41] 2016
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
32 andreas uebele material monograph volume 3, 2003–2016 Work by Andreas Uebele 2016
34 Letraset: The DIY Typography Revolution Typefaces and history of Letraset[42][43] 2017
37 Paula Scher: Works (concise edition) Work by Paula Scher 2018
38 Vaughan Oliver: Archive Materials & Fragments Work by Vaughan Oliver 2018
40 VNIITE: Discovering Utopia – Lost Archives of Soviet Design Work by VNIITE[44] 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[23][24] 2018 ISBN 978-1-9164573-1-7
43 What is Universal Everything? Work by Universal Everything[45] 2019 ISBN 978-1-9164573-3-1
44 AZTDR™ – A—Z of The Designers Republic™ Work by The Designers Republic 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[46][47][48] 2022 ISBN 978-1-9164573-7-9
50 Pentagram: Living by Design Work by Pentagram[25] 2022 ISBN 978-1-9164573-8-6
53 1,000 Marks Logotypes by Pentagram[26] 2024
54 Disorder: Swiss Grit Volume II Work by Chris Ashworth[49] 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 of Ken Garland 2025

References

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  1. ^ Heller, Steven (2014-04-17). "The Lost, Surprisingly Soulful Art of Corporate Identity". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  2. ^ "They said books were dead, they were wrong: Adrian Shaughnessy on a decade of Unit Editions". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  3. ^ "Unit Editions". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  4. ^ "Unit Editions Makes Books for Designers – Glyphic". 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  5. ^ Petit, Zachary (2020-11-16). "Studio Culture Now: A Guide to Surviving—and Maybe Even Thriving—in an Era of Striving". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  6. ^ "Unit Editions". Designers & Books. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  7. ^ Leslie, Jeremy (2016-07-29). "Tony Brook, Spin & Unit Editions". magCulture. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  8. ^ Muraben, Billie (2016-11-01). "Unit Editions Pushes + Preserves Graphic Design by Publishing Books That Go Against the Mainstream". AIGA Eye On Design. Retrieved 2025-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "About". Unit Editions. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  10. ^ a b Bøg, Sanne (2023-01-14). "Unit Editions". boeg.studio. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  11. ^ Q42, Fabrique &. "Unit Editions". Design Museum. Retrieved 2025-05-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Unit Editions crowd-funds new book, System Process Form, from MuirMcNeil studio". Creative Boom. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  13. ^ "Vaughan Oliver: Archive – a limited reprint by Unit Editions in memory of the legendary designer". Creative Boom. 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  14. ^ "How Adrian Shaughnessy and Unit Editions Wrote and Published Pentagram: Living By Design | Scratching the Surface". scratchingthesurface.fm. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  15. ^ "TONY BROOK". Curator. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  16. ^ "New Unit Editions offering explores combined power of text and imagery". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  17. ^ "Unit Editions and Read-Only Memory join Thames & Hudson". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  18. ^ "Eating with the eyes | Pentagram Design Ltd | Unit Editions | D&AD Awards 2016 Pencil Winner | Specialist & Limited Edition Books | D&AD". www.dandad.org. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  19. ^ Q42, Fabrique &. "Unit Editions". Design Museum. Retrieved 2023-04-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Dawood, Sarah (2017-10-17). "Review: Beazley Designs of the Year 2017 at the Design Museum". Design Week. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  21. ^ "Unit Editions". Creative Review. 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  22. ^ "FHK Henrion - The Complete Designer". Design Week. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  23. ^ a b "Kickstarter Campaign Hopes to Publish Lance Wyman's Fantastic Diaries". Metropolis. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  24. ^ a b "Tony Brook on publishing the visual diaries of Lance Wyman". Design Week. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  25. ^ a b TypeRoom. "Pentagram at 50: Living by design is a two volume compendium to inspire - TypeRoom". www.typeroom.eu. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  26. ^ a b "New Pentagram book features 1,000 logos its partners designed". Design Week. 2025-03-05. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  27. ^ "Ken Garland: Structure and Substance". Design Week. 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  28. ^ "Unit Editions' superb volume of Herb Lubalin's typography". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  29. ^ "Unit Editions' Herb Lubalin monograph". Design Week. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  30. ^ "The exact moment to end a client meeting, whether your client is Bob Dylan or Citibank". Quartz. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  31. ^ "Paula Scher: Works – Unit Editions' new book on the designer's phenomenal career so far". Creative Boom. 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  32. ^ "Studio Culture: The secret life of the graphic design studio, Unit Editions, 2009 - Design Reviewed". designreviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  33. ^ Pallister, James (2010-12-09). "Supergraphics: the book". The Architects’ Journal. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  34. ^ "Ken Garland: Structure and Substance, Unit Editions, 2012 - Design Reviewed". designreviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  35. ^ PrintMag (2013-04-17). "Do You Know The Name Jurriaan Schrofer?". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  36. ^ "Graphic Design: New Unit Editions book celebrates type as graphic solution". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  37. ^ "Supernew Supergraphics". Design Week. 2014-05-23. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  38. ^ "Graphic Stamps: The Miniature Beauty Of Postage Stamps by Spin". Creative Boom. 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  39. ^ Voon, Claire (2016-07-12). "A Graphic History of Postal Stamp Design". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  40. ^ "Unit Editions' Action Time Vision – an alternative look at the aesthetics of punk". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  41. ^ Farris, Jessica (2016-12-20). "25 of the Best Recently Released Design Books". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  42. ^ "Eye Magazine | Review | Relics of a vanished world". Eye Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  43. ^ "Unit Editions' study of Letraset takes on a new form in this Sheffield exhibition". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  44. ^ Byrnes, Mark (2018-11-29). "When Soviet Industrial Designers Imagined a Better World". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2025-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ Tucker, Emma (2019-07-19). "Unit Editions celebrates digital pioneers Universal Everything". Creative Review. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  46. ^ Gosling, Emily (2022-03-22). "Ed Fella wrestles with the difference between artist and designer". Creative Review. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  47. ^ "Unit Editions' new book captures the enduring legacy of designer and rulebreaker Ed Fella". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  48. ^ "Unit Editions Chronicles the Career of Ed Fella". Hypebeast. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  49. ^ "Disorder: Swiss Grit Volume II, Unit Editions, 2025 - Design Reviewed". designreviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
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