Unit Editions makes its debut with book on consultancy culture

Unit Editions, a publishing venture set up ‘by designers for designers’ (logo pictured), will launch its first book – Studio Culture: The Secret Life of the Graphic Design Studio – in September.

Tony Brook, founder of consultancy Spin, and Adrian Shaughnessy, co-founder of design group Intro, have set up the enterprise independently.

Shaughnessy says, ‘We’ve had frustrations with other people’s books that have just missed the point slightly for designers. I’ve done eight books and Tony’s done three, but this time we’re learning the publishing business and are determined to avoid the traps made by retailers.’

The pair have vowed to sell the books through specialist shops and online, rather than through book chains.

‘There is no book on how to run a design studio,’ says Shaughnessy, ‘so with our book we looked at how to build a design culture, how to keep staff motivated and inspired, and how to stop them leaving to set up their own practice.’

The book examines 28 studios around the world, setting out interviews with key personnel from each, including Fuel co-founder Stephen Sorrell and Biblioteque co-founder Jon Jeffrey in the UK, as well as Pentagram New York partner Paula Scher and Thirst founder Rick Valicenti in the US.