My design philosophy starts here. Donald Norman's argument is simple, durable, and instructive: if you push a door that says pull, that's not your mistake, the fault is with its designer. Everything I do comes back to that. Theme: Behavioral psychology, Ergonomics, Design

Robert Bringhurst treats typography as a musician treats notation: rhythm, proportion, and harmony, with the context for why each convention exists. I learned to set a page properly, but it made me notice type everywhere, forever. Theme: Typography, Design

One of my favourite designers, and a large reason I wanted to work in Zürich. Müller-Brockmann taught me that the grid isn't a constraint but makes creativity legible. Written for print in 1961 and relevant to screen design today. Theme: Grid System, Layout, Design

Edward de Bono on thinking about thinking. Vertical logic digs a hole deeper; lateral thinking questions if you're digging in the right place. The best book of his I’ve read. Six thinking hats is a close second place for me. Theme: Psychology, Creativity, Ideation

Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi's name for when the work is doing itself and you lose track of time. He researched flow across surgeons, climbers, and factory workers, then worked out the conditions that produce it. I know the state well. Theme: Psychology, Philosophy

Many featured artists were working in the Bay Area while I was growing up there, and shaped how I think about making things. Templeton, McGee, Campbell came out of skateboarding culture with no interest in asking for permission. Theme: Street Culture, Contemporary Art