Unit editions: for graphic designers, by graphic designers

In a way, Unit Editions is relatively common: a small team creating highly designed books/artefacts with rich visual and textual content for an international audience of design professionals, design students and followers of visual culture. It is exceptional work, but we know a few groups doing exceptional work. A number of less obvious details, however, make them one of our favourite small publishing houses. The co-founders, Tony Brook (Spin) and Adrian Shaughnessy (ShaughnessyWorks), are well-established (not up-and-comers creating portfolio pieces, although we love many of those too) so it’s great to see seasoned veterans working on projects like this. They have experimented with combinations of selling platforms and then sharing the changes and decisions, going from classic distribution, to online-only, to a mix of online and a restricted group of specialist bookstores. They do workshops, share ‘making-of’s and even organized a ‘Design Museum Takeover’. To top it off, like us, they love studio culture and creative spaces.