Unit Editions is an independent British book publishing company founded in 2009 by Adrian Shaughnessy and Tony Brook and Patricia Finegan of the design studio Spin.
Based in London, the company is known for its elaborately produced publications that focus on niche topics in graphic design and visual culture. Its stated mission is to publish books on “subjects that are either neglected or ignored by mainstream publishers” 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".
Unit Editions was notable for establishing its reputation online and via social media 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, selling about 85% of them through its website, and occasionally employing crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Volume. Most of its books are produced in relatively small print runs of 1000–3000 copies, and some titles sell out quickly. The majority of its first 50 titles were designed by Spin.
In 2023, British publishing house Thames & Hudson acquired the rights to Unit Editions’ past publications and future titles. Since the acquisition, new books have been published on the work of designers MuirMcNeil, Chris Ashworth, North and Fred Troller with a second edition of its 2012 monograph on the late Ken Garland appearing in 2025.
Awards and recognition 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. Unit Editions was nominated in the graphic design section of the 'Beazley Designs of the Year' exhibition at London's Design Museum in 2017 and included in Creative Review’s Creative Leaders list in 2018.
Published titles
As of 2025, Unit Editions’ imprint includes more than 50 published titles, including monographs on celebrated graphic designers like FHK Henrion, Lance Wyman, Pentagram, Ken Garland, Herb Lubalin, and Paula Scher. 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 2009 2 Supergraphics Supergraphics 2010 3 TD 63-73: Total Design and its Pioneering Role in Graphic Design Work by Total Design 2011 4 Wim Crouwel: a graphic odyssey catalogue Catalogue to accompany Wim Crouwel exhibit at Design Museum 2011 5 Projekt: The Polish Journal of Visual Art and Design Projekt magazine 2011 6 Kwadraat-Bladen – A Series of Graphic Experiments 1955-1974 Work by Pieter Brattinga 2012 7 Herb Lubalin American Graphic Designer 1918–81 Work by Herb Lubalin 2012 9 Ken Garland: Structure and Substance Work by Ken Garland 2012 10 Jurriaan Schrofer (1926-90): Restless Typographer Work by Jurriaan Schrofer 2012 11 Scratching The Surface: Essays 1995-2013 Essays by Adrian Shaughnessy 2013 12 Type Only Contemporary typography 2013 13 FHK Henrion: The Complete Designer Work by FHK Henrion 2013 14 Herb Lubalin: American Graphic Designer 1918–81 (compact edition), re-issued Work by Herb Lubalin 2014 15 Manuals 1: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals 2014 16 Supernew Supergraphics Supergraphics 2014 17 Type Plus Contemporary typography 2014 18 Manuals 2: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals 2014 19 SPIN: 360º Work by design studio Spin 2015 20 Lance Wyman: The Monograph Work by Lance Wyman 2015 22 TD 63-73: Total Design and its Pioneering Role in Graphic Design, expanded Work by Total Design 2016 23 Eating with the eyes Photographs by Harry Pearce 2016 24 Graphic Stamps: The Miniature Beauty Of Postage Stamps Postage stamps 2016 25 Herb Lubalin: Typographer Typography by Herb Lubalin 2016 26 Action Time Vision – Punk & Post-Punk 7" Record Sleeves Punk and post-punk record covers 2016 27 Impact 1.0: Design Magazines, Journals and Periodicals (1922-1973) Magazine covers, 1922–1973 2016 28 Impact 2.0: Design Magazines, Journals and Periodicals (1974-2016) Magazine covers, 1974–2016 2016 30 Paula Scher: Works Work by Paula Scher 2016 31 Spin/Adventures in Typography Experimental work by design studio Spin 2017 32 andreas uebele material monograph volume 3, 2003–2016 Work by Andreas Uebele 2016 33 National Theatre Posters: A Design History Posters for National Theatre 2017 34 Letraset: The DIY Typography Revolution Typefaces and history of Letraset 2017 35 Octavo Redux 1:1 — a record of Octavo, journal of typography 1986–1992 Work by design studio 8vo 2017 36 Spin/Adventures in Typography II Experimental work by design studio Spin 2017 37 Paula Scher: Works (concise edition), re-issued 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 2018 41 Lance Wyman: Process. A proposal for the 1976 USA Bicentennial identity Brand identity for the United States Bicentennial 2018 42 Karlssonwilker On America Visual essay on America by design studio Karlssonwilker 2018 43 What is Universal Everything? Work by Universal Everything 2019 44 AZTDR™ – A—Z of The Designers Republic™ Work by The Designers Republic 2019 45 Studio Culture Now: Advice and guidance for designers in a changing world Interviews with graphic design studio owners 2020 46 Ed Fella: A Life in Images Work by Ed Fella 2022 50 Pentagram: Living by Design Work by Pentagram 2022 52 North: Extracts from visual identities Work by design studio North 2023 53 1,000 Marks Logotypes by Pentagram 2024 54 Disorder: Swiss Grit Volume II Work by Chris Ashworth 2025 55 Fred Troller Design Work by Fred Troller 2024 56 Ken Garland: Structure and Substance, re-issued Work by Ken Garland 2025
References
External links Official website