Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 2, 2026

Unit Editions

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.

Last revised
Jun 2, 2026
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≈ 10 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Unit Editions
Founded2009 (2009)
FounderAdrian Shaughnessy, Tony Brook, Patricia Finegan
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Headquarters locationLondon
Publication typesBooks
Nonfiction topicsDesign
Official websiteuniteditions.com

Unit Editions is an independent1 British book publishing company founded in 20092 by Adrian Shaughnessy and Tony Brook and Patricia Finegan of the design studio Spin.3

Based in London,4 the company is known for its elaborately produced publications that focus on niche topics in graphic design and visual culture.56789 Its stated mission is to publish books on “subjects that are either neglected or ignored by mainstream publishers”10 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".11

Unit Editions was notable for establishing its reputation online and via social media12 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,13 selling about 85% of them through its website,1415 and occasionally employing crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Volume.16 Most of its books are produced in relatively small print runs of 1000–3000 copies,14 and some titles sell out quickly.171819 The majority of its first 50 titles were designed by Spin.2021

In 2023, British publishing house Thames & Hudson acquired the rights to Unit Editions’ past publications and future titles.22 Since the acquisition, new books have been published on the work of designers MuirMcNeil, Chris Ashworth,9 North and Fred Troller23 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.24 Unit Editions was nominated in the graphic design section of the 'Beazley Designs of the Year' exhibition at London's Design Museum in 20172526 and included in Creative Review’s Creative Leaders list in 2018.27

Published titles

Selection of titles published by Unit Editions source ↗

As of 2025, Unit Editions’ imprint includes more than 50 published titles, including monographs on celebrated graphic designers like FHK Henrion,28 Lance Wyman,2930 Pentagram,3132 Ken Garland,33 Herb Lubalin,3435 and Paula Scher.3637 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 owners38 2009 ISBN 978-0-9562071-0-4
2 Supergraphics Supergraphics39 2010
3 TD 63-73: Total Design and its Pioneering Role in Graphic Design Work by Total Design40 2011
4 Wim Crouwel: a graphic odyssey catalogue Catalogue to accompany Wim Crouwel exhibit at Design Museum 2011 ISBN 978-0-9562071-3-5
5 Projekt: The Polish Journal of Visual Art and Design Projekt magazine4142 2011 ISBN 978-0-9562071-4-2
6 Kwadraat-Bladen – A Series of Graphic Experiments 1955-1974 Work by Pieter Brattinga 2012 ISBN 978-09562071-5-9
7 Herb Lubalin American Graphic Designer 1918–81 Work by Herb Lubalin434445 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-6-6
9 Ken Garland: Structure and Substance Work by Ken Garland46 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-9-7
10 Jurriaan Schrofer (1926-90): Restless Typographer Work by Jurriaan Schrofer47 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-8-0
11 Scratching The Surface: Essays 1995-2013 Essays by Adrian Shaughnessy 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-0-8
12 Type Only Contemporary typography48 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-1-5
13 FHK Henrion: The Complete Designer Work by FHK Henrion4950 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-2-2
14 Herb Lubalin: American Graphic Designer 1918–81 (compact edition), re-issued Work by Herb Lubalin51 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-3-9
15 Manuals 1: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals152 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-4-6
16 Supernew Supergraphics Supergraphics53 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-5-3
17 Type Plus Contemporary typography 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-6-0
18 Manuals 2: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals54 2014
19 SPIN: 360º Work by design studio Spin55 2015 ISBN 978-0-9575114-8-4
20 Lance Wyman: The Monograph Work by Lance Wyman5657 2015 ISBN 978-0-9575114-9-1
22 TD 63-73: Total Design and its Pioneering Role in Graphic Design, expanded Work by Total Design5819 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-0-5
23 Eating with the eyes Photographs by Harry Pearce 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-3-6
24 Graphic Stamps: The Miniature Beauty Of Postage Stamps Postage stamps5960 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-4-3
25 Herb Lubalin: Typographer Typography by Herb Lubalin 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-5-0
26 Action Time Vision – Punk & Post-Punk 7" Record Sleeves Punk and post-punk record covers6162 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-6-7
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
30 Paula Scher: Works Work by Paula Scher 2016 ISBN 978-0-9956664-1-2
31 Spin/Adventures in Typography Experimental work by design studio Spin6364 2017
32 andreas uebele material monograph volume 3, 2003–2016 Work by Andreas Uebele 2016 ISBN 978-0-9956664-2-9
33 National Theatre Posters: A Design History Posters for National Theatre6566 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-3-6
34 Letraset: The DIY Typography Revolution Typefaces and history of Letraset6768 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-4-3
35 Octavo Redux 1:1 — a record of Octavo, journal of typography 1986–1992 Work by design studio 8vo69 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-5-0
36 Spin/Adventures in Typography II Experimental work by design studio Spin 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-6-7
37 Paula Scher: Works (concise edition), re-issued Work by Paula Scher 2018 ISBN 978-0-9956664-7-4
38 Vaughan Oliver: Archive Materials & Fragments Work by Vaughan Oliver 2018
40 VNIITE: Discovering Utopia – Lost Archives of Soviet Design Work by VNIITE70 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 Bicentennial2930 2018 ISBN 978-1-9164573-1-7
42 Karlssonwilker On America Visual essay on America by design studio Karlssonwilker7172 2018 ISBN 978-1-9164573-2-4
43 What is Universal Everything? Work by Universal Everything73 2019 ISBN 978-1-9164573-3-1
44 AZTDR™ – A—Z of The Designers Republic™ Work by The Designers Republic747576 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 Fella777879 2022 ISBN 978-1-9164573-7-9
50 Pentagram: Living by Design Work by Pentagram31 2022 ISBN 978-1-9164573-8-6
52 North: Extracts from visual identities Work by design studio North80 2023 ISBN 978-0-5008802-2-7
53 1,000 Marks Logotypes by Pentagram32 2024
54 Disorder: Swiss Grit Volume II Work by Chris Ashworth981 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 by Ken Garland 2025


References

References

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External links