A big box of design could be very handy. Pahidon certainly thinks so, as they have put together a $225 archive full of examples of graphic design dating back to the dawn of mechanical reproduction. “Five hundred graphic designs … are showcased in this archive—from the Gutenberg Bible and Nuremberg Chronicles of the fifteenth century, to the cutting edge magazines, posters and ephemera of today,” we are told.

If you are anything like us, creative blocks are best dissolved by flipping through examples of great work, and in that regard, this box could serve as a gigantic magic pill. Newspapers, magazines, adverts, typefaces, logos, and album the world-over are represented. You’ll have to wait until September this year to dig in, however. (acquire)

Another look after the jump…

Phaidon offer up this incredible look inside one of the world’s most celebrated restaurants. Mugaritz in Errenteria, Northern Spain, recently voted third in the S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards, is the brainchild of Andoni Aduriz. This, his first cookbook, offers up 70 recipes as well as the ideas and inspirations behind his award winning food.

However the big draw has to be the imagery. Swedish photographer Per-Anders Jorgensen has gained a reputation for shooting pretty much every big name in the gastronomy game, his magazine Fool home to his brilliant portraits and still lifes. His contribution to this volume really sets this above your ordinary cookbook, go ahead and grab a copy of Mugaritz: A Natural Science of Cooking over on Amazon.

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French siblings, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, create beautiful products and have done since 1998. Phaidon first got their hands on these guys just five short years into their career, publishing a monograph of their work at such an early stage testament to their prodigious talent. The pair have gone on to produce work for Vitra, Flos, Alessi and Cappellini to name just a few. Phaidon returns with Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec – Works a comprehensive overview of their work due out in May. No doubt there’ll be back again in a few years time for part three.

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec – Works can be pre-ordered at Amazon.

Architect and designer, John Pawson, works over his second book under the Phaidon imprint. A Visual Inventory is a collection of Pawson’s personal images brought down to a manageable number from an initial library of more than 200,000 digital snapshots. The is a visual essay of sorts, and helps explain how photography has been a tool in Pawson’s work.

A Visual Inventory book shares one photo on each page and runs like a working reference guide to Pawson’s research matter. No cropping or alterations have been made to any of the Pawson’s photographs. A great visual book for leafing through for inspiration. Published by Phaidon. Available now from Amazon.

Photography: Selectism.com

More looks inside A Visual Inventory in our gallery.

One of the latest books from Phaidon, The Future of Architecture. Since 1889, is an up-to-date, comprehensive look at the architecture of the twentieth century. Jean-Louis Choen, himself an authority on architecture and urbanism, authors book to include homages to Wright, Le Corbusier, and Mies, while highlighting local regional work often overlooked by other reviews of the century’s architecture.

Readers will find photographs of Algerian government building from the 1930’s as well as highlights from the Midwest United States, Latin America and beyond.Those looking for a fresh view on twentieth century architecture along with new enthusiasts will appreciate this Phaidon’s architecture reference book.

Available from Amazon.

Photography: Selectism.com

We take a look inside The Future of Architecture book in our gallery…

George Lois, the master communicator of the advertising world soups up around 120 life lessons in his new Phaidon book, Damn Good Advice (For People with Talent!), which delivers a slew of insightful thoughts on making things work for you. Now, Mr. Lois clearly singles out “people with talent” as the group he is speaking with with the book; that means everyone reading this here site.

Put Damn Good Advice on your coffee table and thumb through it daily for some insight on how to make your work and world better. Though some of the mantras delivered by Lois are obvious, it is rather nice to be reminded of them. Forthcoming on Phaidon March 26. Available from Amazon.

Photography: Selectism.com

Select quotations and pages from the book after the click.

Since arriving on bookshelves in 2010, the Master of Cinema series titles have worked introductions to the world’s most well known directors including Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, Orson Wells, and Akira Kurosawa to name a few. Each volume is filled with interviews, biographies and a wide range of film stills and movie ephemera – many rarely seen outside these volumes.

The Master of Cinema series books pack nicely into around 100 pages each and sit as continuing volumes on your bookshelf. Forthcoming director volumes for 2012 include Michael Mann and Quentin Tarantino. Available from Amazon.

Photography: Jeff Carvalho/Selectism.com

More looks at the Master of Cinema Series of books in our gallery…

Take a moment, if you will, and listen to Amanda Renshaw, Phaidon Press’ editorial director, on NPR this week discussing their new massive book, The Art Museum. A 10 year project in the making, The Art Museum is as the title states: a comprehensive “museum” collection of the world’s most important works of art, cataloged, freshly photographed, and referenced across nearly 1000 pages of print. More than 2,700 works are shown across pages that occasionallt fold-out for even richer and larger looks. Did we mention it measures 16 1/2 by 12 5/8 inches?

The Art Museum is a virtual walkthrough the world of art and may be the only art resource book you will need. Published by Phaidon and available now through all great bookstores and Amazon. #essential

Many more looks inside The Art Museum tome after the click.

Fans of architecture across the globe will be happy to discover Phaidon’s latest pocket-sized book. Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture is a traveling reference guide to important buildings across the globe, broken down by continent and location.

Key guides inside the Atlas alert the reader to the accessibility of each building including information on public hours, interior viewing building types (sports, private, government, etc…), and much more. Highly recommended for travel junkies looking for a modern guide to architecture at their choice destinations. Available from Amazon.

Photography: Jeff Carvalho/Selectism.com

See select pages from the book after the click.

While we usually would share the cover of a new book that has us talking, these internal photographs from The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adria, out now on Phaidon, really helps outline the story inside this cookbook. Those looking for a historical, comprehensive look inside of Adria’s incredibly famous El Bulli restaurant will need to wait a bit longer. The Family Meal is very focused on showcasing more than 100 dishes prepared and inspired by the very meals eaten by El Bulli staff daily before service began.

As Adria’s first cookbook, The Family Meal offers easy to prepare dishes for home dining –  using affordable ingredients available in almost any supermarket. An absolute treat of a book that shows us all that great food can be had inside your own home. Available now from Amazon.

Photography: Jeff Carvalho/Selectism.com

Many more looks at the pages and images inside The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adria after the click.