REFERENCES

This core reading list offers a curated selection of books and articles that most informed the thinking behind Business for Creatives. Each title was chosen for its relevance to creative problem-solving, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the evolving role of the creative professional. Whether you're building a business, refining your craft, or navigating change, these resources offer clarity, challenge, and perspective.

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Rather than present theory alone, this list is meant to serve as a practical extension of the book—highlighting authors and essays that helped shape its frameworks. From design thinking and marketing to creative mindset and equity, these references are a companion for continued learning, reflection, and action.

Creative Strategy & Innovation

These books help creatives think like strategists and design thinkers—ideal for those building businesses, launching new products, or reimagining workflows.

• Creative Strategy and the Business of Design – David Davis & Melissa Thompson (2016)

• Design a Better Business – Patrick van der Pijl, Justin Lokitz & Lisa Kay Solomon (2016)

• Designing Culture – Anne Balsamo (2nd ed., 2021)

• Change by Design – Tim Brown (2009)

• Creative Confidence – Tom Kelley & David Kelley (2013)

• Game Thinking – Amy Jo Kim (2018)

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Entrepreneurship for the Creative Economy

These books blend practical frameworks with an understanding of how entrepreneurship intersects with art, culture, and identity.

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Peter F. Drucker (2006)

• Entrepreneurship and the Creative Economy – Colette Henry & Anne de Bruin (2011)

• Culture and Commerce – Mukti Khaire (2017)

• Entrepreneurship in Culture and Creative Industries – Elisa Innerhofer, Harald Pechlaner & Elena Borin (2018)

• The Fashion Entrepreneur – Keanan Duffty (2024)

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Business Models, Value Creation & Brand Positioning

Focused on how creatives can build business infrastructure, define customer segments, and clearly communicate value.

• Value Proposition Design – Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur, Greg Bernarda & Alan Smith (2014)

• The Innovator’s DNA – Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen & Clayton M. Christensen (2011)

• Blue Ocean Strategy – W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne (2005)

• Business Strategy: Managing Uncertainty, Opportunity, and Enterprise – J.C. Spender (2014)

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Mindset & Motivation for Creative Entrepreneurs

These books inspire action and build the psychological foundation for shipping work, managing resistance, and embracing complexity.

• Work Clean – Dan Charnas (2016)

• Do the Work – Steven Pressfield (2011)

• The Five Forces That Change Everything – Steve Hoffman (2020)

• The Laws of Simplicity – John Maeda (2006)

• The Runaway Species – David Eagleman & Anthony Brandt (2017)