Kenneth Hine, a professor at Syracuse University, kept a bibliography of the most important books on design, cleverly titled, “Hine Sight.” He sold perfect-bound versions of it at the copy center, and I believe even offered course credit to anybody that read every book listed. Of course, the task was impossible – the book is 137 pages, and lists over 300 resources.

I’ve kept it, of course, just like every book I’ve ever purchased. Over the past 20 years, it’s been packed in a box 5 times, and hauled to each new apartment, living for the past 6 years in the basement of our house. Occasionally, I still dust it off, bound and determined to at least make a dent in it.

Most of the books still remain elusive to me. For example, Vision in Motion, by Lazlo Moholy-Nagy, which is listed on the very first page. Hine describes it as “The most important book ever written about design philosophy, education, and practice.” So you can imagine my guilt for not having read it.

There was a time, though, in 2010, that I actually held the book in my hands. I was in a rare bookstore in San Francisco, perusing the design section. I happened upon the hardcover and, though it was in a plastic sleeve, it was immediately recognizable to me. I looked at my wife – girlfriend at the time – and said, “I’ve been looking for this book a long time.” 

“You should get it,” she said.

I can’t recall the price listed on the back, but I know it was well out of reach. I slowly placed the book back on the shelf, and shortly after we caught a plane back to New York. 

Today, you can find used copies of “Vision in Motion” on Amazon for $45, though there are 4 copies listed at over $400. I’ve never really thought about purchasing one, because it doesn’t seem like a book that should arrive in the mail. Or maybe it should. Either way, I do think about the version I held in my hands once. In hind site, perhaps I should have purchased it.