James Martin's Made by James: The Honest Guide to Creativity and Logo Design

Martin stresses that you cannot design without a clear brief.

(according to the PDF):

"Tell me."

The rule he left in the back pocket of every project: "Design what you can defend." If asked why a curve exists, have an answer beyond “it looks nice.” If a color is chosen, know what it promises. Defense isn’t defense against critique—it’s clarity for the people who use the mark.

Invest in your creative confidence. One PDF. A career’s worth of honesty.