Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual by Timothy Samara

This book is simply the most compact and lucid handbook available outlining the basic principles of layout, typography, color usage, and space.

Being a creative designer is often about coming up with unique design solutions.

Unfortunately, when the basic rules of design are ignored in an effort to be distinctive, design becomes useless. In language, a departure from the rules is only appreciated as great literature if recognition of the rules underlies the text. 

Graphic design is a "visual language," and brilliance is recognized in designers whose work seems to break all the rules, yet communicates its messages clearly.

This book is a fun and accessible handbook that presents the fundamentals of design in lists, tips, brief text, and examples.

Chapters include Graphic Design: 
What It Is?
What Are They and What Do They Do? 
20 Basic Rules of Good Design
Form and Space-The Basics
Color Fundamentals
Choosing and Using Type
The World of Imagery
Putting it All Together?
Essential Layout Concepts
The Right Design Choices: 20 Reminders for Working Designers
Breaking the Rules: When and Why to Challenge all the Rules of this Book.