With a strong conceptual basis, the work of graphic designer and artist Julian Montague draws heavily on the history of late 20th century design, offering a dialogue between the past and present of graphic design work. Based in Buffalo, New York, Montague has exhibited in galleries including Art in General, Black and White Gallery, and Anna Kaplan Contemporary in addition to working on book and album covers. Montague’s ability to engage with the sometimes forgotten history of design while speaking to the contemporary moment earned his Instagram account high praise from The New York Times in 2020. His conceptual and photographic book, The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America, which offers a taxonomy of abandoned carts, will be released in a revised edition this fall. Introduced to the history of art and design through his father, Montague pursued continual self-study of the arts rather than through academia. He joins smART Magazine’s inaugural installation of DECA to discuss the design books that have inspired him the most. His insight into the ways that current design is shaped by the past makes his book recommendations of interest to both the seasoned connoisseur and those just beginning to explore.