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Title: Basics of Design: Layout and Typography for Beginners by Lisa Graham ISBN: 0-7668-1362-2 Publisher: Delmar Thomson Learning Pub. Date: 21 May, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $38.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (4 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Coherent and Accessible
Comment: A friend of mine recommended this book as a solid introduction to graphic design. The author, Lisa Graham, covers the principles of design effectively and even throws in some unexpectedly funny explanations that really make the point. For example, the beginning of the Balance chapter is hilarious and made me realize that a page really can make a person feel weird, if it isn't designed using the design principles. Once I read that balance chapter, I realized that many of her illustrations also were surprisingly humerous, and reveals what must be a delightful sense of humor.
If you buy this book, keep in mind that the humor is used to support the points Graham makes, and is not the sole focus of the book. This is after all a design book and makes some serious and informative points.
Perhaps what is most effective about this book is the thorough explanations she gives on why a design works and why it doesn't work. This is a refreshing change from many other introductory design books that I looked at where the primary focus of the text seemed to be to show off pretty pictures. Pretty pictures are nice, but WHY do the designs work? WHY don't they work. Basics of Design tells you why, and in such a wonderfully understandable way that you remember, and easily apply what Graham teaches.
Good job Lisa. When are you going to write more books on graphic design? I'll be sure to keep an eye out for more of your work!
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent for Beginners
Comment: Having wasted much time looking through a number of other books supposedly covering the same subject, this book is a welcome relief.
This book covers in adequate detail the essentials and the basic principles of design, including emphasis, contrast, balance, alignment, repetition, flow, the use of images, color, typography, etc. It gives enough explanation with examples for one to get a good grounding on the subject, without getting too technical, keeping the book highly readable. A part of the book also focuses on specific design situations, including logos, flyers, newsletters, resumes, etc.
Perfect for anyone with no formal training in design, but would like to improve his/her understanding of design.
Rating: 5
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful
Comment: I am a complete dunce at design (or at least I was). Whatever the optical equivalent to a "tin ear" is, I have it. In this book Ms. Graham gives step-by-step simple and yet logical and practical instruction on how to make one's designs both attractive and effective. Her writing style often made me feel as if I were being given advice by a "friend in the design business." I began using the principles that she teaches in my web pages and flyer designs before I was even half-way through the book. The improvements that I saw in my abilities were amazing.
This book has (the basics of) everything: typography, contrast, color, flow, emphasis, etc. Most of the books I had examined prior to finding this little gem were nothing more than over-sized "picture books" with writing in the margins, I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on so little information (but they sure were pretty). This book, on the other hand, is mostly text with small, well-selected illustrations, and at the end of every chapter the author gives several "case-studies" of the current topic and walks the reader through each one.
I cannot imagine a better book for someone new to design.
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Title: The Elements of Graphic Design: Space, Unity, Page Architecture, and Type by Alex White, Alex W. White ISBN: 1581152507 Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications Pub. Date: 01 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin Williams ISBN: 1566091594 Publisher: Peachpit Press Pub. Date: 15 January, 1994 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Layout Index: Brochure, Web Design, Poster, Flyer, Advertising, Page Layout, Newsletter, Stationery Index by Jim Krause ISBN: 1581801467 Publisher: North Light Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 2001 List Price(USD): $22.99 |
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Title: Design for Communication : Conceptual Graphic Design Basics by Elizabeth Resnick ISBN: 0471418293 Publisher: Wiley Pub. Date: 23 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: Visual Literacy: A Conceptual Approach to Graphic Problem Solving by Judith Wilde, Richard Wilde ISBN: 0823056201 Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications Pub. Date: 15 April, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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