Design Arts

Graphic Design Solutions, Third Edition

2008-02-11T03:29:00.000-06:00

Book Description

Cutting-edge concepts, a beautifully illustrated text, and a dazzling array of award-winning design make the third edition of this standout best-seller one of the most highly acclaimed design texts in the world. Graphic Design Solutions continues to provide a clear and comprehensive introduction to graphic design and advertising design, with step-by-step visual solutions that readers can apply with confidence to their own design and advertising projects. A highly illustrative, straightforward assessment of developing winning graphic design solutions for a variety of media-including print, Web, television, and unconventional formats-helps designers think critically and creatively about their work while understanding the demands of the graphic design profession in today's world.

(Thomson Learning) Outlines step-by-step procedures readers can apply to solve design or advertising problems. Includes projects and exercises throughout. Contains more than 275 full-color illustrations. Provides web design, web logos, annual reports, branding, and portfolio projects. Previous edition: c1996. Softcover. DLC: Commercial art

About the Author

Robin Landa is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Design at Kean University of New Jersey and a branding consultant and creative strategist with her own firm, RobinLanda.com. In addition to being a frequent speaker on the subjects of advertising, graphic design, branding, and creativity, Ms. Landa is an award-winning designer and author. She is the author of Advertising by Design, Designing Brand Experiences, and the best-selling Graphic Design Solutions.

Inside This Book

First Sentence: Graphic design is America's most pervasive art form.

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): graphic design solution, designing with type, graphic design applications, visual hierarchy, twenty sketches, ten sketches, promotional design, kirshenbaum bond, typographic elements, graphic impact, design firm, spatial depth, visual weight, graphic space, typographic design

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): New York, San Francisco, Petrula Vrontikis, Presentation Present, Pentagram Design, Los Angeles, Creative Group, Kean University, Vrontikis Design Office, Museum of Modern Art, Tony Ciccolella, Paula Scher, Associates Inc, Jennifer Sterling Design, Martin Holloway Graphic Design, Morla Design, Stefan Sagmeister, Anne Klein, Geismar Inc, Jack Anderson, French Fries, Joyce Nesnadny, Louise Fili Ltd, Planet Design Company, Saks Fifth Avenue

Some Review

Favorite Graphic Design Book

I just finished reading all but one or two chapters of this book for a class where this was the primary text. I have to say that this book goes everywhere with me and has become a favorite. Compared to the other text books I had this semester (and many others as well), this was a breath of fresh air.

The writing was never dry and it never dragged. What I read really stuck with me and I looked forward to my weekly reading. Also having the exercises at the end of most of the chapters is wonderful for a student for further learning that truly is self-paced. I plan on doing most, if not all of these exercises for further practice. I am definitely going to have to look into Landa's other titles as well.

By Sarah Merchant (Lebanon, ME United States)

Most Helpful Book on Graphic Design

This book is loaded with valuable (clearly stated) information and outstanding illustrations to demonstrate successful creative thinking and targeted solutions.

By Leo Lois (Pennsylvania)

Graphic Design External links

"Graphic Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Graphic Design Agency"

Motion Graphic Design and Fine Art Animation

2007-10-20T14:27:00.000-05:00

Book Description

Motion Graphic Design and Fine Art Animation teaches aesthetic visual concepts and practical techniques used by todays motion graphics and animation professionals.

Its cutting-edge layout and rich visuals provide a comprehensive investigation of how images and type are choreographed over time and space, providing artistic inspiration and establishing a basis for individual creative development.

Since the early 1900s, fine artists have embraced the power of animation in motion pictures.

Since the late 1970s, graphic designers have explored motion in the televised medium.

More recently, animation has become a powerful force in interactive digital media.

Today, fine artists and graphic designers have the opportunity (and are often expected) to be animators, as well.

Inspirational and informative, this book is intended for practicing artists, graphic designers, educators, and students who are new to the incredible world of animation both independently and commercially.

This book offers an historical and critical overview of how animation has evolved as an artistic and commercial practice in film, television, and digital media.

It also explores conceptual processes by which fine art animators and motion graphic designers develop creative ideas, and it investigates how aesthetic principles apply to animation.

Jon Krasner offers a thorough investigation of common processes such as frame-by-frame animation, interpolation, and compositing.

In addition, he explains how designers can approach progressive phenomena, such as motion and transition, and choreograph them to enhance artistic expression and conceptual impact.

As film, television, and digital media introduce certain standards that must be honored during production, this book provides innovative solutions for overcoming the challenges often presented by these conventions.

*Engage yourself in a technical and aesthetic investigation of 2D motion graphics for digital media design

*Grow your understanding of timeless design concepts with a straightforward explanation that you can apply to future projects

*See the rich, full-color illustrations of work by leading motion graphic designers and fine art animators

*Play the DVD to view a full motion gallery of international creative work from studios and major designers of the 21st century, as well as interview clips with graphic design professionals

About the Author

Jon Krasner is a professor in the Department of Communications and Media at Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, MA.

In addition to teaching, Krasner lectures and displays his creative work in animation, video, and multimedia exhibitions.

He has earned an MFA in digital imaging from Boston University and an MFA in painting from the Pratt Institute.

He is the author of "The Art of Digital Imaging", Kendall/Hunt Publishing, 1997.

Some Review

almost an all-encompassing motion design book

I have several other animation books and this book condenses most of the information into a well organized and well printed book. I am alos impressed with the DVD that is included as it gives several examples of motion graphics and fine art animation. I am using this book to teach a tim-based media course at an art school and it is a great resource which combines animation and commercial motion design principles in a way that will be easier for students to understand.

The book unlike other book which should really be printed in colour is beautifully printed and bound-not cheap at all. This perhaps explains the price. I do wish however that the author would have included more about some of the early fine art animators like Norman McLaren and Oskar Fischinger. I guess 'Experimental Animation' by Cecile Starr and Robert Storr cover this but that book is black and white and doesn't provide av examples. Overall however it is a good book that takes a slightly new direction.

By o. russell "o. russell" (kingston, jamaica)

Great book for basics and beyond

Maybe like me, you remember the days when Desktop Publishing was in its infancy and millions of ugly pages were created by people who had no talent or experience in design, but did own new software that would let them create those ugly pages very quickly.

But not all designs just sit on a page; they move across screens large and small. And again, as hardware and software become ever more powerful, we're in danger of being deluged with video and motion graphics that suffer from a lack of understanding of the fundamentals of good design and production.

But this book just might keep history from repeating itself. The writer offers insights into the history of motion graphics and then shines a spotlight on groundbreaking examples of more recent work. He talks about concept & design (and even how to come up with good ideas) and then takes you through production and distribution of the work. Some of it is pretty basic, but that's what happens when you're trying to create a book that covers ALL the bases. This guy is apparently a teacher and there's definitely a method to his approach.

And BTW, the accompanying DVD alone is worth the price of the book! It's got a great sampling of work and then the creators of that work talk about what they did and why they did it. You might not recognize the names, but you will certainly recognize some of the images.

If you're looking for a how-to book tied to a specific piece of software, I don't think this book is for you. But if you want a clear and complete understanding of the past, present and future of motion graphics you, this is one is a winner.

By A. Harris "Mulltimedia Producer"

Motion Graphic Design External links

"Motion Graphic Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Graphic Design Agency"

A History of Interior Design

2007-10-17T16:41:00.000-05:00

Book Description

Much like the history of art, the history of interior design encompasses numerous styles, movements and the international political and social developments that have informed or challenged its evolution.

This lavishly illustrated book will be of interest to anyone who appreciates interior design as well as antiques, furniture design, textiles, decorative objects and the general evolution of the space where we work and live.

Book Info

A major survey textbook on interior design, with discussions of the construction, architecture, the arts and crafts, technology, and product design woven into the discussions of some of history's most famous buildings.

Covers all of architectural history from cave dwellings to modern sky-scrapers.

From the Inside Flap

Second Edition

In its first edition this major survey on interior design by John Pile won the 2001 ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Educational Foundation/Joel Polsky Prize.

Now in its second edition, A History of Interior Design delivers the inside story on 6,000 years of personal and public space.

John Pile acknowledges that interior design is a field with unclear boundaries, in which construction, architecture, the arts and crafts, technology, and product design all overlap.

These topics are woven together in a fascinating narrative that runs from cave dwellings and temple architecture, through Gothic cathedrals and Renaissance Palaces on to the grand civic spaces of the nineteenth century and the sleek interiors of modern skyscrapers.

Embedded in a social and Political context, detailed discussions of famous buildings, from the Parthenon to the Pompidou Centre, are interspersed with investigations of the domestic vernacularóthe cottages, farmhouses, apartments, and city terraces inhabited by ordinary people.

Primary source quotations are used to provide contemporary perspectives on a wide variety of interior settings.

New to the Second Edition

In this edition John Pile has included a new chapter looking at the interior design history of Asian and Islamic traditions.

The Various paths along which design developed in India, China, Korea, and Japan are explored, together with a survey of developments in Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Islamic design is discussed in the context of its wide-ranging religious and cultural significance.

New Material has also been added on Pre-Columbian design history.

The depth of John Pile's survey of interior design is also increased with the addition of 180 new images throughout the book, including furniture, textiles, lighting, and product design.

Finally, this new edition is completed with some examples of new work from across the globe that show how the constantly accelerating pace of development in scientific and technical fields has brought about new directions in interior design history.

With 625 illustrations, 275 in colour.

About the Author

John Pile was Professor of Design at the renowned Pratt institute, Brooklyn, for most of his teaching career He is the award-winning author of twelve books on furniture, color, drafting, office planning, and other aspects of interior design.

Some Review

amazing resource!

WOW! beautifully organized and articulated. thoughtful and well-rounded discussion of the variation and evolution of interior design. it was purchased to use as a course resource (on 20th century American consumer culture), but am now tempted to buy my OWN copy.

By Thomas Buch "tomscenic" (chicago)

Usefull For designers

It's a very interesting book, it offers a vew over design from ancient times to ower days. We can follow the developement of design over time. The book is recomended especialy for professional designers.

By Laura Cormos "Bibilica" (Romania)

Interior Design External links

"Interior Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Design Agency"

The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers

2007-10-17T13:55:00.001-05:00

Book Description

Best-selling author Scott Kelby is well known for his plain-English style, his humorous tone, and his unparalleled ability to cut through all the technical jargon that other authors use when writing about image-editing programs.

Here, Scott delivers great techniques on Photoshop Elements 5 that his readers understand and use to make the best possible images.

With this newest release of Photoshop Elements, Scott shows readers how to work with their images like a pro, from importing to organization to correction to output.

Readers will learn all they need to know about the digital photography workflow, as well as the latest secrets of the pros to help them create the best special effects, apply the most useful sharpening techniques, and avoid many of the hassles and problems that are encountered in digital photography (such as digital noise and color halos).

About the Author

"Scott Kelby" is Editor-in-Chief of Photoshop User magazine, President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Executive Editor of the Photoshop Elements Techniques newsletter, and is technical chair of Photoshop World, the largest Photoshop gathering in the industry.

Some Review

Very good reference book. highly recommended

Great book, exactly what I was looking for. 1 to 2 page tips and instructions per topic. A great resource and reference type book.

By Richard French "Rich" (USA)

Great book

I have many books about Photoshop Elements because I've purchased this software from the first release. This book is by far the best. Very easy to understand, and immediately use the tips to make my photos come to life. This is without a doubt worth buying. I use it often!

By L. Davis

Degital Art External links

"Degital Art" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Digital photography" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Photoshop" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Photoshop Elements" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Graphic Design Agency"
"Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0"
"Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II 16.7MP Digital SLR Camera"
"Canon EOS 1D Mark III 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera"

Exploring the Elements of Design

2007-10-16T10:29:00.000-05:00

Book Description

With the same straightforward approach and dynamic examples that made the first edition so popular, this fully revised second edition of Exploring The Elements of Design again presents the very latest in graphic design concepts side by side with some of the best contemporary design work.

Created by two leading designer-educators as a very practical and very visual introduction to the art of graphic design, this richly illustrated full-color book offers clear explanations of the fundamental principles, award-winning examples of professional work, and diagrams that clearly show how these principles operate in successful design solutions.

Coverage begins with primary design elements, moves on to the use of color, typography, and imagery, and concludes with an overview of the field of graphic design and related career options.

The revised second edition adds new and insightful material on creative thinking, visual problem-solving, and research strategies used to pursue effective design solutions plus Web and New Media applications to reflect the most current media design trends--all designed to prepare readers for success in every aspect of the ever-changing world of graphic design.

Book Info

Text shows how design elements and design principles work together to create effective communication.

Begins with the primary design principles of unity, variety, hierarchy, and proportion.

Includes profiles of successful designers with samples from their portfolios. Color illustrations. Softcover. DLC: Graphic arts.

About the Author

Poppy Evans is an award-winning writer, graphic designer, and Assistant Professor in Communication Arts at The Art Academy of Cincinnati.

She is an AIGA board member for the Cincinnati Chapter, a former managing editor for HOW magazine, and the author of Exploring Publication Design.

Mark Thomas is Professor and Chair of the Communication Arts Department at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, where he has been teaching for 20 years.

Mark has developed courses in design research methods, illustration, and design systems as well as a thesis program for communication arts.

He is a graphic designer, illustrator, and published author who has designed numerous exhibitions, catalogues, and posters for graphic designers, fine artists, and illustrators.

An award winning designer for educational board game design, he holds a U.S. Patent for an educational color demonstration device and method for teaching color theory.

Some Review

An excellent text book

This book was a text book for my college course Intro to Graphic Design. I loved the book. It's easy to understand and provides a lot of great references, instruction and detail. I learned alot about design from this text. This book provides a good, solid introduction to graphic design.

By Rose, (Loveland, CO United States)

Great book about design

This book give you a solid base to be a good designer, inside it you can read about theories and principles of design with a lot of real-world pratical solutions.
The book covers the principles of scale, balance, repetition and proximity; the elements of shape, line, size, color, texture, imagery and typography. At the end of each chapter you have a real-world project to do and a list of questions about the chapter.

By Robin Benson

Design External links

"Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Graphic Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Graphic Design Agency"

Art of the Digital Age

2007-10-15T16:09:00.000-05:00

Book Description

An essential guide for everyone interested in culture and creativity in the digital world.

The impact of digital technology has radically transformed traditional activities such as painting and sculpture, while entirely new forms, such as net art, digital installation, and virtual reality, have emerged as recognized artistic practices.

Digital artists themselves are often pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and exploring some of the most urgent social and political issues facing humankind today.

The first major illustrated survey of the field, Art of the Digital Age presents the work of over one hundred artists from around the world.

Following an introduction that traces the history of digital art, the book goes on to consider its diverse genres, from digital imaging, installation, and animation to software and net art.

Each chapter illustrates key works by both established and emerging figures, while personal statements from the artists offer revealing insights into their inspirations and methods.

A comprehensive reference section that includes a year-by-year timeline of breakthroughs in digital art, an extensive bibliography, a list of artists' websites and online projects, and a glossary of digital terms complete this indispensable assessment of art in the new millennium. 232 illustrations, 218 in color.

About the Author

Bruce Wands has been working with digital art for twenty years as an artist, writer, curator, and teacher.

He is chair of the MFA Computer Art Department, School of Visual Arts, New York, and is the author of Digital Creativity.

Some Review

A recommended pick for any art library

ART OF THE DIGITAL AGE represents the first major illustrated survey of digital art and gathers works by over a hundred artists from around the world. Introduced by a history of the genre and discussion of how it differs from conventional art, chapters provide key works by established and emerging digital artists and pairs discussions of virtual reality and digital effect with critical insights on the featured artists. Color photos abound in this fine comprehensive survey, a recommended pick for any art library.

By Midwest Book Review, (Oregon, WI USA)

Wands Greatest Work Yet

After reading this book and experiencing the incredibly well produced and expertly printed visual images it is clear that this book is one for the times. It is one that can be opened and opened again and again never losing its constant appeal. Very well worth the price and I highly recommend it to everyone.

By JOHN OBRIEN

Arts External links

"The arts" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Digital art" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Graphic Design Agency"

Transcending CSS: The Fine Art of Web Design

2007-10-15T14:53:00.000-05:00

Book Description

As the Web evolves to incorporate new standards and the latest browsers offer new possibilities for creative design, the art of creating Web sites is also changing.

Few Web designers are experienced programmers, and as a result, working with semantic markup and CSS can create roadblocks to achieving truly beautiful designs using all the resources available.

Add to this the pressures of presenting exceptional design to clients and employers, without compromising efficient workflow, and the challenge deepens for those working in a fast-paced environment.

As someone who understands these complexities firsthand, author and designer Andy Clarke offers visual designers a progressive approach to creating artistic, usable, and accessible sites using transcendent CSS.

In this groundbreaking book, you’ll discover how to implement highly original designs through visual demonstrations of the creative possibilities using markup and CSS.

You’ll learn to use a new design workflow, build prototypes that work well for designers and all team members, use grids effectively, visualize markup, and discover every phase of the transcendent design process, from working with the latest browsers to incorporating CSS3 to collaborating with team members effectively, and much more.

Written and edited by Web design and CSS luminaries Andy Clarke and Molly E. Holzschlag, Transcending CSS: The Fine Art of Web Design

Uses a visual approach to help you learn coding techniques

Includes numerous examples of world-class Web sites, photography, and other inspirations that give designers ideas for visualizing their code

Offers early previews of technical advances in new Web browsers and of the emerging CSS3 specification.

About the Author

Andy Clarke is an internationally known speaker, designer, and consultant focusing on creative, accessible Web development.

Andy is passionate about design and passionate about Web standards, bridging the gap between design and code.

He regularly trains designers and developers in the creative applications of Web standards.

Andy has written articles for A List Apart Magazine and contributed to the CSS Zen Garden.

Outside of his studio, Andy is a member of the Web Standards Project.

Author, instructor, and Web designer Molly E. Holzschlag has written over 30 books on Web design and development.

She’s been coined "one of the greatest digerati" and deemed one of the Top 25 Most Influential Women on the Web.

Molly is also Group Lead of Web Standards Project and frequent lecturer on Web design and development around the world.

Some Review

CSS A new way of thinking

Transcending CSS: The Fine Art of Web Design (Voices That Matter) is not so much as a "How To" as it is a "Why To" book. Andy Clarke is an evangelist for a new and better way of designing for the web. There is an ever growing need to present content in the most effective and appealing way for a verity of different browsers. Not everyone uses the same browser and different browsers don't do implement CSS functionality the same way. Plus older browsers may not be compatible with CSS in current use.

Andy Clarke's premise is that instead of developing the layout first and then fitting the content in to the layout, start by organizing the content first and then implement your layout design on top of your content. This way, the content will always be presented in an organized, effective and appealing way no matter what browser the content is being display on.

By stanley millhorn

I'd Say... this book is wonderfull!

I bought this book under an advice I took from a blog... I thought... what the heck... I know CSS, but the plain vanilla... I have read a technical book till the end (took me almost a year) and I need something different.

I was surprised...this one is a blast to read, simply put, a delightful reading, even to take it to bed :) (Depending on the company)

Great visual quality, simple examples, and the usual obnoxious tone I tend to admire in brits, even though they don't really have the need for it ;)

If Andy Clarke is as "direct" in is classes as he is in the book, then his seminars must also be a blast to tend to, the kind of classes you don't take notes...because you don't need to.

Finally I understood what meaningful and semantic CSS are... and found out that I was applying all the technicalities correctly, but skipping the basics of its usage (I tend to confuse this word with sausage) all the way!

Attention: Too many pictures of food... in bed they tend to produce some undesired urges to get up and raid the refrigerator with strange results (Depending on the company)

By Joao P. C. Carvalhinho, (Lisbon, Portugal)

Web Design External links

"Web Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"CSS" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Web Design Agency"

The Elements of Typographic Style

2007-10-15T14:25:00.000-05:00

Book Description

Renowned typographer and poet Robert Bringhurst brings clarity to the art of typography with this masterful style guide.
Combining the practical, theoretical, and historical, this edition is completely updated, with a thorough exploration of the newest innovations in intelligent font technology, and is a must-have for graphic artists, editors, or anyone working with the printed page using digital or traditional methods.

This lovely, well-written book is concerned foremost with creating beautiful typography and is essential for professionals who regularly work with typographic designs.

Author Robert Bringhurst writes about designing with the correct typeface; striving for rhythm, proportion, and harmony; choosing and combining type; designing pages; using section heads, subheads, footnotes, and tables; applying kerning and other type adjustments to improve legibility; and adding special characters, including punctuation and diacritical marks.

The Elements of Typographic Style teaches the history of and the artistic and practical perspectives on a variety of type families that are available in Europe and America today.

The last section of the book classifies and displays many type families, offers a glossary of typography terms, and lists type designers and type foundries.

The book briefly mentions digital typography, but otherwise ignores it, focusing instead on general typography and page- and type-design issues.

Its examples include text in a variety of languages--including English, Russian, German, and Greek--which is particularly helpful if your work has a multinational focus.

About the Author

Robert Bringhurst is a poet, typographer and author who has also written about native issues.

Born in Los Angeles, California, he was raised in Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Alberta, and British Columbia. Bringhurst studied architecture, linguistics, and physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and comparative literature and philosophy at the University of Utah. He holds a BA from Indiana University and an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia.

Among most graphic designers, the word "Bringhurst" is synonymous with his The Elements of Typographic Style—a reference book of typefaces, glyphs and the visual and geometric arrangement of type.

He lives near Vancouver, British Columbia.

Some Review

Great Typography book -A Must for serious designers!

From A to Z, this book covers all aspects of typography. If you thought you knew a lot about fonts, their history, usage, manipulation and every aspect -this book will show you how much you really don't know. A definite must read for the serious type nut.

By Andre Le Masurier "Font Nerd" (Toronto, Canada)

Wonderful!

A really useful and interesting book for every person interested on typography and book editing. Really well writed and presented. Thanks!

By Ipsitilla (Spain)

Typographic External links

"Typography" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Type Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Design Agency"

Swiss Graphic Design

2007-10-15T00:53:00.000-05:00

Book Description

Swiss graphic design and "the Swiss Style" are crucial elements in the history of modernism.

During the 1920s and ’30s, skills traditionally associated with Swiss industry, particularly pharmaceuticals and mechanical engineering, were matched by those of the country’s graphic designers, who produced their advertising and technical literature.

These pioneering graphic artists saw design as part of industrial production and searched for anonymous, objective visual communication.

They chose photographic images rather than illustration, and typefaces that were industrial-looking rather than those designed for books.

Written by noted design authority Richard Hollis, this lavishly illustrated volume looks at the uniquely clear graphic language developed by such Swiss designers as Theo Ballmer, Max Bill, Adrian Frutiger, Karl Gerstner, Armin Hoffman, Ernst Keller, Herbert Matter, Josef Müller-Brockmann, and Jan Tschichold.

The style of these artists received worldwide admiration for its formal discipline: images and text were organized by geometrical grids. Adopted internationally, the grid and sans serif typefaces such as Helvetica became the classic emblems of Swiss graphic design.

Showcasing design work across a range of media, including posters, magazines, exhibition displays, brochures, advertisements, books, and film, this essential book shows how many of the Swiss designers’ modernist elements remain an indispensable part of today’s graphic language.

About the Author

Richard Hollis is a graphic designer and scholar of design.

His previous books include Graphic Design: A Concise History (2002).

Some Review

To go boldly with Helvetica

The 'Swiss style' comes alive in this fascinating and very comprehensive study. If you design for print and ever wondered how some everyday graphic principles and typefaces originated the answer is in these pages. The story begins in twenties central Europe with a merging of modern art, the Bauhaus, Russian constructivism, craft printing techniques, photography and strong cultural attitudes in German speaking Zurich. All of these influences produced a graphic language of simplicity and directness that spread across Switzerland and one would expect nothing less from a country associated with order and precision.

Interesting as the text is I was particularly impressed with the several hundred illustrations (all with extensive captions) and as this is a book about a visual style and basically a printed one the choice of posters, examples of typography and many spreads from brochures, magazines, books all work well to complement the words.

I was interested in the several pages devoted to the magazine 'Neue Grafik' (New Graphic Design) which was the flagship publication of the Zurich modernists. It only ran for seventeen issues (from 1958 to a double issue seventeen and eighteen in 1965) but was really the only opportunity for designers outside Switzerland to see what was going on. Strangely, despite the design aiming for clarity, reading the issues was a bit of a chore. Three languages were set in each edition in one typeface and one size with paragraphs stretching sometimes to hundreds of words with no par indents or line space. However each spread looked fresh and lively thanks to the publication's grid.

I think it is worth commenting on the book's production. Designed by the author it uses a two column grid but nicely many pages just have one column of text and the space for the other text column is divided into two and used for illustrations and captions. The many variations of these column elements really make the pages sparkle and I think many publication designers could learn something by studying how the text and graphics blend together throughout the book.

Richard Hollis is to be congratulated on writing and designing a book that will surely be regarded as the definitive study about the origins of the Swiss Style.

By Robin Benson

Graphic Design External links

"Graphic Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Graphic Design Agency"

Bulletproof Web Design

2007-10-14T15:22:00.000-05:00

Book Description

No matter how visually appealing or packed with content your Web site is, it isn’t succeeding if it’s not reaching the widest possible audience.

If you get this guide, you can be assured it will! By deconstructing a series of real-world Web sites, author and Web designer extraordinaire Dan Cederholm outlines 10 strategies for creating standards-based designs that provide flexibility, readability, and user control—key components of every successful Web site.

Each chapter starts out with an example of what Dan refers to as an "unbulletproof" concept—an existing site that employs a traditional approach and its associated pitfalls.

Dan then deconstructs that approach, noting its downsides and then making the site over using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

By the end of each chapter, you’ll have replaced traditional, bloated, inaccessible page components with lean markup and CSS.

The guide culminates with a chapter that pieces together all of the page components discussed in prior chapters into a single page template.

About the Author

Dan Cederholm is a Web designer and author living in Massachusetts.

He's the founder of SimpleBits, a tiny design studio.

A recognized expert in the field of standards-based Web design, Dan has worked with Google, MTV
, ESPN, Fast Company, Blogger, Odeo, and others.

He embraces flexible, adaptable design using Web standards through his design work, writing, and speaking.

Dan is the author of two best-selling books: Bulletproof Web Design (New Riders) and Web Standards Solutions (Friends of ED).

Dan also runs the popular weblog SimpleBits, where he writes articles and commentary on the Web, technology, and life.

He also plays a mean ukulele and occasionally wears a baseball cap.

Some Review

Modern web design is user-centered, accessible, and standards-based. In other words, it's completely different from the stuff we did in the 1990s. There are two vital aspects to designing with web standards:

(1) understanding why
(2) knowing how

Know-how is what Dan Cederholm has in spades, and in this updated edition of his essential text, he shares that knowledge with humor and clarity.

Dan's is one of the smartest minds in CSS and HTML. He is internationally known as a deep and innovative coder. But his background is in design and production, working on real-world sites for no-nonsense businesses like Google, ESPN, and Fast Company, Inc.

This grounding in practical user interface design and daily production issues makes Dan a great teacher of CSS, because he never loses sight of the things designers want to do (not to mention the things designers' clients and bosses demand of them).

From multi-column layouts that stay crispy in milk, to maintaining fine control of web fonts and sizes without alienating users: just about every problem a modern web designer faces is examined, with solutions ranging from good to better to best.

This second edition includes everything you need to know about taking Internet Explorer 7 into account. Little else has changed. And that's as it should be, for this book is a classic. It belongs on every web designer's shelf.

By Jeffrey Zeldman, author, Designing With Web Standards 2nd Edition

Bulletproof - no bull

This book is simply essential for the serious web developer who cares about standards and web sites that just work. It is well presented and thorough. The knowledge it imparts is readily extended to new design challenges. Well done!

By S. Sullivan, (Northborough, MA USA)

Web Design External links

"Web Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Web Design Agency"

Logo Design

2007-10-14T09:26:00.000-05:00

Book Description

What’s your sign? The world’s best logo designs...

Everybody knows that brand identity is key.

A good logo can glamorize just about anything, so it comes as no surprise that logo design is a crucial step in the development of a product or service.

This exhaustive guide brings together diverse logos from over 30 countries, organized into chapters by theme, such as socio-political, food and beverage, technology, and consumer products.

A full index provided at the end of the book lists each logo’s company, designer, and designer’s website.

Also included is a case study section, concentrating on logo application and development.

No graphic designer can do without this book, and anyone who’s interested in design will appreciate this diverse compendium of visual ideas.

As scientist Linus Paulin once said, "In order to come up with one good idea, you must have lots of ideas."

About the Author

Julius Wiedemann was born and raised in Brazil.

After studying graphic design and marketing, he moved to Japan, where he worked in Tokyo as art editor for digital and design magazines.

Since joining TASCHEN in Cologne, he has been building up TASCHEN’s digital and media collection with titles such as Digital Beauties,

TASCHEN’s 1000 Favorite Websites, and Illustration Now!.

Logo Design External links

"Logo" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Logo Design Agency"
"Award Winning Logo Design"

Foundations of Art and Design

2007-10-14T09:24:00.000-05:00

Book Description

FOUNDATIONS OF ART AND DESIGN has a logical and structured organization, moving from micro to macro topics, enabling students to build on ideas and concepts of design, and better understand the material.

The author has written a book flexible and visual enough to suit any design course and every design student.

Hundreds of examples of contemporary and classic art reflect the world students inhabit, and along with the book's unique visual glossaries, make this text an ideal foundation of design principles.

About the Author

Lois Fichner-Rathus received her M.A. from the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art and her Ph.D. in the History, Theory, and Criticism of Art from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Her areas of specialization include the theory of art, feminist art history, and criticism, ancient and classical art, and modern art and architecture.

She is currently Art Department Chair and a professor of art history and interdisciplinary studies at the College of New Jersey.

Editorial Reviews

"The Visual Glossary is terrific, it speaks directly to the students' need for accessible, concise information, in a graphically intelligent, eye-catching format. Running glossary is great."

"[The]strength of this text is the ease of the language as it combines terms and concepts of an academic, art historical nature with the ease of a storyteller. The author is insightful and has the ability to "unwind" complex strings of information into the fundamental threads that lie at its core. No easy task."

"The introduction to every chapter is fantastic because it presents the conceptual and/or contextual use of the design element in a more colloquial fashion. Not only is this necessary to fully understand the studio use of the word, it makes for great examples of how we manipulate the meaning of words. I would hope that the students will then question, "Now, how can I manipulate this element to mean what I want it to?"

"Chapter 5 on color' absolutely surpasses the work of any other author. The beginning is great, "Color does matter." And yes, "Perception of color is rooted as much in science as it is in aesthetics. Perception of color belongs to the realm of the physicist as much as to the artist and philosopher." And the author backs these statements up."

Design External links

"Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Design Agency"

Meggs' History of Graphic Design

2007-10-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

Book Description

Now in its Fourth Edition, this unrivaled, seminal work continues its long tradition of providing balanced insight and thorough historical background.

Under the new authorial leadership of Alston Purvis, this authoritative book offers more than 450 new images, along with expansive coverage of such topics as Italian, Russian, and Dutch design.

It reveals a saga of creative innovators, breakthrough technologies, and important design innovations.

Book Info

Presents hundreds of full-color images & new material in many areas, including alphabets, Japanese & Dutch graphics, & the computer revolution which has impacted all aspects of contemporary design & communications.

DLC: Graphic design (Typography) - History. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

The late PHILIP B. MEGGS was a designer, educator, and author.
He was School of the Arts Research Professor, Communication Arts and Design Department, at Virginia Commonwealth University; visiting faculty at Syracuse University and the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland; and contributing editor to Print magazine.

He authored more than a dozen books and 150 articles and papers on design and typography, including a section on graphic design in Encyclopedia Britannica.

He was inducted into the Art Directors Hall of Fame and received its Educator's Award for lifetime achievement and significantly shaping the future of the fields of graphic design education and writing.

ALSTON W. PURVIS is Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Boston University.

During his career, he has worked as an instructor at The Cooper Union and at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts at The Hague.

His photographs have been exhibited in Amsterdam, London, New York, and Paris.

He is the author of Dutch Graphic Design, 1918–1945 (Wiley) and H.N. Werkman; and coauthor of Graphic Design 20th Century; A Century of Posters; and Wendingen: A Journal of Arts 1918–1932.

From the Inside Flap

Under the new authorial leadership of Alston W. Purvis, Meggs' History of Graphic Design, Fourth Edition offers hundreds of full-color images supported by the latest information, including a new chapter on modern type design.

With more than 1,000 illustrations, lucid text, and interpretive captions, this Fourth Edition reveals a saga of creative innovators, breakthrough technologies, and important design innovations.

Graphic design is a vital component of each culture and period in human history, and this Fourth Edition was carefully reviewed and updated to best represent the work of particular time periods and designers.

This edition's historic account is an extraordinary panorama of people and events, including:

The Invention of Writing and Alphabets

Medieval Manuscript Books

The Origins of Printing and Typography

Renaissance Graphic Design

The Arts and Crafts Movement

Victorian and Art Nouveau Graphics

Modern Art and Its Impact on Design

Visual Identity and Conceptual Images

Postmodern Design

The Computer Graphics Revolution

A History of Graphic Design, Fourth Edition surpasses in detail and breadth the content, design, and color reproduction of previous editions.

Professionals, students, and everyone who works with or loves the world of graphic design will quickly find this reference tool is an invaluable visual survey that they will turn to again and again.

Some Review

Wonderful Book

This book is a great comprehensive history of graphic communication from the cave paintings till today. I'm using it as textbook for one of my classes in college and it is wonderful. It is also beautifully designed.

By Rebeca A. Collazo, (New York City)

History Of Grahpics

I found that this book is well illustrated and more focused on the history of graphics rather than the technique. I purchased this as a school text book requirement but will be keeping the book for my own personal enjoyment. Book is larger than expected and dates from early cave paintins and their symbolic and graphic relevance through some of the early wood and block prints up to Warhol and current used of design and typography.

By M. Diggins, (D.C.)

Grapgic Design External links

"Graphic Design" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Graphic Design Agency"