Comments on: Before & After: How to Design Cool Stuff http://www.rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html Contemporary Design Reviews, Articles on Graphic, Product, Architectural. Art and Webdesign Sun, 01 May 2011 06:34:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: snowgrind http://www.rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html/comment-page-1#comment-534 snowgrind Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:37:17 +0000 http://rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html#comment-534 This is a good primer for those who are designers, dabbling in design or just want to understand design. <br /> <br />Definitely worth picking up and reading. I read it cover to cover in one afternoon and it is next to the computer whenever I design. <br /> <br />It does not go heavy into the technical reasons why things were, it just explains how to make things look good and very clearly and easily. <br /> <br />Will you become the greatest designer ever? Probably not, but is it useful as a design resource, absolutely. <br /> <br /> Rating: 4 / 5 This is a good primer for those who are designers, dabbling in design or just want to understand design.

Definitely worth picking up and reading. I read it cover to cover in one afternoon and it is next to the computer whenever I design.

It does not go heavy into the technical reasons why things were, it just explains how to make things look good and very clearly and easily.

Will you become the greatest designer ever? Probably not, but is it useful as a design resource, absolutely.

Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: Gerard Clark http://www.rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html/comment-page-1#comment-533 Gerard Clark Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:49:13 +0000 http://rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html#comment-533 A good reference book for layout and design. A source book for inspiration with regards to layout and design. Rating: 3 / 5 A good reference book for layout and design. A source book for inspiration with regards to layout and design.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: Albert Mitchell http://www.rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html/comment-page-1#comment-532 Albert Mitchell Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:36:10 +0000 http://rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html#comment-532 Almost didn't buy this book because the title and cover are honestly a little lame. However, I'm really glad I did buy it. The book should be called something like "Practical Design Principles" or "Design by Example", Ok those are lame too. Anyway, my point is this is more than just how to design cool stuff. This book gives you a nice overview of really important design principles in an easy to read, entertaining and approachable manner. It's chock full of real world examples that perfectly illustrate each concept. Rating: 5 / 5 Almost didn’t buy this book because the title and cover are honestly a little lame. However, I’m really glad I did buy it. The book should be called something like “Practical Design Principles” or “Design by Example”, Ok those are lame too. Anyway, my point is this is more than just how to design cool stuff. This book gives you a nice overview of really important design principles in an easy to read, entertaining and approachable manner. It’s chock full of real world examples that perfectly illustrate each concept.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Hartley J. Jackson http://www.rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html/comment-page-1#comment-531 Hartley J. Jackson Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:46:04 +0000 http://rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html#comment-531 "Before and After How to Design Cool Stuff" explains good design with many illustrations and just enough words. At first you are impressed by the many illustrations and pictures. Then you appreciate the short paragraphs of insightful text. <br /> <br />I like this book because it involves you in the decisions. The first part of the book explains the knowledge you need to be able to really see and use graphic elements. It begins with designing without rulers and the empty page. It explains how to use color. It makes sense out of understanding typographic characters and fitting type styles to your design. An example of how the book involves you is "How to find the perfect color." It begins with finding the colors in a photograph. It ends with a discussion of five different color choice designs with good reasons why the customer might chose any one of them <br /> <br />I like this book because it shows creative methods you can use. The second part of "Before & After How to Design Cool Stuff" is about techniques such as getting several images out of one photo, putting the reader's eye where you want it, and combining photos and captions to tell your story. It includes techniques you can use to create unique covers and pages, business cards and a post card, or even a web site or a welcome page. <br /> <br />I also like the projects that make up the third part. These projects show the evolution from the idea or product that existed before to the designs that result after. These projects can help you to design a theme, a story-style brochure, a pocket size brochure, a panoramic booklet, a web site, or a presentation. <br /> <br />Read "Before & After How to Design Cool Stuff" for an overview of, and an appreciation for, the ideas and techniques that are in it. Then, when you are about to begin your next project, refer to this book. Rating: 5 / 5 “Before and After How to Design Cool Stuff” explains good design with many illustrations and just enough words. At first you are impressed by the many illustrations and pictures. Then you appreciate the short paragraphs of insightful text.

I like this book because it involves you in the decisions. The first part of the book explains the knowledge you need to be able to really see and use graphic elements. It begins with designing without rulers and the empty page. It explains how to use color. It makes sense out of understanding typographic characters and fitting type styles to your design. An example of how the book involves you is “How to find the perfect color.” It begins with finding the colors in a photograph. It ends with a discussion of five different color choice designs with good reasons why the customer might chose any one of them

I like this book because it shows creative methods you can use. The second part of “Before & After How to Design Cool Stuff” is about techniques such as getting several images out of one photo, putting the reader’s eye where you want it, and combining photos and captions to tell your story. It includes techniques you can use to create unique covers and pages, business cards and a post card, or even a web site or a welcome page.

I also like the projects that make up the third part. These projects show the evolution from the idea or product that existed before to the designs that result after. These projects can help you to design a theme, a story-style brochure, a pocket size brochure, a panoramic booklet, a web site, or a presentation.

Read “Before & After How to Design Cool Stuff” for an overview of, and an appreciation for, the ideas and techniques that are in it. Then, when you are about to begin your next project, refer to this book.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Daniel J. Winters http://www.rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html/comment-page-1#comment-530 Daniel J. Winters Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:47:15 +0000 http://rulesofattraction.net/before-after-how-to-design-cool-stuff.html#comment-530 This is an awesome book with lots of good information, however if you subscribe to Before & After, you may see some things in this book you have already read in their articles. None-the-less a very good book for any graphic designer's library. Rating: 5 / 5 This is an awesome book with lots of good information, however if you subscribe to Before & After, you may see some things in this book you have already read in their articles. None-the-less a very good book for any graphic designer’s library.
Rating: 5 / 5

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