Product Description
Approach page design in a revolutionary new way! Unlike other graphic design books, The Elements of Graphic Design reveals the secrets of successful graphic design from the unique perspective of the page’s “white space.” With the help of carefully selected examples from art, design, and architecture, the role of white space as a connection between page elements is thoroughly explored. Clear, insightful comments are presented in a dynamic page design, and interacti… More >>
The Elements of Graphic Design: Space, Unity, Page Architecture, and Type
Very solid book (but short) packed with examples of why one strategy or tactic might be better than another. I learned a lot and intend to reread the book to make sure I get as much of it absorbed as I can. Very good discussions on type with discussions on line spacing, type size, small caps, grids, symmetry vs. asymmetry, negative and positive space.
Wish I would have read this book before I went to design school. I would have learned a lot more. I also would have been able to speak more intelligently. I learned a lot of terminology that will help me. I’m a better designer now. It’s given me more confidence.
Highly recommended for beginners and intermediates. Might be a little thin for experts.
Rating: 5 / 5
The book is short, sweet, loaded with excellent examples and it teaches many of the essentials in an easy, enjoyable manner.
I am a software developer by trade, but I also do graphical design for user interfaces and web sites. I can’t afford to absorb a large amount of material on this subject just to extract the essentials. This book is exactly what I need.
The Elements of Graphic Design lives up to its namesake, Strunk and White’s Elements classic, both in quality and succinctness.
Rating: 5 / 5
As a 30-something, 8 year web professional, with a BA in Theatre, I chose this book because of its great reviews, and its seemingly great fit for me needs as a `web designer, looking to expand into print/graphic design.’
That being said, the book read more like an exercise in stream of consciousness writing, and groovy book design, rather than trying to make a concerted effort at introducing the elements of the craft of graphic design.
I got through the “7 Components of Design” and felt like 3 of them were the same (unity, balance, and gestalt) or, that there wasn’t a good explanation of their differences. It felt like most of the time, the author would say the WHAT (you do) only. If you were lucky, you got a taste of the HOW (to do it), and only if you were really lucky, maybe a bit of the WHY. Or maybe it was that all of those were included, but not in any form of coherency.
I started this book over 3 times, thinking it was me and that I simply wasn’t getting into the flow of the material. Instead it was like Lane Meyer (John Cusak) in `Better Off Dead’ when the teacher is explaining advanced mathematics and everyone in the class was laughing and getting it except Lane (and the movie watchers).
Rating: 2 / 5
A fantastic overview of the principles of layout and how to understand space and “the page”, with special concern for the issue of functional white space and learning how to activate it, sculpt it, and not waste it. In a milieu of visual clutter, this gift to the design world (if its message is taken to heart) will help restore order and readability in the communications that surround us.
Rating: 5 / 5
This book is perfect for somewhat who is at an intermediate stage in their design skills. Perhaps you’ve taken a few classes and maybe have done a few projects, freelance or otherwise, and didn’t really have an applied approach to what you designed but somehow hashed it out.
I am of course also speaking for myself and found that I needed some solid principles to focus and direct my designing and a frame of reference to guide my learning and development. The Elements of Graphic Design came in perfectly with fundamentals broken down and accompanied by demonstrative graphics.
Having read this book several times I’ve consolidated a lot of the pertinent information and printed out charts that I keep above my desk for reference. I find now that I have a much more methodical and thorough approach to design projects and the quality of my work has improved drastically.
Rating: 5 / 5