Design Basics for Creative Results = Good Graphic Design Primer
Written: Apr 02 '06
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Good instruction. Excellent illustrations. Above-average presentation of design process.
Cons: Needs more exercises to help readers understand/apply what is presented.
The Bottom Line: Good introduction to graphic design, but bolstered by a introductory graphic design course discussing same topics.
|
|
|
| swopedesign's Full Review: Bryan Peterson - Design Basics for Creative Result... |
Despite the plethora of design books available, good design is hard to teach. Fortunately, Bryan Peterson recognizes that good design begins with a solid understanding of design's basic principles. From this strong foundation comes good -- and great! -- design. Design Basics for Creative Results deals strictly with the design principles that form this foundation. Though short, Design Basics for Creative Results is a dense, real-world study of a difficult subject. To get the most out of this book, readers MUST not overlook the exercises in each chapter.
Informed by Practical, Real-World Experience
Peterson's experience as a working designer is evident on every page. Throughout the book, Peterson takes into account real-world considerations, even those as mundane as quantity of information, print quantity and production, mailing costs, and final destination. Sprinkled throughout are also 200 color illustrations, most of which represent finished designs from noteworthy designers from across the United States. Peterson also offers questions throughout and at the end of the book that every designer can ask of their designs to assess how well their designs succeed. Most readers, however, will find the exercises the most valuable addition to and their experience with the book.
The structure of the book is likewise influenced by Peterson's experience and follows a logical design process step-by-step. The introduction discusses idea generation, selecting a good idea, sketching, when to use the computer, and introduces the concepts that make up the rest of the book. The first chapter then takes us into format and discusses it at length to help students/designers select an appropriate format. Thankfully, Peterson's discussion of format takes into account the real-world practicalities of print design, which are sometimes lacking in design books.
The remaining two chapters deal with the most visible parts of design, and the most difficult and subjective, so these two chapters make up the bulk of the book. Chapter 2 discusses line, type, shape, and texture. For Peterson, all parts of any design can be classified as one of these four basic elements. Peterson discusses each individually at length, providing plenty of illustrations as he goes. In this chapter Peterson also finally introduces readers to his concept of the design process as a diamond, which would have come in handy earlier in the book to provide readers an overall frame of reference for the book.
Chapter 3 takes the next logical step and discusses how these elements are used in a design's structure to create balance, contrast, unity, value and color. As printers and advertisers know, few things have as much impact as value and color in any design, so Peterson's discussion of value, color, and the color wheel are an especially appropriate feature of the book. Experienced ad designers not accustomed to working with color much will find Peterson's short discussion of color a welcome primer.
Be Prepared to Do Some Work
Peterson admits that writing a book about basic design principles is a tall order because there is much more to becoming a design professional than reading his book or any other. The student/designer is going to have to do some work. In every chapter, Peterson offers exercises for readers to help them better understand and apply the principles discussed. These exercises are open-ended and thus require time and effort to perform. The reader may choose to ignore these exercises but doing so makes the book a near waste of time. The only thing missing from Peterson's well-executed introduction to basic graphic design principles is the seasoned instructor to provide constructive feedback and further direction.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
swopedesign
|
|
Member: Mike Swope
Location: Wichita, KS
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Graphic/web designer. Grew brother's retail tire business. Now managing a similar long-established business.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.