Average customer rating:
- Must have for Graphic Designer!!!
- My faveorite textbook
- Wonderful Book
- awesome
- History Of Grahpics
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Meggs' History of Graphic Design
Philip B. Meggs
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)
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Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop
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The Elements of Typographic Style
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Designing with Type: The Essential Guide to Typography (Designing With Type)
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Typographic Design: Form and Communication
ASIN: 0471699020 |
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.
Customer Reviews:
Must have for Graphic Designer!!!.......2007-09-15
Great book with expansive price, thats why i put 3 stars only,,
i get that book only MYR 80.00 (in USD around 23 dollar)
if you are student, especially Limkokwing University Student you can ask your Design History lecture,,
My faveorite textbook.......2007-08-01
I didn't want to sell this back to the store it was so good. It is in my library for reference when ever I need it.
Wonderful Book.......2007-03-18
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.
awesome.......2007-03-08
One of the best book I bought on the subject. Buy it. it's a great source of inspiration.
History Of Grahpics.......2007-03-08
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.
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.
Customer Reviews:
Favorite Graphic Design Book.......2007-09-21
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.
Best G.D. Book out there!.......2007-04-04
Was advised to buy from instrucor as additional class materials and found I love this book! Covers from core information to breaking down new media and cutting edge styles. Would not go without this book if you are interested in learning about graphic design as an art and a science. Great organization and use of information -good for any level designer.
Don't pay retail... GET IT ON AMAZON!
Graphics Student.......2007-02-23
I am taking a night course that required this book. Amazon.com had the best price. The book itself has many beautiful graphic illustrations and the text is fairly easy to read. It is not the total snoozer I thought it would be and has many fun projects to illustrate the points made in the text. All-in-all not a bad course book although this is not something I would have ever picked up for personal reading.
Great for Intermediate Designers.......2007-02-20
This book is a big help if you have been thrust into a job where you must come up with a great design for a poster or flyer. Gives you as many or as little steps as you think are necessary. Good reference.
Great Text For Art students.......2007-01-04
Combining great illustrations along with good information, this text truly delivers what many are lacking in. From print to web design, this book explores many facets of Design.
Amazon.com
A comic book about comic books. McCloud, in an incredibly accessible style, explains the details of how comics work: how they're composed, read and understood. More than just a book about comics, this gets to the heart of how we deal with visual languages in general. "The potential of comics is limitless and exciting!" writes McCloud. This should be required reading for every school teacher. Pulitzer Prize-winner Art Spiegelman says, "The most intelligent comics I've seen in a long time."
Book Description
Praised throughout the cartoon industry by such luminaries as Art Spiegelman, Matt Groening, and Will Eisner, this innovative comic book provides a detailed look at the history, meaning, and art of comics and cartooning.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing!.......2007-09-27
This book should be compulsory teaching in schools. Very easy to read and a great education in not just comics, but also in art and story telling. Highly recommended for everyone, even for the so called comic book experts. I have been reading comics for over 20 years, and this taught me things I took for granted.
Great book!.......2007-09-18
I highly recommend this to anyone who has even the slightest interest in comic books. Whether you're new to comics or a longtime comic book fan, you will probably learn something new and interesting about the medium. In particular, this book has really changed the way I look at manga and has given me a new appreciation for Japanese comics.
The other two books in this "trilogy" are good too, but I consider this one the real "must read" of the three.
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Not being a writer, artist, editor, or whatever, I just read them, I didn't care about the technical details, so this was quite informative, and amusing, with the style. If you are not a would be comic creator, or artist of some sort, this may be too technical, dry and textbook like, but it is clever to have a comic be a textbook about comics.
Great if you're clueless about comics.......2007-08-29
Having read comics before, the book seemed almost as if it were talking down to me. However, the section of the book that dealt with the structure of comics and their elements (i.e. Splash pages, the gutter, etc.) was a welcome education. It's a pretty quick read and if you're completely new to the comic/graphic novel genre, it's a good one to read. But if you're a seasoned comic veteran, opt for one of Mccloud's other books instead.
enjoyable and informative.......2007-08-18
I'm kindof rediscovering comic books after years of not reading them, and I was curious to know a little more about the medium when I picked up this book, and I really liked it. Not only is it full of information about how comics are written and drawn, but it also IS a comic book, making it fun to read. The author's personality really contributes a lot to the narrative, and I think anyone interested in comics and graphic novels ought to read this book.
Book Description
Voyeuristic. Inspirational. Entertaining. One thousand blank journals are currently circulating throughout the world, beckoning contributors who find the journals by chance on trains, in caf s, and anonymously left on doorsteps. Artist Someguy shares more than 250 of the best entries: a collage of African countries repositioned into a new continent; the musings of a teen trapped in a drug- ravaged community; a student's humorous personal ad for his ideal girlfriend ("C-cup required!"). A faux leather cover and two beautifully embroidered pages bring the look and feel of the original journals to life. The perfect gift for journalists, aspiring artists, designers, and anyone who can't wait for one of the journals to magically appear in their lives.
Customer Reviews:
Why Didn't I think of this?.......2007-10-18
I gave it five stars because it's such an original idea. I wish I had thought to place journals around for people to use and pass on but truthfully that would have never crossed my mind. I got the book and found out that people out there are very creative. I was surprised at the artwork, the journal entries, and the beauty of these journals. I loved the book so much it is currently passing around among my friends. I am anxious to get it back though and go over it again. If you like art, collaging, journaling, creativity then get this book -- it is so inspiring.
I was looking for acutal journaling...........2007-09-30
This book is a very nice addition to my collection but like I put in the title I was looking for a bit more. I wanted to read actually entries. The art was lovely, but it didn't give me enough.
Very Interesting.......2007-07-24
I enjoyed reading the stories about how the journals ended up where they did. I sometimes found the journal entries hard to read but reading this book did make me want to take part in something like this.
Too small.......2007-06-21
The book would be better if it was larger. It is difficult to appreciate the details.
Inspiring!.......2007-06-14
A wonderful collection of unique art. The only thing that would make this book better is if it were larger so we could see the art in greater detail.
Book Description
The second edition features a 220-term brand glossary and a premium softcover binding.
THE BRAND GAP is the first book to present a unified theory of brand. Whereas most books on branding are weighted toward either a strategic or creative approach, this book shows how both ways of thinking can unite to produce a “charismatic brand”—a brand that customers feel is essential to their lives. In an entertaining two-hour read you’ll learn:
• a new definition of brand
• the five essential disciplines of brand-building
• how branding is changing the dynamics of competition
• the three most powerful questions to ask about any brand
• why collaboration is the key to brand-building
• how design determines a customer’s experience
• how to test brand concepts quickly and cheaply
• the importance of managing brands from the inside
FROM THE BACK COVER
Not since McLuhan’s THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE has a book compressed so many ideas into so few pages. Using the visual language of the boardroom, Neumeier presents the first unified theory of branding—a set of five disciplines to help companies bridge the gap between brand strategy and customer experience. Those with a grasp of branding will be inspired by the new perspectives they find here, and those who would like to understand it better will suddenly “get it.” This deceptively simple book offers everyone in the company access to “the most powerful business tool since the spreadsheet.”
“The surprise book of the year!” —John Moore, Fast Company
“The first book on brand that seems fresh and relevant.” —Ric Grefe, executive director of AIGA, the professional association for design
“A pleasure to read.”—David A. Aaker, author of BRAND PORTFOLIO STRATEGY and BUILDING STRONG BRANDS
“Cuts to the heart of what brand is all about.” —Susan Rockrise, worldwide brand director, Intel
“Read this book before your competitors do!” —Tom Kelley, general manager, IDEO
FROM THE INSIDE FLAPS
“A pleasure to read. THE BRAND GAP consistently provides deep, practical insights in a light, visual way. Discover the power of imagery and the role of research in building a heavy-duty brand—without the heavy-duty reading.” —David Aaker, author of BRAND LEADERSHIP and BUILDING STRONG BRANDS
“Finally, a book that cuts to the heart of what brand is all about—connecting the rational and the emotional, the theoretical and the practical, the logical and the magical to create a sustainable competitive advantage.” —Susan Rockrise, Worldwide Brand Director, Intel
In THE BRAND GAP, Neumeier reminds us that the ultimate moment of truth for all brands is the customer experience. Customer perceptions trump our own perceptions.” —Kurt Kuehn, senior VP of worldwide marketing and sales, UPS
“This is not just another book on brand. This is the ONLY book you’ll need to read in business, engineering, and design school.” —Clement Mok, design entrepreneur
“A well-managed brand is the lifeblood of any successful company—and Neumeier shows us exactly how to do it. Read this book before your competitors do!” —Tom Kelley, general manager of IDEO, co-author of THE ART OF INNOVATION
“THE BRAND GAP couldn’t be more timely. Just when we’re at our most skeptical about corporate motives, along comes a book that shows how to evaluate and develop a brand in a straightforward and honest manner.” —David Stuart, co-founder of The Partners, co-author of A SMILE IN THE MIND
“Must-reading for anyone who wants to understand how their business strategy will succeed or fail when put to the ultimate test: ‘Do customers perceive a difference that’s desirable?’” —Steve Harrington, director of strategy and operations, Hewlett-Packard
“The book slices like a hot knife through all the turgid, pseudo-academic nonsense that surrounds branding. It’s now on the course list for my graduate students, and new members of my team at Ogilvy get a copy with their training materials.” —Brian Collins, executive creative director, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide
Customer Reviews:
The modern view of branding.......2007-09-15
if you want a quick and entertaining way of understanding what is a brand in the modern sense of the word, get this book. Even if you know already what "brand" and "branding" mean, this book will reset your brain into rethinking your business and where you are going with it. It is a must read for anyone involved in selling stuff or services out of an established franchise or license.
Simple, Straightforward, Sensational.......2007-08-23
Marty Neumeier has written two "whiteboard" style books both dealing with branding and innovation - this is the first one. By whiteboard style, Neumeier's book is light on written content, moderate on visual content and layout, and heavy on basic, important, sharp ideas.
The book covers 5 principles to help bridge the gap between strategic thinking and creative 'magic' and uses a variety of visual and written metaphors, examples, and logical knowledge to do so. If you are looking for a text-heavy, super explanatory, in-depth type of book, then this isn't the one for you. If you're looking to focus your mindset when it comes to innovative branding, this is a great, go-to book to get through in a short amount of time.
The two main things I liked about this book were the fact it actually followed a lot of its own principles in terms of how it was designed/set up etc. and it also packed a lot of universality into these generic yet focused, sensical tips.
Case in point...here is what you'll get out of the book if you are:
A Student/Novice in the Field: Students will love this book to help them review a lot of what's happening in marketing right now, and the 5 guiding principles can help them innovate at their future workplaces. The expanded edition of this book includes a 200 word glossary of advertising terms that'll also help students and novices talk the talk.
Agencies: will delight at the tests Neumeier asks you to go through when developing a brand, particularly graphically in the "icon/avatar" section. The real-life examples of successful businesses identify the longevity of the brands and how it is obtained, giving hints to marketing/advertising agencies how to get that same magic formula.
Businesses: whether small or large, this is a great book to have. If you have an internal promotions/marketing department, this book should be distributed to the head of your branding staff to help them focus your company's direction in the market. If you are the owner of a small business without an internal marketing department, this book can help introduce you to the fundamental principles of branding that you can then discuss with an external agency.
Overall a great quick read that kept me hooked, never bored, and always thinking. The summative list of the main topics discussed throughout the book at the end was extremely helpful, although the glossary was kind of out of place as half the words in the glossary aren't used in the text. Probably helpful for beginners in the ad industry though.
Considerations for Brand-Building.......2007-08-19
Fantastic, a quick-read with deep insights, packed with timeless, necessary wisdom anyone who sells anything will benefit from reading. The Take-Home lessons in the back are a bonus (bullet points from the book), and the pages I'll review over time.
perfect.......2007-05-24
This book is entertaining and packed with wisdom! The book arrived quickly, was in perfect shape and at a good price.
Must have for Corporate/InHouse designers.......2007-03-10
This is a great resources for communicating clearly the importance of brand consistency. Read it. Then do it. Good luck my fellow corporate designers. We are a rare and lonely breed.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent book for those who love Star Trek ships...
- Ships of the Line (Star Trek)
- Beautiful book--but know what you're getting.
- Disappointed
- Another Great Star Trek Photo Book
|
Ships of the Line (Star Trek)
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
-
Star Trek Ships of the Line 2007 Wall Calendar
-
Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas of Star Trek
-
Star Trek - Legacy
-
The Star Trek Encyclopedia
-
Star Trek The Animated Series - The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek
ASIN: 1416532439 |
Book Description
They dared to risk it all in a skiff of reeds or leather, on a ship of wood or steel, knowing the only thing between them and certain death was their ship. To explore, to seek out what lay beyond the close and comfortable, every explorer had to embrace danger. And as they did so, what arose was a mystical bond, a passion for the ships that carried them. From the very first time humans dared to warp the fabric of space, escaping from the ashes of the third World War, they also created ships. These vessels have become the icons of mankind's desire to rise above the everyday, to seek out and make the unknown known. And these ships that travel the stellar seas have stirred the same passions as the ones that floated in the oceans.
While every captain has wished that their starship could be outfitted in the same manner as the sailing ship H.M.S. Beagle -- without weapons -- that proved
untenable. From the start, Starfleet realized that each vessel, due to the limited range of the early warp engines, must be able to stand alone against any
attack. Thus arose the idea, taken from the days of wooden sailing ships, that every Starfleet vessel must stand as a ship of the line. Through the actions of their captains and crews, countless starships have taken on that role. Here we remember some of those ships and their heroic crews.
In celebration of the fortieth anniversary of Star Trek, here for the very first time collected together are the spectacular images from the highly successful and acclaimed Star Trek: Ships of the Line calendars. Gloriously rendered, each of these illustrations was created exclusively for Pocket Books. With text by Michael Okuda (The Star Trek Encyclopedia), the story of each of these valiant starships comes to life.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book for those who love Star Trek ships..........2007-09-22
I've been a fan of the "Ships of the Line" calendars for many years. This book is essentially a compilation of those stunning images, with some explanatory captions added. As such, it's a wonderful volume for any Star Trek fan who enjoys "beauty shots" of the various ships shown in the series. It should be noted, however, that these are pieces of original digital artwork. They are not screen captures of the various series or movies, but unique images created for the calendar series (and now, for this book). It was a great value and an excellent addition to my Star Trek book collection.
Ships of the Line (Star Trek) .......2007-09-21
Ships of the Line (Star Trek)was not what I was expecting. I was hoping for a more techincal review of the fleet.
With that said, the artwork was great, although I would have liked more on the ships other than that bad 'Enterprise' series!
The Romulan Warbird was the best pic, in my opinion!
Ian Johnson. Perth, Australia
Beautiful book--but know what you're getting........2007-09-19
This is a beautiful, imagination-stimulating, sometimes breathtaking book. But potential buyers should know three things: 1. This book is about half the size of the average coffee table book (FYI, in case you don't read the fine print or easily "get" measurements in the Product Description), so they are not big pictures. 2. This is an *art* book; these are "illustrations," not photographic reproductions from the Star Trek T.V. series(s) or movies. I wasn't familiar with the "Ships of the Line" calendars, so was expecting "real" photos of the Star Trek ships, not paintings. However, some of the pictures are computer-design artwork that very effectively look like photographs. I know it's a matter of taste, by I find these more enjoyable, more evocative.
3. While ships from all five of the T.V. shows are included (not the animated ST), there is of course a favored emphasis on the Enterprise in its various/successive generations. There are only 37 illustrations, so that doesn't leave room for a whole lot else. (Opposing/even-numbered pages are blank, except for a short paragraph of text by official Star Trek history guru Michael Ocuda, which offers interesting commentary, though more impressionistic thatn encyclopedic.) Also, the book's cover illustration is not repeated in the book, so if you get a torn or badly smudged copy, you're out of luck. I was also disappointed that a book called "Ships of the Line" didn't have a single schematic drawing or even a comparative illustration to scale of the various ships (like is sort of done on the cover picture).
Even given all these qualifications, there are at least 10 pictures in this book that really inspire me and excite my imagination; and any two of them, for me, are worth the price of the book.
Disappointed.......2007-09-04
Great art work, but I was expecting the entire book to give us a complete look at rarely or never before seen star fleet ships in various situations. There was a limited look, but mostly that of the series ships we're already quite familiar with. I wasn't too thrilled about the blank left pages as well. Lots of potential for a great coffee table top book. Hopefully we'll get more in a Volume 2.
Another Great Star Trek Photo Book.......2007-08-12
Margaret Clark & Doug Drexler have out done themselfs. This book is packed full of some of the best CGI graphics yet to be published. It's a must for any trekie as it will keep you spell bound just looking at page after page. The book covers all era's of trekdom with graphics of all the major ships we've come to love. It even has a few hints of things to come. The book is graphic intense with very little story, but that ok because some of the graphic will have you beliving that these ship are real. The only short side to this book is it's lack of alein ships as it's cover suggests. There are some aliens ship but none are the focal point of any of the graphics. All in all I would highly recommend this book for anyones library.
Book Description
Make Your Mark
Design is at a turning point. Our infatuation with--and the backlash against--technology is over. Today's best designers have learned to embrace its advantages and think beyond its limitations by combining the power of the computer with the tactile qualities of handmade elements.
Inside you'll find examples of work that showcase a variety of design methods, including mixed media, illustration, letterpress, screenprinting and collage. You'll find inspiration in examples from outstanding designers and see how traditional elements can make a more powerful statement than anesthesized computer-only work. Fingerprint also includes insightful essays on the power of the handmade by Debbie Millman, Jean Orlebeke, Jim Sherraden, Martin Venezky and Ross Macdonald.
The projects in this book are beautiful, technical, simple, layered and powerful. Each project communicates its intended message with eloquence.
You can be part of this exciting design revolution. Leave your own fingerprint on the world by exploring the fusion of the digital with the hand-wrought.
Chen Design Associates is a visual communications firm based in San Francisco. Firm Principal Joshua Chen is a frequent guest speaker for professional conferences, workshops, studio tours and educational institutions. The firm self-published the award-winning Peace: 100 Ideas.
Customer Reviews:
Nice examples of handwork and drafting skills.......2007-10-10
It's nice to see the hand of the maker in print again. Nice book for getting inspiration from.
Amazing book! Good source for inspiration........2007-08-03
This book should be on the desk of all aspiring graphic artists and illustrators. Wonderfully designed with emphasis on the artwork, NOT the authors' ego-centric design skills.
Designs include:
Wine lables
Posters
LP covers
Menus
T-shirts
Book covers
Theater/theatre/concert posters
CD (disc and liner notes)
Snowboard
Magazine illustration
DVD cover art
Coasters
Tactile components
(green) Holiday card
Media kit
Stamp sheets
Folded notes (not origami)
Embossed paper
A sundial watch (!!)
3D art/functional design
Recycled backpack
Calender
...and a directory of over 60 contributors: most are from the U.S. with some as far away as Switzerland.
I am certain that you will be amazed by the content of this book. There is surely something for every artist. I highly recommend this book!
The Best Book Ever.......2007-06-28
Fingerprint is a feast for the eyes and the spirit. Simply delicious. It's one of the most inspiring books I have ever seen and I have not let it out of my sight since I got it. I want to crawl inside this book and roll around on the pages.
Fingerprint features graphic designs with handmade elements. Next to the amazing art are notes by the designers. I love this. The artists tell you they used a pencil, a photograph, and a scanner. They don't tell you how you can get this identical look by buying 12 different products that cost lots of money. It's art without a sales pitch, which is rare these days. Everything in this book is unique and there's so much personality jumping from the pages.
Buy it, you will LOVE it.
Such an awesome book.......2007-06-27
I love love love it! So good to see examples of how to use handmade stuff with computer generated ideas as well.Highly recommended!!!
Back to Basics.......2007-03-30
This book is a great source for inspiration and motivation and a definite owner. Especially for those that have a niche for a hands-on approach to design. This is the new movement right now ... back to basics.
Book Description
Between the classic films of Walt Disney in the 1940s and the televised cartoon revolution of the 1960s was a critical period in the history of animation. Amid Amidi, of the influential Animation Blast magazine and CartoonBrew blog, charts the evolution of the modern style in animation, which largely discarded the "lifelike" aesthetic for a more graphic and often abstract approach. Abundantly found in commercials, industrial and educational films, fair and expo infotainment, and more, this quickly popular cartoon modernism shared much with the painting and graphic design movements of the era. Showcasing hundreds of rare and forgotten sketches, model boards, cels, and film stills, Cartoon Modern is a thoroughly researched, eye-popping, and delightful account of a vital decade of animation design.
Customer Reviews:
Cool, Fun and Essential.......2007-07-17
This book covers a vital an oft-neglected period in animation history. When I first laid eyes upon it, in a bookstore, I think I audibly gasped. It is that beautiful. Do not hesitate to purchase this book, which incidentally, won the Theatre Library Association Award for outstanding book in the area of film or broadcasting. Hopefully, there'll be a sequel.
Superlative.......2007-06-08
If you're an animation buff, you won't want to miss Amid Amidi's "Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in 1950s Animation". Lushly paged, and densely packed with generous, colorful, brightly saturated illustrations, "Cartoon Modern" is the cel animation cartoon fan's dream come true - the kind of volume you'd find in a favorites bin in a dream and try to take out into the waking world with you! Amid Amidi is clearly another one of us toon fangeeks: he eagerly sifts through tons of studio, production and biographical information but doesn't skimp on small details only another fangeek would enjoy - intriguing factoids and behind-the-scenes animator gossip relevant to the period abound throughout this thick, heavy book. You will never tire of the clippings, sketches, layouts, articles and character designs. Far from limited to the gorgeous coffeetable book it resembles - don't be fooled by its size and stylish appearance! - "Cartoon Modern" is an authoritative tour of one of American animation's most important creative periods. I personally look forward to more animation books from Amidi, and I hope he will someday take a literary look at the animation of the classic, cartoon modern-influenced 1969-1976 period of PBS's "Sesame Street" and "The Electric Company". As a generous portion of "Cartoon Modern" concerns the works of animators John and Faith Hubley, and the Hubley Studios generated a good 40-50% of the animation for both shows, such a book may not be far from the realm of possibility. Superlative.
More than Disney...........2007-04-19
We had forgotten how much treasured animation was created during this very stylistic era in film history.
Most importantly, the book deserves a publishing prize simply for the design of the text. Absolutely beautiful... flawlessly designed... with quality binding and printing that should last for a century to come.
We were pleasantly surprised by the beauty and class within these covers, and we are pleased to highly recommend this text for the most discriminating animation libraries.
Cartoon Modern.......2007-03-19
Absolutly wonderful visuals, with OK text. Text suffers from almost no acknowlegement of foriegn animation that preceded and drove the U.S. animation design, but still very informationl and a good referenxce book.
Great Book.......2007-01-22
I think this book is a nice purchase. It has great visual reference for cartoon styles and is really easy to brouse through as each "animation studio" has its own chapter. Two other people from my work purchased the book as well, and seem to like it too!
Book Description
GRAPHIC DESIGN BASICS combines design principles, history, and current technology to present students a comprehensive introduction to the field of graphic design. Keeping pace with rapid changes in the field of design, while maintaining a consistently high academic quality, the text emphasizes design structure and visual perception with a wide range of visuals from throughout design history, as well as the latest contemporary illustrations and electronic designs. Each chapter provides assignments with student sample solutions, as well as critique sections to help students apply the concepts and assess their work. This market leader's interwoven combination of concept, history, and practice is rarely found in other Graphic Design texts.
Customer Reviews:
Poor value.......2007-10-12
While much of the covered material is well presented, the price cannot be justified. Design Basics Index is a far better value that presents similar information with more mini "case study" examples. I'm also disappointed that the discussion of new technologies is still weak like the previous version.
I wish that this book could be affordable the way that Princeton Architectural Press' books (such as Ellen Lupton's excellent book "Thinking with Type" are.
The people this book is most aimed at - beginning students - are those who can least afford it.
Some excellent parts, grossly misleading web design and computer info.......2007-08-23
I read the book cover-to-cover before writing this review. Generally speaking, it is a very good intro to basic "graphical design" concepts. The first half of the book, examples focus on specific concepts of good design, and explains them well without unnecessary verbiage.
For example, the writer correctly assumes that most people have less knowledge of good font usage than good picture usage. She explains that the space inside fonts must be considered as shapes that contribute to and can be used in design, not just the shapes of the letters themselves. She details the history of font families just enough to teach you why they are made the way they are.
I also learned that things like "Helvetica" are a font-FAMILY, not a specific font, and that DIFFERENT PEOPLE often make the specific fonts in a family, such as the various italic, condensed, and extended variations, and therefore the sizes often don't match. That's critical information for websites because you must ensure text on your page looks the way you want for various fonts/users. However, there really was not an direct explanation of all this, the information is scattered in a couple of chapters and is mostly hinted at when you read about how the "Univers" font-family was created to have an identical "x-height" regardless of the specific font used.
Things like repetition and visual weight are explained clearly and succinctly. The history of different design movements is given to allow students to analyze design approaches from various points of view.
Exercises for chapters are interesting. In earlier chapters, they have a very specific focus, and in later ones, students are combining design techniques. What I really like is that she mixes professional examples of design with those students created for a portfolio. Some of their work is quite good! There is just the right amount of great examples of professional work. If someone wants a complete collection of some of the best design work, it would be appropriate to pick up a copy of Problem Solved.
I (unfortunately) expect people in the "graphical design" field to ignore usability and accessibility in website design, and approach the subject with limited knowledge and a let's-show-off-the-eye-candy approach. However, Ms. Arntson goes beyond mere ignorance and directly contributes to the devil-may-care attitude with statements like, "you don't really need to learn HTML" and "create your webpage in PhotoShop".
She's even crass enough to include a list of "good website design" tips that would not even make the grade in an "HTML for dummies" book. Her idea of website "design" is using wizards (implied, since says don't learn HTML) to create tables and frames, and dragging-and-dropping buttons in a WYSIWYG program.
Even if she's no expert, she could have at least mentioned that while web design is a topic not covered but not difficult, it will be important for students to study cross-device (not just cross-browser) compatibility and accessibility issues as they develop good web design habits. Some necessities are not using frames, moving away from tables-based design, testing websites in a variety of browsers (including a text-based browser and a cell phone, or at least using "Shift+F11" in Opera to shrink the page to cell-phone size -- though that doesn't address the fact that cell phones and other devices don't do frames or even tables), and avoiding JavaScript except for non-essential eye candy.
She even claims that Flash automatically avoids download-time problems -- we all know that couldn't be further from the truth! Flash can be good or really, really bad, depending whether a person bothers to learn to optimize it. Not to mention, you might as well walk up to a blind person and slap them across the face.
She says that filenames must be eight characters because of different operating systems (Windows, Unix, etc.)...where in the heck did she get that idea? Any OS that can run a webserver understands long filenames, and has for years. Does she think people run webservers on DOS???
Everything before the last few chapters was immensely enjoyable and well-written. Even before all the explicitly WRONG web design info, though, she totally lost my respect when she said this: "The central processing unit (CPU), the main part of the system, houses the hard drive." OMG! HA! HA! HA! Did an editor even look at this book before letting it out the door???
This book is just proof that publishers will let anyone write a textbook even if they have no idea what they are talking about. That's not the only hilarious, completely computer-illiterate thing in Chapter 11. It's just the worst. She also thinks that you buy RAM chips individually and attach them onto the "memory boards" yourself. (No, Ms. Arnston...you can only buy the memory cards with the chips already attached, then you pop the cards onto your MOTHERBOARD.)
The thing is, this throws into doubt all the seemingly-interesting information in this chapter about preparing your work for the press, and the various types of press, and associated formats, because it seems like she doesn't even know how to use a computer. There's seemingly highly-informative information about graphics files and how the computer uses them (though I saw a minor error or two there), but I don't know if I should give the information any merit at all. I don't know if she wrote that part or someone else. In any case, someone else should have written the other computer-centric info, too. But really, publishers need to check teachers backgrounds (and work outside teaching) before they let them loose on a textbook!
If she only likes to work with traditional pen/paper she should at least say so. Of course, it could be that like many professors, she teaches in a field in which she hasn't actually practiced in decades. I can't see how else the "art" parts of the book would be so good and the computer- and website-related information so horrible. It's almost as though she went on a 3-day bender and then stayed up all night with a hangover to finish the book by deadline. I don't even truly know how to rate it, because the visual aspects of design are covered so well. It's like the book was written by Jeckyl and Hyde!
Should be 5 - but new it's too expensive.......2006-03-25
This is a great book, and as a former design educator, I always encouraged my students to look into this book. The basics of the practice are excellently covered. However most students balked at the price. Buy it used if you can. The Web chapter is really dated now.
A great introductory review of graphic design principles.......1999-08-24
This is a great introductory review of basic graphic design principles. The subjects covered include: foreground/background, form, structure, juxtaposition of elements on a page, gestalt perceptual theory, hierarchy, and typography. There is a bit of history, color theory, and computer-related issues. Overall, this is a sound book to recommend to an introductory graphic design class.
Book Description
An iconic collection of design work presented in fresh and useful format.
Designers are conceptual pack rats. They pack as much raw material in their brains as possible and then use that to build their own unique designs. The Anatomy of Design is what, in the butcher business, they call a "side of beef." The authors selected fifty examples of graphic design that will be dissected, piece by piece, tissue by tissue, revealing an array of influences and inspirations. These are not necessarily the most well-known or celebrated objects of graphic design, though many contain the genetic codes of some canonical works. Instead, these represent contemporary artifacts that are well conceived, finely crafted, and filled with hidden treasures. Some are overtly complex and their influences are somewhat easy to see with the naked eye. Others are so simple that it is hard to believe there is a storehouse of inspiration hidden underneath.
The selections include all kinds of design work including posters, book and record covers, packages, catalog covers, and more. Each exhibit is selected based on its ubiquity, thematic import, and aesthetic significance, and every page is a means to show how great work is derived from various inspirational and physical sources, some well-known, some unknown. Each design is presented on a gate-fold showing the featured design and and other works that share the key influences with extended captions explaining the whys and wherefores.
Customer Reviews:
The title could've been "The Evolution of Design".......2007-08-08
This is a great book, especially for referencing. Beautifully designed! As for the title I truely believe "The Evolution of Design" would've been more appropriate, especially while referencing to the earliest documents containing that particular object, artifact or style and its transcendence to what the subjects' conceived graphic design has "evolved" to.
True as stated in the preface, "These are not necessarily the best-known or celebrated objects of graphic design, though many contain the genetic codes or canonical works. Instead, they represent some visible and a few obscure relatively contemporary artifacts that are well conceived...", there could've been other, more successful pieces on the table for dissection, yet the specimens selected are exceptional!
Lots of nice pictures..........2007-05-16
That's all well and good, but it lacks a textual narrative. The fold-out pages are a nice novelty for 'docovering' the apparent lineage of the feaured images, but do grow tiresome - and crease very quickly without undue care. Good for inspiration but not great.
Bad cover, good book.......2007-05-12
Honestly, I haven't had the time to actually read this book yet. But the hundreds of examples they give for specific styles of design make this book amazing in itself. I've never owned a book that has so many examples of quality design. The cool part is that the examples actually pertain to specific pieces; there supposed to be the works that specific graphic designers drew inspiration from to create a certain their work. Basicly, you flip the page and there's an example of a good piece of graphic design. Then you unfold the page to see what works that piece drew inspiration from. It's really interesting. Every single page opens up, giving you twice the amount of content, so your getting a good deal. *There's a section that has some rather explicit graphics in it so this isn't a kids book.* Overload of quality design; couldn't ask for more in a book.
Great for students!.......2007-03-20
This book is great for seeing a designer's though process. It opens up endless doors for creative minds. We need to start pushing the envelope!
A New Kind Of Art Book Is An Endless Visual And Intellectual Feast.......2007-02-15
This is a visual equivalent of Bartlett's Quotations - with an ingenious analytical presentation. It is full of interesting ideas and enough content to last for a lifetime. Aside from being tremendously enjoyable to anyone like myself who is interested in the graphic arts, it looks like it gives a full course in graphic design and the history of visual art. The generous, non-stop foldouts are ingenious and every one of them is filled with fascinating images and commentary. It wouldn't surprise me if this work, aimed apparently at graphic designers, became a best seller simply as a new kind of art book.
Books:
- Meggs' History of Graphic Design
- Multimedia for Learning: Methods and Development (3rd Edition)
- NorCalMod: Icons of Northern California Modernism
- NorCalMod: Icons of Northern California Modernism
- North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment
- Panel One: Comic Book Scripts by Top Writers
- Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics: The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook and The Lady & Sons, Too!
- Picture Perfect: Mowing Techniques for Lawns, Landscapes, and Sports
- Pictures of Nothing: Abstract Art since Pollock (A.W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts)
- Principles of Form and Design
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