Design Elements a Graphic Style Manual 2nd Edition Pdf

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 · 592 ratings  · 23 reviews

Start your review of Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual

The info was good but my head hurt from trying to read this. The format was the worst.

Mar 09, 2019 Corey rated it really liked it

Helpful. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on grids, layouts, and movement.

Good reference book. Don't try to read it cover to cover though. I don't think it was meant to be read that way. Good reference book. Don't try to read it cover to cover though. I don't think it was meant to be read that way. ...more

Oct 11, 2020 Seulky rated it it was ok

As a primer on design, this book failed to model its own examples. The type was way too small and hard to read and the written content was often too generic to be useable. The examples were good in some chapters but replicate the works of others (and not good replications). This could have been a much better primer but ultimately in its current version, not useful.

This book is great for design noobs. It really helped boost my understanding of why design IS what it is. It is mostly well articulated and explained throughout. Although, some parts may require more re-reading as its concept is complicated or too technical. Definitely a great read and a must-have overall.

Jan 20, 2018 Saiduck rated it it was amazing

It's really good for anyone who's interested in design and art in general
Has really good informations and it's very useful
Uses some already made designs as case studies to further explain thing- which I really liked.
My only bad thing about it is the layout

May 07, 2018 Karolina rated it it was amazing

I am a total novice in the world of design and this book was really good. However, as I don't know many other books, I can't say if it's better than others. I am a total novice in the world of design and this book was really good. However, as I don't know many other books, I can't say if it's better than others. ...more

This was a very informative book about Graphic Design. I will refer back to it throughout my career

This is my favorite book eveeer

Very engaging and well written. There are many concept that even graphic designer needs to know. You will find most of them here. Must read for those going into the industry.

I agree with the many other reviewers that mention the layout of this book as problematic. The distracting layout makes it difficult to follow through the text and photos, and I found I could only read a few pages at a time. There are still some bits in this book that I enjoyed reading, especially the parts about text and text layout.

This is more of an overview of styles and layouts than an in-depth manual or textbook. You might enjoy this book if you are interested in learning a bit about the a

I agree with the many other reviewers that mention the layout of this book as problematic. The distracting layout makes it difficult to follow through the text and photos, and I found I could only read a few pages at a time. There are still some bits in this book that I enjoyed reading, especially the parts about text and text layout.

This is more of an overview of styles and layouts than an in-depth manual or textbook. You might enjoy this book if you are interested in learning a bit about the art of design. If you are an art or design student or professional, there's probably nothing new for you here.

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If you have nothing new to say, you shouldn't write a book on it.

I'm not sure Samara's saying anything, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he's saying that the key to graphic design is balancing static with dynamic, integration with variation, reliability with surprise. Because his exploration of this balance has given me a little to think about in relation to a current project, I'll give this book two stars. Otherwise it would merit only one.

Samara begins by writing th

If you have nothing new to say, you shouldn't write a book on it.

I'm not sure Samara's saying anything, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he's saying that the key to graphic design is balancing static with dynamic, integration with variation, reliability with surprise. Because his exploration of this balance has given me a little to think about in relation to a current project, I'll give this book two stars. Otherwise it would merit only one.

Samara begins by writing that graphic design is about communicating — not decorating — yet throughout the book, the examples he gives are largely decorative, and his written communication is through tidbits of cramped, dry text that put me to sleep (literally) multiple times. "An image cropped into a rectangle presents three options: the type might be enclosed within the image; the type might be outside, or adjacent to the image; or the type might cross the image."

He writes that the text plays as large a role as the image, but he doesn't listen to his own advice. He advocates for the importance of paying attention to minor graphical details, yet leaves a dozen typos throughout his own published work.

Some things the book says are:

(view spoiler)[
* Creating ambiguity (such as ambiguity between what's foreground and what's background) creates an unresolved tension in the viewer, stimulating interest if used well and anxiety if used to excess.
* Rather than having a clear symmetry or balance, presenting forms and spaces with dynamic relations between them is more likely to engage the viewer's attention.
* The weight and tracking of letters looks best when there is a regular alternation of ink and background.
* When printing light text on a dark background, it's necessary to adjust the weight and size of font to account for bleeding shrinking rather than enlarging the letters.
* A line length of 50-80 characters is optimal for extended reading.
* "Supersign" is a term for a visual sign with several layers of meaning, an iconographic pun.
* When two images are placed next to each other, people will visualize a story connecting them, regardless of whether such a connection actually exists.
* Text and image can be integrated in various ways, one of the most effective of which is by using a silhouetted image to break free of the textual grid.
* When creating a series of works, a grid can unify them, but it shouldn't be followed too closely or else it will sap the energy from the display.
(hide spoiler)]

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This is an excellent overview of Graphic Design, giving a first rate look at the fundamentals that every design student should know. My only complaint is that the layout, while novel at first, is extremely busy and the type small enough that it can hurt the eyes if you try to read too much at one time. The book is designed to be enjoyed in spurts, not read in one session.

Aug 25, 2008 K rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: anyone with a casual interest in graphic arts

Every page of this manual is both informative and fun to look at. Checked it out so I could make better flyers and posters, got tons of inspiration from the hundreds of examples and the succinct, suggestive text.

Aug 13, 2013 Cara marked it as to-read

Read just enough of this book to feel bad about the overdone design I had just finished for a client book. But it seems like a good book with the potential to make me a better designer if I read it. I'm just out of time right now. Read just enough of this book to feel bad about the overdone design I had just finished for a client book. But it seems like a good book with the potential to make me a better designer if I read it. I'm just out of time right now. ...more

Apr 23, 2011 Steven rated it really liked it

A good reference and idea book for anyone interested in visual design.

Mar 03, 2013 Amanda rated it really liked it

The typography and layout chapters are great!

Jul 12, 2017 Tammy rated it did not like it

For a design manual, how ironic that it was ridiculously difficult to read [font size, layout]. Not finished.

A design rule book - with perspective.

"Rules can be broken - but never ignored. - David Jury [Typography; author of About Face]"

A design rule book - with perspective.

"Rules can be broken - but never ignored. - David Jury [Typography; author of About Face]"

...more

Questo libro è stato il mio punto di riferimento sulla grafica in generale. Da qui poi sono partito con la ricerca di libri più approfonditi. Acquisto consigliato.

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Design Elements a Graphic Style Manual 2nd Edition Pdf

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