Design Recent Picks

November 2009

The underlined titles will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Graphic Design for Nondesigners: Essential Knowledge, Tips, and Tricks, Plus 20 Step-by-Step Projects for the Design Novice by Tony Seddon
"Not a graphic designer? Not a problem! Whether the project's a birthday card, a poster, or a flier, Graphic Design for Nondesigners is here to help. Twenty step-by-step projects for designing everything from Web sites to business cards to T-shirts are accompanied by a clear and concise initiation into the basic principles of graphic design—including the effective use of space, color, and type—presented in a way that's easy for anyone to start applying right away. Armed with this essential primer, nondesigners will have everything they need to go forth and create effective design with polish, panache, and grace." (Amazon)

Graphic Design, Referenced: A Visual Guide to the Language, Applications, and History of Graphic Design by Byron Gomez-Palacio
"A major challenge of comprehensive books on graphic design is to fit the numerous dimensions of the field into a work that is logical and readable. The authors of this book, both founders of UnderConsideration, an online graphic design networking site, provide an accessible overview of graphic design in a very browsable format. Its success is owing to a general-to-specific subcategorization based on four main ideas: principles (typography, color, etc.); knowledge (important books, journals, schools, and repositories); representatives (notable designers, firms, and typefaces); and practice (design applied to book and music jackets, posters, products, etc.). Each entry includes full-color illustrations with one- or two-paragraph discussions on the related concepts." (Library Journal, September 2009)

What is Illustration? by Lawrence Zeegan
"What is Illustration? explores the discipline’s history, and its relationship with art, design, and photography; it investigates how illustrated images are read and understood, and how personal visual languages are created by today’s illustrators and image-makers. This book also investigates the many different contexts for illustration, and the range of career opportunities that are open to today’s illustrators; from editorial illustration in newspapers and magazines, to book publishing, illustration for advertising, design, music, fashion, websites, and the increasing demand from stock libraries. Showcasing the very best of contemporary illustration, this book features portfolios from solo artists, illustration studios, and collectives as well as some of the world’s leading illustration agencies." (Amazon)

The Garden of Eye Candy Bigbros Workshop
"Between the boundaries of fine and popular art and high and low culture, reside Id driven impulses and alter egos as toys, cartoon characters, and iconic images. From the whimsical to adorable, erotic to innocent, to the dark and gothic, they lure us into their lush worlds of fairy tales, dreams and inspiration. The Garden of Eye Candy introduces us to immaculate illustrations that enshroud the viewer s perception and gives flight to the imagination with each adventure and every character presented." (Amazon)

The Independent Design Guide: Innovative Products from the New Generation by Laura Houseley
"An explosively growing collectors market in design has fuelled the interest in young, emerging designers, whose work has become as highly sought after as that of established names. Around the world more and more galleries are opening to meet this new demand. The Independent Design Guide is the first publication to present these undiscovered talents and their creations to a consumer audience. 400 of the most exciting design objects by the future stars of design are presented alongside its website. For professionals and consumers alike, the book features cross-references that highlight new design trends, innovative use of materials and related objects."(borders.co.uk)

Graphics Explained: 7 Top Designers, 7 Briefs, 49 Solutions... In Their Own Words by Michael Evamy
"The first in a new series, Graphics Explained reinvents the sourcebook format by giving equal importance to both words and images. In the book, a host of world famous designers open their portfolios, select seven of the best, and tell all about the intricacies of each project and the unique design solutions they have created. Seven categories of project are examined, including work for new clients, good causes, wide open briefs, repeat business, no budget jobs, collaborations, and working to short deadlines. This book will compare like with like by lining up seven projects, one from each category, by each of the seven featured designers. By showcasing various projects that started from a similar premise but led to highly original solutions, it is possible to pinpoint and demystify the difference in approach and method of each designer." (Amazon)

Art Direction Explained, At Last! by Steven Heller
"This book is a highly informative, highly entertaining introduction to what art direction is and what art directors do. Co-written by one of the world's leading art directors, it coves the role of art director in numerous environments, including magazines and newspapers, advertising, corporate identity, museums and publishing. It also provides an insight into what makes a successful art director, what an art director actually does all day, what makes things go right, and what makes things go wrong. Alongside perspectives on typography, illustration and photography, there are case studies of successful art direction in different spheres, from McSweeney's to the Vier5 website. The authors have also invited preeminent international art directors to discuss their roles in special sections of the book which they have art directed themselves. The result is an impressive, enlightening and often very funny diversity of perspectives and approaches. Clearly written, including a glossary of handy art director sayings, an 'art director test' and more, Art Direction Explained will provide students with insights into the world of art direction and professionals with a bible to the profession." (Amazon)

Fifty Shoes That Changed the World by The Design Museum
"Everything around us is designed and the word 'design' has become part of our everyday experience. But how much do we know about it? "Fifty Shoes That Changed the World" imparts that knowledge listing the top 50 shoe designs that have made a substantial impact in the world of design today. From the 1863 Frye boot to Zaha Hadid's 2008 Melissa shoe, each entry offers a short appraisal to explore what has made their iconic status and the designers that give them a special place in design history." (Amazon)

Fifty Dresses That Changed the World by The Design Museum
"Everything around us is designed and the word 'design' has become part of our everyday experience. But how much do we know about it? "Fifty Dresses That Changed the World" imparts that knowledge listing the top 50 dresses that have made a substantial impact in the world of British design today. From the 1915 Delphos Pleated dress to Hussein Chalayan's 2007 LED dress, each entry offers a short appraisal to explore what has made their iconic status and the designers that give them a special place in design history." (Amazon)

Fifty Chairs That Changed the World by The Design Museum
"Everything around us is designed and the word design has become part of our everyday experience. But how much do we know about it? Fifty Chairs That Changed the World imparts that knowledge listing the top 50 chairs that have made a substantial impact in the world of British design today. From Thonet s 1870 Side Chair to Konstantin Grcic s Chair_One, each entry offers a short appraisal to explore what has made their iconic status and the designers that give them a special place in design history." (Amazon)

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