Graphic Designer's Essential Reference
Visual Elements, Techniques, and Layout Strategies for Busy Designers
Published on 1. November 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
248 pages
978-1-59253-743-3 (ISBN)
Description
A good designer, like a good chef, is aware not only of how each ingredient is similar or different, but also which delivers one message in contrast to another, which will combine to create experiences that are harmonious or jarring, financial, medical, or industrial. By comparing the designer to a chef, author Timothy Samara, walks readers through the ingredients, tools, and techniques it takes to create successful design recipes. This book is broken into easy-to-follow sections, including basic design techniques, graphic ingredients, and projects recipes. The Graphic Ingredients section is categorized into four groups: Pictorial Staples, Chromatic Flavors, Typographic Confections, and Spatial Presentations. Once the basic design techniques and ingredients are established, the author demonstrates how to concoct delectable design recipes. Graphic Designer's Essential Reference is an inspirational resource that all graphic designers should keep by their workspace for handy reference.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
1500
Dimensions
Height: 252 mm
Width: 206 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
907 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-59253-743-3 (9781592537433)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Timothy Samara
Graphic Designer's Essential Reference
Visual Elements, Techniques, and Layout Strategies for Busy Designers
E-Book
11/2011
Rockport Publishers
€24.49
Available for download
Person
Timothy Samara is a graphic designer based in New York City, where he divides his time between teaching, writing, lecturing, and consulting through STIM Visual Communication. His 18-year career in branding and information design has explored projects in print, packaging, environments, user interface design, and animation. He has been a senior art director at Ruder Finn, New York's largest public relations firm, and senior art director at Pettistudio, a small multidisciplinary design firm. Before relocating to Manhattan, he was principal of Physiologic in Syracuse, located in upstate New York. In 1990, he graduated a Trustee Scholar from the Graphic Design program at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. Mr. Samara is a faculty member at New York's School of Visual Arts, New York University, Purchase College/SUNY, and The New School, and has published six books on design and typography, all through Rockport Publishers: Making and Breaking the Grid; Typography Workbook; Publication Design Workbook; Type Style Finder; Design Elements, Design Evolution, and Letterforms. Mr. Samara and his partner live in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Content
Introduction
How to Use This Book
BASIC TECHNIQUES
Essential Visual Strategies
The Basics of Building a Strong Composition
Defining Clear Visual Hierarchy
Symmetry and Asymmetry
Working with Imagery
Using Abstract Form
Creating Visually Dynamic Color Relationships
Using Color to Enhance Messaging
Exploiting Color to Enhance Hierarchy
Limiting (and Maximizing) the Palette
Quick, Easy Coding Strategies
Choosing and Combining Typefaces
Creating Visual Dialogue between Type and Imagery
Crafting Reader-Friendly (and Beautiful!) Text
Effectively Using a Column Grid
GRAPHIC ELEMENTS: Image and Style Components of the Designer's Visual Library
PICTORIAL STAPLES: Icons, Abstract Forms, Patterns, and Varied Image Treatments
CHROMATIC CONCEPTS: Color Palettes Organized Visually and by Concept
TYPOGRAPHIC STYLINGS: Typeface Combinations, Treatments, and Embellishments
LAYOUT STRATEGIES: Grid Structures, Cropping Strategies, and Proportion Concepts
PROJECT STRATEGIES: Examples and Explorations to Inspire the Busy Designer
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Cover Designs, Image-Based Advertisements, and Website Home Pages
SETTING THE STAGE: Simple Editorial Spreads, Posters and Advertising Campaigns, and Retail Storefront Display
THE HEART OF THE MATTER: Packaging Systems, Content-Rich Websites, and Extended Publication Formats
LETTER-PERFECT: A Selection of Purely Typographic Solutions
Index by Subject
Directory of Contributors
Acknowledgments
How to Use This Book
BASIC TECHNIQUES
Essential Visual Strategies
The Basics of Building a Strong Composition
Defining Clear Visual Hierarchy
Symmetry and Asymmetry
Working with Imagery
Using Abstract Form
Creating Visually Dynamic Color Relationships
Using Color to Enhance Messaging
Exploiting Color to Enhance Hierarchy
Limiting (and Maximizing) the Palette
Quick, Easy Coding Strategies
Choosing and Combining Typefaces
Creating Visual Dialogue between Type and Imagery
Crafting Reader-Friendly (and Beautiful!) Text
Effectively Using a Column Grid
GRAPHIC ELEMENTS: Image and Style Components of the Designer's Visual Library
PICTORIAL STAPLES: Icons, Abstract Forms, Patterns, and Varied Image Treatments
CHROMATIC CONCEPTS: Color Palettes Organized Visually and by Concept
TYPOGRAPHIC STYLINGS: Typeface Combinations, Treatments, and Embellishments
LAYOUT STRATEGIES: Grid Structures, Cropping Strategies, and Proportion Concepts
PROJECT STRATEGIES: Examples and Explorations to Inspire the Busy Designer
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Cover Designs, Image-Based Advertisements, and Website Home Pages
SETTING THE STAGE: Simple Editorial Spreads, Posters and Advertising Campaigns, and Retail Storefront Display
THE HEART OF THE MATTER: Packaging Systems, Content-Rich Websites, and Extended Publication Formats
LETTER-PERFECT: A Selection of Purely Typographic Solutions
Index by Subject
Directory of Contributors
Acknowledgments