The Non-Designer's Design Book, Second Edition

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Summary: A must for WWW designers without a Graphic Arts background
Review: I found this book to be informative, concise, well-presented and at times, humorous. It was precisely the information that I needed - it gave words and reasons to why I liked or disliked certain advertisements and web sites

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Summary: I thought it was great
Review: I needed a primer so that I could publish my own newsletter using Microsoft Publisher. This was perfect. There are plenty of more advanced books out there. This was right for the beginner.

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Summary: Terrific Book for Non-Designers
Review: IÕm beginning to wonder if Robin Williams ever sleeps. She seems to have a new title out every couple of weeks. This is Ms. WilliamsÕ second offering of this title.

I have long said that the best thing about DeskTop Publishing is that it puts it in the hands of everybody and the worst thing about DeskTop Publishing is that it puts it in the hands of everybody. Some people just donÕt have an eye for design.

The fact is, because of DeskTop Publishing, many people with no formal training in publishing or design end up having to design something. They find they must create an advertisement, a newsletter, a brochure, a business card or a poster. Panic sets in for those who have no idea where to start, or donÕt understand the fundamentals of good design.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, The Non-DesignerÕs Design Book is your Ôrescue in a book.Õ I really like the many before and after examples she shows of web pages, brochures, business cards, etc. There is an amazing example of a tri-fold brochure before and after on pages 106-107, and a newspaper ad on pages 114-115.

She explains the use of typography very nicely, and explains when to use different kinds of typefaces. (Did you know that most people make the type on their home made business cards too big?)

This book is not a big, heavy tome that goes on forever on its topics. ThatÕs a good thing. It keeps things simple and easy to understand. Each topic is covered well and in an interesting manner. Pick it up at Peachpit with your User Group discount!

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Summary: Good
Review: This is one of the basic books needed in any designer's collecion. Buy it today!

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Summary: The first step in teaching yourself graphic design.
Review: This was my first purchase in Williams's "non-designer" series, and it absolutely transformed the way I understand visual communications. I've always had good verbal skills, but I needed help with the visual part, once I found myself in a job requiring lots of layout and web design.

Williams's approach to teaching is based in principles (like, "Pick an imaginary line running down the page and relate all your visual elements to it."), which she then supports with example after example. It matches my learning style precisely. Once I've grasped the principle, I can apply it again and again, as indeed I have in the past year and a half since I read this book. It serves as a solid foundation for the rest of the series, especially the "Non-Designer's Type Book," which should be the second of her books you read, in my opinion.

I couldn't have accomplished in my job what I have without this book's help. It's not a reference book, but an essential introduction to sound design principles, which, once grasped, stick with you forever.

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Summary: Serious design for anyone -- not just beginners!
Review: Don't be fooled by the title -- ­"The Non-Designer's Design Book" is a serious book that can be useful to anyone. In a slim volume, this book distills to the very essence principles that seasoned design professionals use. This is NOT Design for Dummies, it's Design-for-Wannabe-Designers, and it's not kidding.

Writer Robin Williams delivers a powerful design seminar in fun-book disguise. Her tone is light, encouraging, and creative, and her information is killer. I've read many books on this subject, and I learned many things in "The Non-Designer's Design Book" that have never even been approached in other books.

Williams begins with the basics, using examples and redesigns to illustrate design principles that will teach you how to make an effective newsletter, brochure, business card, or advertisement every time. She then moves into more complicated subjects such as typography (no kidding ­-- I've never read anything about typography in any other book) that will serve to further refine your design projects.

This book is not for the casual reader -- it is guaranteed to revolutionize the way you see, think about, and design any print media. Williams has written a clever, incisive lesson on design, while managing to be entertaining and encouraging. This book should undoubtably be a part of your complete designing education!

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Summary: Helpful info for the irretrievably lost
Review: I am one of those people that professional graphic designers meet in their nightmares. Totally clueless when it comes to what constitutes good design, and enrolled in desktop publishing classes which are meant to equip me with some degree of technical ability, but fall short of addressing issues like creativity and design concept.

I am finding this book helpful so far (it was required reading for one of my classes) and it's given me some very useful insights on how to lay out a page. The finished examples are by no means sophisticated works of art, but my goal is really to be able to master the ability to execute decent-looking newsletters, direct mail pieces and so on... and perhaps be able to run a sideline business once I've developed more expertise (strictly small-potato variety, not Madison avenue). But I'm not about to unleash my ineptitude on any unsuspecting bosses or clients yet! This book clearly states that it is written more for people like me, who in the course of their jobs need to get up to speed in this area fast! People in a similar situation would probably derive benefits from this book as well, but more advanced students or designers may be disappointed.

Since I have no designs on pursuing a formal degree (terrible pun intended) I found a lot of use for this book. I also have a question for the graphic designers who bashed it..what do they recommend for a student who knows vritually nothing about graphic design (besides switching to some other field) as a good primer to help them produce layouts that don't scream "TACKY!"??

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Summary: This is NOT graphic design
Review: After graduating from a 4 year university with a degree in Graphic Design, I get really peeved when I see books like this. Graphic design is not something you can teach yourself in a matter of hours; it's a form of art that I've spent years learning (and am still learning more about daily!).

I did not read this book. After looking through the pages online, I can tell you that this book is not going to teach you good design. I agree with the comments made about the poor use of type, which I think Williams should be embarrassed by. I am convinced that Williams is a non-designer as well.

Instead of getting this book, learn about the work of well known graphic designers/ firms: Stoltze Design, Tolleson Design, Martin Venezky/ Appetite Engineers, Ellen Lupton, Pentagram Design are some of my favorites.

Also, if you want your work to look really great, I recommend hiring a graphic designer or going back to school. That's the only way you'll really learn!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book!
Review: I have been working as a director for some time, so I know how to design the elements of a frame. I am therefore unbelievably surprised at how much this book taught me about designing the elements on the page.

This is obviously an introductary book (read the title), but what a value of a book it is. I've wasted hundreds of dollars on design... yet this book keeps everything so simple that I can actually translate it to use. Highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Good, by Design
Review: Nowadays, every computer user can easily create documents that are far more graphic then a typed page, like brochures, stationary and even web pages. But the computer and its software can't apply good design principles. That's up to the user, who often has no design training. This little book teaches basic design and typographic skills.

This book is quite amazing. The individual untrained in design can read the whole book in several hours and learn enough to provide a major improvement in graphic output. Williams explains four basic principles of design that are simple and straightforward and can be applied to every graphic design project. The author then shows how to apply these principles to specific kinds of projects. Finally, she discusses typefaces, or fonts, and the way they should be used, in a way that's so clear that I wonder why it ever took me so long to learn the differences.

And that's the book. Short, sweet, well written and extremely helpful. If you are a visual novice and you have a graphic design project, read this book and you'll turn out products that can look as good as something a professional designer would create.