Rating: 
Summary: Poor in contents
Review: Extremely concise, well written, this books gives you only a narrow view of the page design processes and problematics, it lacks of an high level approach (bottom-down). I would expect more and more from that kind of book, only Black&White examples are reductive when approaching visual design arguments. This book would have been better catalogued in a "Best Pratices" series. The cost is appropriate.
Rating: 
Summary: The Non-Designer's Design Book
Review: This short, easily understood book is a must have for anyone who creates printed documents of all kinds. I ordered this and two other graphic design books at the same time, because I have never been happy with my page layouts and appearance. I used up a hilighter pen on this one, and ended up returning the other two. For basic design principals ... for the non-professional designer ... this book is all you need.
Rating: 
Summary: Small but Good Information
Review: Nice book, stright to the point. Even though her audience is NOn graphic desingers, being a desinger I did pick up some tips. Before I designed this book, I made some really stu[pid errors.Glad I don't anymore.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I've just bought 4 more of hers. Robin gets her ideas across very easily and you can move ahead quickly. I've added her tricks to powerpoints and they look so much more professional and interesting than before.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden Treasure
Review: I bought this book some time ago, but a brief flick through the pages convinced me it wasn't going to turn me into a designer. When I purchased this book it was with the view to becoming better versed with graphic design concepts, yet when I finally received it, all I saw was text. It took a car accident, two fractured vertebrae and a few weeks on my back to finally read it. I can't believe I didn't read this book before, it has quadrupled my design abilities with the simplest of qualities that eluded me. I read this book in a day, anyone wishing to get into design should buy this book first. The concepts are explained in an easy-to-understand manner, although, as with so many books of this nature, I think some "excercises" and samples should be available online - you reading this Robin? ;)
Rating:
Summary: Enhance your skills, communicate your vision!
Review: This is an excellent book for many types of people - non-designers, office personnel, individuals, novices, students, and self-made designers. Although the book may seem simple, there are many words of wisdom and guiding rules that can enhance *any* design. Unlike boring compendiums, this is fresh and fun. It will allow you to take your ideas and designs to the next level, and add both spice and professionalism! Robin Williams works hard to make a vibrant text and compelling examples. There is just the right mix of technical terminology and easy-to-understand dialogue. With a simple step-by-step formula, you will be able to break down and improve your own work, as well as the work of "professionals." I highly recommend this to anyone who does any form of print or web communication. This is a whole lot of bang without any bore. It's my gift and reference of choice. Don't hesitate!
Rating:
Summary: You never stop learning
Review: As a 'seasoned pro', I thought I knew it all ... well, not quite all, but at least a good-sized chunk. But you're never too old to learn ... and I've been earning my living as a graphic designer since 1985! In a nutshell this book puts into words the principles I've known and felt for the last 15 years, but I now have a way of explaining to myself - and to colleagues - why something works, or more importantly, why it doesn't work as a piece of design. Don't let the title put you off - even if you're a 'professional designer'. If you are a pro, climb down off that high horse and admit that you don't know it all (there are several quizzes in this book, some of which may very well put you on the spot). If you're just starting out, or if your boss has decided that your company needs a hip, with it, snazzy newsletter to keep the workers clued up, or an ad campaign to woo new business and that you're being volunteered to do it, well, you're in for a treat. TNDDB covers the basic principles of graphic design in fun, easy to use chapters - and there are excellent illustrations to back up what Robin Williams is showing you as she cuts away some of the mystique that surrounds design. It's said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. But there's nothing nearly so dangerous as an awful lot of ignorance. This book won't turn you into Neville Brody, Paul Rand, or Saul Bass (to name but three), but it will change the way you look at design. It will sharpen your mind, breathe life into your layouts, and it'll do what three years of college won't do: educate you.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction for the visually challenged
Review: As a technical person, this was one of my first stops to try and become visually aware - an important skill to have if one is in the web-publishing business. And even if the book does not cover web-publishing per se, you'll find a lot information relevant to designing web sites in these pages. It is also useful for the small business owner who has to look after their own design resources.
Rating:
Summary: Escape from being a VIP*
Review: *VIP(Visually Illiterate Person) is the term Robin uses for people who cannot tell why a design works or why is it better than another. The first half of this book explains the FOUR principles of Graphic Design; C.R.A.P (Contrast, Repetition, Allignment, and Proximity). The second half of the book explains about typefaces; the SIX general categories of typefaces (Oldstyle, Modern, Slab-serif, Sans-serif, Script and Decorative) and how to contrast typefaces to gain visual attraction. With this book in hand, you'll never be the same again. Do you use to center everything on paper ? After reading this, you won't center everything anymore (unless necessary). This book REALLY teaches people with no graphic design background to become a graphic design professional on his/her own. Of course you won't straight away become one expert, but this book gives you the path leading to it. The book has BIG ILLUSTRATIONS too, both text and illustrations are nicely balanced. You won't get bored reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Love this lady's style.
Review: I read the reviews and bought the book. Why? I was hired to teach inmates the basics of graphic design in a major federal penitentiary. So what's my opinion...."This book works." I found Ms. Williams' writing to be witty and yet extremely useful. My students have enjoyed it as much as I have. Ms. Williams has really taken a subject that most authors bore you to death with and made it fun reading. Yes, I said fun. She gets to the point quickly and gives you great examples to clarify the information. If you really want to become a graphic designer and not just a web designer, this book is a must. I will be buying more of her work just to see if she can continue to make learning fun. Ms. Williams if you read this. "Thanks!" You have made my job a lot easier.
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