The Big Book of Design Ideas

Rating:
Summary: A worthy book to have near your work book shelf
Review: As a graphic designer, sometimes you need to look towards books or publications to get some inspiration. I have invested in many books for my company and for myself for "idea" inspirations but for those in a very tight budget, design books and magazines can be quite expensive and there are many out there that some may feel a bit confused.

What I like about "The Big Book of Design Ideas" is that it takes several of those different books ...and condense it all into one book.

So, in a way, for those who can't purchase many books, I highly recommend this one because it shows visuals for annual reports, books, catalogs, calendars, exhibits, self-promotions, logos, letterheads and a few dozen more.

For those who do own many books, you can look at this book as something to glance in one setting from creative people throughout the world and instead of looking through many books, perhaps this book may have what you are looking for.

A very good visual resource for designers looking for a design "ideas" book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Layout
Review: Beautifully done. Tons of categories. Extreme Picture book. Is nice enough to be a coffee table book even for those that aren't excited about graphics as much as I am. This is a great book to get some fresh ideas from. Nice reference book for any graphic artist. I loved this book so much that I bought it for one of my clients in the UK so they could have it, too. This would also make a great gift for any type of artist since it covers everything from corporate logos, letterheads, brochures, and even displays. It has much more than that because all the little color boxes on the front of the book are actual sections in this book. This is something that I wanted to have in hardcover.

Rating:
Summary: The Big Book of Design Ideas
Review: I absolutely love this book. David Carter has definitely done his research, and in doing so found the most amazing work ever created by designers all over. I've gained endless inspiration from this book ... its the best!

Rating:
Summary: No Explanations
Review: If you are looking for creative ideas for your designs, this book was specifically created for you.

If you are new to design, this is not the best book for you. Like me, you may not know exactly what to look for in the examples shown. Included are book jackets, catalogs, calendars, posters, and other creative designs that you can look at for ideas. Unfortunately, they are just pictures so the detail does not always come out as you might hope.

There are no explanations. With each idea are the client, the art director, and the creative firm. Sometimes, it will list the designer.

Unless you know what you are looking at, and can see the different elements of the whole as well as how they interact, then this book will not be very helpful. This book would be a good reference for people with design backgrounds, but not for the beginner.