The New Graphic Design School

Rating:
Summary: A Must for Web Designers
Review: I have met many web designers who have never learned the basic skills of graphic design. "Graphic design School" is the best book out there today on learning the techniques and tools for basic graphic design practices. Swann covers the 'Language of Design,' 'Principles and Techniques' and 'Commercial Practice.' Short, concise and beautifully illustrated to relay the importance of knowing this craft for a solid design foundation.

Web colors are not mentioned, nor do you see anything about browser selection nor any debate over screen size. What you do see are the brief introductions to corporate design, logos, editorial design and packaging. All basics to build on for a graphic design career, including web design.

Rating:
Summary: A Must for Web Designers
Review: I have met many web designers who have never learned the basic skills of graphic design. "Graphic design School" is the best book out there today on learning the techniques and tools for basic graphic design practices. Swann covers the 'Language of Design,' 'Principles and Techniques' and 'Commercial Practice.' Short, concise and beautifully illustrated to relay the importance of knowing this craft for a solid design foundation.

Web colors are not mentioned, nor do you see anything about browser selection nor any debate over screen size. What you do see are the brief introductions to corporate design, logos, editorial design and packaging. All basics to build on for a graphic design career, including web design.

Rating:
Summary: Graphic Design School
Review: This book teaches the basic principles of graphic design as they are currently taught and learned. Graphic Design School is a must for any new designer or design student who is a visual learner, which of course most designers are. There are many examples of student's work. The next best thing to being in the classroom, because you can compare your progress with other students, and thus determine your viability in what can be a very competitive field.

Also and excellent teaching tool for more advanced designers, a back-to-basic guide for solving graphic problems and blocks.

Text includes many color photos and illustrations. Easy to follow along and genuinely interesting.

Rating:
Summary: A must!? I don't think so.
Review: Yes the book is visual. Yes it has examples of other student's work. Yes there is helpful information in it.

HOWEVER, having worked in the field for more than 10 years, I find this book simplistic, and frankly the samples of work included are not very good.

Why would I want to emulate design I don't like?

I found the examples to be dated, and I found the book lacking in teaching skills that designers really need to know.

If this is a fair representation of what is being taught in design school, we are in a very sad place.

There are so many other GOOD books out there. Buy one of those.