Rating: 
Summary: Synopsis
Review: This unique and extremely usable resource for today's designer contains 100 years of great color combinations. It contains no color wheels or lengthy discussions on color theory like you'll find in other books . . . just 500+ tried-and-true color combinations inspired by actual design work--from posters to packaging to linoleum floors--created over the past century by designers and artists who really understood color theory. Each section includes real examples of work from a particular era, as well as dozens of color combinations arranged like a designer would use them--in simple, sample layouts showing which colors work well in the background, as borders, for type, etc.Leslie Cabarga is a highly respected illustrator, designer and author of 30 books on graphics and design. In his successful career, he has worked for a wide range of clients, including MTV, HBO, Chronicle Books, Sony America and The New York Times, and his illustrations have been featured on the covers of TIME, Fortune, Newsweek and Business Week.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: To tell you the truth, I wasn't all that impressed with this book. Personally, I found the "sample layouts" distracting, rather than helpful. The actually color swatches are very small, and I found the sample layouts overwhelming, as well inhibiting from a creative standpoint (rather than inspiring). Personally, I would have preferred just the swatch combinations (in a larger format), with perhaps one small sample layout -- although this may just be a matter of personal taste, and may work well for others. There are, however, a great deal of color combinations that are interesting and useful.
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