Design Basics

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Summary: An absolute classic for anyone working in the visual arts.
Review: Back in college, two decades ago, one of my art professors required this book for every single one of his classes. He even offered to personally repay students who could not afford to keep their copy, if they promised not to sell it back to the bookstore. He told us that the best thing we could do for our careers in art was to keep this book. He was right. I've had my 2nd edition copy for twenty years, and no other book I've seen discusses visual theory so simply, logically and completely. The text is clear and straightforward and the examples are perfect, but it is Lauer's ability to organize a very complex subject into very specific, clearly-understood categories that makes this book remarkable.

Rating:
Summary: Required Reading for any Serious Art Student
Review: Basic Design is a must for any art student who is serious about his/her talent. This book was offered as a suggested reading source in my Color Theory class and I have cherished it for years since. Design Basics is very thorough in it's explaination of every kind of art form. You would be greatly benefited to purchase this book!

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Summary: Clearly written, well-illustrated book. Very useful!
Review: Design Basics is well organized, the chapters are clearly written, and the graphics illustrate the text very effectively. This is the best general introduction to graphic design that I've seen.

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Summary: simple, useful & moneyworth book for all art student
Review: easy to read format, great visual examples, things you ve been taught from school but sometimes forget to think about.

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Summary: The essential art book-easy to follow and well illustrated!
Review: I have had my highschool art students use Design Basics in conjunction with my highschool introductory art courses for over ten years. It is a staple in my students' art theory reading. The book focuses on the elements and principles of design and organizes it's chapters as such. All information is correlated with artwork examples that run throughout the ages of art, from the prehistoric to the modern day. Many colour illustrations make for artistic "eye candy".

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Summary: Excellent. Concise, in an easy-to-read format.
Review: The best review of basic design principles I've seen -- especially helpful to artists studying composition.

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Summary: A wonderful book for hs seniors and college freshmen
Review: this book is the foundation for understanding composition, but it is no substitute for continued research in art and art theory...this book is a superb starting point...if you're in high school i suggest starting your reading in art with this...if you are in high school and you have already read this...then GOOD, you're going to need to continue reading, and start by rereading this...if you're a freshman in college, read this and goto the library and check out every book you can by an artist that you enjoy and read what they have written about their art and other peoples art...and in the meantime read this book...another hint, write down the name of every book you hear mentioned in any art text that you think might interest you, hell write all of them down...and then read those books...and keep reading...read read read, and when you're not reading, work on your own art or whatever you want to call it...and do not neglect your other classes, ie english 101, math 101, sciences, history, etc...those classes are just as important as any art class you will ever take...we're all students for the rest of our lives (it's just that some people prefer the term "artist" avoid them if you can...) and we'll keep learning for the rest of our lives...so get used to reading...and get used to taking criticism about your work..