Rating: 
Summary: A simple, helpful guide
Review: Design inspired by this little book leans towards clean & well ordered displays of information. This book provides basics of page building & information distribution.
Beginners will like this book, however, those looking for more complex layout ideas should either work on the existing ideas taking them to the next levels, or peruse other books.
Rating:
Summary: A simple, helpful guide
Review: Design inspired by this little book leans towards clean & well ordered displays of information. This book provides basics of page building & information distribution.
Beginners will like this book, however, those looking for more complex layout ideas should either work on the existing ideas taking them to the next levels, or peruse other books.
Rating: 
Summary: i use a lot
Review: for those who aren't experienced in the in's and out's of page layout and design, this book is a lifesaver. it really gets your creative juices flowing by simply giving you a full range of possible ideas for how you can change up your design. i found it much more useful than the idea book, which didn't really help me with the visual expression part. if you have a concept and you simply want to consider all the possibilities for how you can express it on a page, i recommend getting this book!
Rating: 
Summary: This is a very small book
Review: I dind't noticed how small this book when I bought it, and I thought I should warn you about it. It's a size of a pocket book. Of course this doesn't mean it has no information however it doesn't brings you alot of insights. I would reconsider before buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational Book
Review: I find this book full of inspiration and ideas. It is helpful when you get stuck in a rut to help get you out! The different layouts with the same designs are helpful to get your brain moving and to do your own thing. It is not meant to copy, just to inspire you to open up and do more. It is not a step by step book for you to mimic and I appreciate that. I don't want to see the how to, just the ideas so I can use my own talents. I am looking forward to getting the other book in the series to see what other ideas they have.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrendous!
Review: I have been slowly building my Design Library, and this book made me laugh right out loud! Just by looking at the sample page excerpts offered, one can tell that this book is a total waste of money to anyone with a fine arts-based design degree. But, if you do not have any idea about design, and enjoy cookie-cutter, bland, out-dated design, or if you don't need much to inspire you, then this book would probably be just fine for your library.
Rating:
Summary: Not helpful for the experienced
Review: I have three years experience in graphic and motion design for the web. This book offered very very simplistic and, sometimes, downright ugly examples of layouts. They all looked like the hideous templates from any desktop publishing program - good for neighborhood flyers and family websites but useless to professionals. The book sometimes even re-used layouts for different sections. If you find yourself more inspired by very vivid complex design examples, not by overly simplistic ones, then this book is not for you. Also please be aware that the book is small, 6 inches high by 4.5 inches wide, with a plastic cover, reminiscent of a pocket trail map.
Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment!
Review: I love Idea Index. You can flip to any random page and get some creative solutions that hadn't occurred to you. Layout Index, however, is not nearly as useful, innovative or even interesting, unless vintage 1994 design is your idea of "cutting edge". I think the author had these ideas sitting in his desk drawer a little too long.Unlike Idea Index, which is a hodgepodge of design ideas that are far from finished, Layout Index walks the reader through some solutions. Instead of ideas, you get second-rate finished pieces that won't spark your own ideas. The beauty of the nonlinear index is lost. I guess this book might be useful for those who need help with their church newsletter or flyers for the kids' birthday party. Will professionals get any use out of this? Nope. I'll give it two stars just because it might come in handy for the soccer moms. I hate to dog the book... his first one was so good, but I guess that's why this one is such a dud. My expectations were not met.
Rating:
Summary: Cute but Powerful Little Reference Guide
Review: I mainly do websites for small businesses, but if they like my work, they often ask me to re-do their business cards or create a newsletter template to match their website. Of course, I lie and tell them I know how to do these things. This book has made an honest person out of me. It provides inspiration for these different media formats. If I'm stuck when trying to create a new web identity from scratch, these pages have provided that spark of inspiration. Worth the money and it doesn't take up much room on your desk.
Rating:
Summary: I recommend it
Review: I recommend having this whole series. They are nice little books to flip through when you are ready to start a new project. I agree that the design elements appear a little stale and dated, but when I look past the actual examples they use and envision my own layouts, they still give me ideas to expand upon. A good deal for the money.
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