The Non-Designer's Design Book
by Robin Williams
List Price:
Our Price: $5.85
You Save: $24.14 (80%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.06 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Robin WilliamsEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-09-07
ISBN: 0321193857
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Product features:
- An oversized trade softcover
- Design and Topography principles
Book Reviews of The Non-Designer's Design Book
Book Review: P.A.R.C. it here, for my money
Summary: 5 Stars
For someone new to design and design principles, this was a very welcome surprise! Yes, I know there are those who take exception to aspects of this book (different opinions about typefaces, wincing at the "dogmatic" ["patronizing"] views expressed, etc.), but these seem to be minor whinings compared to the solid foundation laid down here in clear, concise prose, with helpful accompanying illustrations. Now -- whenever I read someone else's book on desgin or layout -- I cannot help but see or hear Robin's four points: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity (C.R.A.P.). For example, in one book, the author advises using "assymetry" (non-centered) rather than "symmetry" (centered) for text. What I saw in the accompanying illustration was Robin's preference for left or right Alignment. She says such alignment looks more "professional" (sophisticated). Oddly, the other author thought "centered/symmetrical" alignment looked TOO professional (stodgy), and thus advised against it. Whatever the reason, they both agree on the outcome, but I prefer Robin's take on it.
The same goes for her discussion of "Proximity." I have read several desgin books that show "good" design samples, with no discussion of why the designs shown are good. But when I analyze them now with Robin's simple idea of "Proximity" in mind (i.e., keeping related things together), I can arrive at my own understanding of why a desgin "works."
And, although the "whiners" will wince once again, I like her reiterated advice about not being a "wimp" -- especially when it comes to Contrast, her favorite desgin principle.
I initially found her discussion of type/typeface overdone -- until I started noticing how often type/typeface is the distinguishing (or extinguishing) factor in print or web design.
Williams's book is not an exhaustive treatment of the subject, as she herself says, nor does it present the final word on all matters. It does, however, live up to its title as being for the non-designer. With the principles she shares, you can design your own layout and know WHY you did it one way, not another. In the future, although you may want to get new ideas from others, you will not have to rely solely on finished exmples of others.
P.S. As an excellent companion to this volume, I would suggest a book that Robin, in her bibliography, also suggests: "Editing by Desgin," by Jan White. It is excellent for the same reasons this book is: explanation and example, explanation and exmaple, explanation and example.
Summary of The Non-Designer's Design Book
So you have a great concept and all the fancy digital tools you could possibly require¿what¿s stopping you from creating beautiful pages? Namely the training to pull all of these elements together into a cohesive design that effectively communicates your message. Not to worry: This book is the one place you can turn to find quick, non-intimidating, excellent design help.
In The Non-Designer¿s Design Book, 2nd Edition, best-selling author Robin Williams turns her attention to the basic principles of good design and typography. All you have to do is follow her clearly explained concepts, and you¿ll begin producing more sophisticated, professional, and interesting pages immediately. Humor-infused, jargon-free prose interspersed with design exercises, quizzes, illustrations, and dozens of examples make learning a snap¿which is just what audiences have come to expect from this best-selling author.Graphic Design Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Graphic Design Books
Rendering Fashion, Fabric and Prints with Adobe Illustratorby M. Kathleen Colussy, Steve Greenberg
Prentice Hall; Published: 2006-09-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $59.98
Price in other shops:
Inside Fashion Design, 5th Editionby Sharon Lee Tate, Mona S. Edwards
Prentice Hall; Published: 2003-08-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $59.95
Price in other shops:
Graphic Design: Vision, Process Productby Louis Ocepek
Prentice Hall; Published: 2002-12-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.75
Price in other shops:
Designer's Guide to Print Productionby Kayanna Pace
Prentice Hall; Published: 2001-09-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.36
Price in other shops:
Instructor's Manual Set for All Wordperfect 5.1 Texts: Text and 5 1/ 4" IBM Data Diskby Gonzalez
McGraw Hill Higher Education; Published: 1991-05-01; Paperback; Book
Talking with Artistsby Pat Cummings
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; Published: 1992-03-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.35
Price in other shops:
American Picturebooks from Noah's Ark to the Beast Withinby Barbara Bader
Macmillan Pub Co; Published: 1976-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $112.12
Art of the Hobbitby J R R Tolkien
Harpercollins; Published: 2011-10-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $30.03
Comics (Learn to Draw)by John Byrne
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-03; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Printmaking: History and Processby Donald Saff, Deli Sacilotto
Wadsworth Publishing; Published: 1978-01-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $99.25
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
The Non-Designer's Presentation Bookby Robin Williams
Peachpit Press; Published: 2009-10-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.57
Price in other shops:
Adobe InDesign CS5 Classroom in a Bookby Adobe Creative Team
Adobe Press; Published: 2010-05-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.46
Price in other shops:
Adobe Photoshop CS5 Classroom in a Bookby Adobe Creative Team
Amphoto Books; Adobe Press; Published: 2010-06-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.98
Price in other shops:
Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation (9th Edition)by Tom L. McKnight, Darrel Hess
Prentice Hall; Published: 2007-03-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $58.95
Price in other shops:
Adobe Fireworks CS4 Classroom in a Bookby Adobe Creative Team
Adobe Press; Published: 2009-04-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.71
Price in other shops:
The Pc is Not a Typewriterby Robin Williams
Peachpit Press; Published: 1995-03-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.88
Price in other shops:
The Non-Designer's Type Book, 2nd Editionby Robin Williams
Peachpit Press; Published: 2005-10-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.00
Price in other shops:
Robin Williams Design Workshop, 2nd Editionby Robin Williams, John Tollett
Peachpit Press; Published: 2006-08-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.97
Price in other shops:
The Non-Designer's Web Book, 3rd Editionby Robin Williams, John Tollett
Peachpit Press; Published: 2005-09-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
Non-Designer's Design Book, The (3rd Edition)by Robin Williams
Peachpit Press; Published: 2008-02-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.49
Price in other shops: