Editorial Review

A remarkable range of examples for the idea of visual thinking, with beautifully printed pages. A real treat for all who reason andlearn by means of images. -- Rudolf Arnheim ... Read more

Reviews (38)

An outstanding addition to my library
An outstanding addition to my library, Edward systematically explores the presentation of data showing the value of data rich content when it is properly displayed.After reading half the book, I couldn't sit through a presentation without coming up with at least 3 ways to improve it.The illustrations in the book are beautifully rendered and cover a diverse set of subject matter each as interesting as the next.The only topic concerning this book that I struggled with is whether or not to mark it up.In the end, as I do with all of my books I intend to refer back to, I did.

So you thought you knew how to envision information...
I recieved this book along with the most excellent (almost a companion book) Visual Display of Quantitative Information, from my CEO. Since I work a lot with numbers and he had been stressing the importance of presenting data clearly and concisely.
Fleshes out and expands the work Tufte has done on presenting information
"Envisioning Information" by Edward Tufte further fleshes out and expands the work he has done on presenting information.This volume is best suited for designers of complex information such as maps or schedules. As with his other books, it is richly illustrated with many colorful examples of well and poorly designed information displays.
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Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Business Communication - General    3. Communication    4. Communication In Groups    5. Computer Graphics - General    6. Design - General    7. Graphic Arts - General    8. Graphic Design    9. Language    10. Language Arts & Disciplines    11. Statistics    12. Visual communication    13. Computer graphics software    14. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    15. Mathematics   

Reviews (40)

True inspiration, great tool!
this book is really a manual for me, i keep it with me at all times and just look at it sometimes, the colors provide inspiration, the combinations take me to other places, the make me think, they are a true inspiration and a great tool to find solutions when you're stock, take it from a Graphic design student, you'll love to have this book. For color theory not so good you might want to get something that covers color theory in detail, this is just an index as said on the tittle. but even if you know nothing about color at all, you will still find it amazingly useful!

Thank goodness for books like this!
I love the resource this book provides in the creative and graphic aspect of my work.Designers of all media should have this book handy. I don't let it go too far,CAUTION: YOUR FRIENDS WILL STEAL THIS BOOK.
If you're a graphic designer buy this book
I just got my first graphic design job three months ago and once I got this book both my employer and I noticed a huge difference in my work.The most helpful thing about this book is the color coding for HTML, RGB and CYMK but aside from the codes the color combinations are very helpful, especially for a beginning graphic designer.Well worth the cover price, and the turtleback cover will ensure the binding's integrity after much usage and for many years to come. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Color computer graphics    4. Color in art    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Graphic Arts - Use of Color    7. Graphic arts    8. Handbooks, manuals, etc    9. National characteristics in ar    10. National characteristics in art   

Reviews (32)

Informative and Precise-But are the fees to EXPENSIVE?
I have read most of the reviews for this book and most everyone seems unanimous that the fees suggested are "high" and don't work with an unsophisticated client.
Almost perfect
This book is very informative and deals with just about every possible aspect of the business of being a working graphic desinger. It's almost perfect simply because every graphic designer or illustrator is going to work differently with a cornucopia of clients. It's simply impossible to account for every situation, especially in the case of smaller businesses. The recommended prices in this book are astronomical in comparision to the budgets that I'm used to dealing with. In a small city like mine, (pop. 100k) a lot of businesses are run by people that have little to no education or running a business, much less knowledge of the importance of graphic design. I find that I have to go way under what is usually recommended for certain projects.
Excellent resource
As a freelance photographer, artist, and designer, I found this an excellent resource for helping me establish fees and price my work fairly. It should be on the shelf of every graphic artist. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Graphic Arts - General   

Reviews (17)

Excellent primer for the novice and self-trained
I recently finished reading - and taking copious notes - from The Elements of Graphic Design. As an individual taking himself through the process of learning graphic design without having to go to school, this book is invaluable. White makes the concepts crystal clear and simple prose imbued with his own take on doing design correctly plus doing it well. I've always had a good eye for composition but White's work has helped me see the underlying methods for making my designs better. I'm now building a presentation from his work to share with our marketing team to build a consistent look for our work. His book is a superb work for anyone needing to get a quick grip on design fundamentals, too. Just put them to use! There's no magic here, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do design. White will show you the way.

The Elements of Graphic Design
The Elements of Graphic Design
well organized for reference
I used the book as reference for teaching design for HS publications. The visual & theoretical information worked well to show how to organize information and why. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Graphic Arts - General    5. Graphic design (Typography)    6. Layout (Printing)    7. Type and type-founding    8. Typography    9. Art techniques & principles    10. Graphic design   

Reviews (11)

not beautiful, but certainly effective and fun
This book is set up much like a textbook and would work well for an independent study in design. It has clearly organized chapters with projects at the end of each; the projects work on a theoretical and practical basis, and allow the student to employ a hands-on approach. It is fun, engaging, easy to follow, and manages to be technical without feeling pompous. It takes the designer from inspiration and mood boards to the final designs and a cohesive line. It breaks down the process into smaller tasks in the most fun way I have yet seen.
Too basic
I was looking for a more detail book and I found this one too basic.

made the right decision
i have been going to community college for a while now and i have always wanted to be creative so i decided to go to Institute of Design and Technology for fashion design i start 06/10/2006 and bought this book to inspire me. Well in reading this book i know that i have made the right decision for myself. And actually cant wait to start even though i was a little intimated at first due to no experience reading this book has opened up many possiblties. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Fashion Design    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion    6. Fashion drawing    7. Study & Teaching    8. Techniques - Drawing - Specific Subjects    9. Art / Fashion   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (3)

Another "make-a-buck" issue...
I too was disappointed in this issue of Visionaire like many others. It seems Visionaire has had an "up and down" quality issue as of late. Some issues are as elaborate as can be, others are like this issue, a cheaply bound paperback magazine in a cheap plastic sleeve. Classy-But Not What I Expected!
I was really excited about getting this new book by Mario Testino, one of my favorite photographers, but was truly disappointed when it arrived.Yes, it's a very classy publication, and comes in a unique & different pink slipcover,but not being familiar with Visionaire's previous publications, I expected a paperback book of high quality, however, what I got was a magazine.Yes, it is numbered in a limited edition of 6000 but it's not even signed by the photographer. Visionaire has lost its magic
I have been a fan of Visionaire since issue 23 directed by Karl Lagerfeld and at that time the issues were fabulous and worth the price. Well that time has gone and now it is really not worth it anymore. This issue comes in a plastic sleeve and is a simple paper book. There's really nothing special about this item. When i heard that Mario Testino was the force behind this issue i thought it would be like his first issue, no. 22 chic. Well it is quite the opposite! Don't buy this item at bookstores but try to get it for less at auction sites. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photoessays & Documentaries    4. Photography    5. Subjects & Themes - Fashion    6. Fashion design    7. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (6)

The recipient loved it
I bought this as a gift for a friend who helped a great deal with my wedding, advising me of dress styles, hair styles, fashion from this era, dances, music, food, and everything in between, as well as arranging all the flowers for the wedding!She was a godsend!When I gave her the book, her jaw dropped and she was so excited to get it... she said she had been wanting it forever.As I consider her quite knowledgeable about the subject matter of this book, and as it came highly recommended by her, I would say that it's a great book to have if this is something you are interested in as a serious hobby or more.

The best place to start for Elizabethan Costuming
This is one of the best books ever written on the subject of Elizabethan Costuming.It mainly contains all of the details of Queen Elizabeth I wardrobe but it has unique points in the society that surrounded the dresses.This book helps to explain the Gloriana image that became so popular and it helps us to understand all the little details that went into the dress of the period.Detailing costumes using portraits and explaining how the fashion progressed makes this book a must for anyone interested in Renaissance Faires and the nobility.The only drawback is that very very few of the portraits and pictures are in color.I think a total of about 7 are in color the rest is in black and white. The only way to make this book more appealing and usable would be to put all of the portraits and pictures in color, but that would make the book even more expensive.After this must have book the 2nd on the shelf should be a J. Hunniset book (the lady who did all the costuming for Elizabeth R and The Six Wives of Henry the VIII produced by BBC).Next, any Janet Arnold book.Last, would be the Norris book:Tudor Costuming and Fashion (although most of this book is very outdated it is nice to look at).All of these are must haves and will make a well rounded library.Dispite the high price of the book it is worth posessing.Enjoy.

Such An Amazing Resource!
For the historical costumer focused on 16th century clothing, this is the "bible" hands down.Big, expensive, and filled with the usual detail that is the hallmark of Janet Arnold, this is one very worthwhile investment for the serious costumer. This book has one tiny drawback, in that it focuses entirely on women's fashion in the 16th century as viewed through the wardrobe accounts of Queen Elizabeth I and some of her contemporaries.Therefore, it has nothing to say on the topic of men's clothing, which is an unfortunately neglected aspect of 16th century research.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1533-1603    2. 16th century    3. Clothing    4. Costume    5. Crafts & Hobbies    6. Design - Textile & Costume    7. Elizabeth    8. Europe - Great Britain - General    9. Great Britain    10. History    11. Hobbies/Crafts    12. Performing Arts    13. Queen of England,    14. Reference    15. Sewing    16. Sources    17. Theater - Stagecraft    18. British & Irish history: c 1500 to c 1700    19. Fashion design    20. Social history    21. United Kingdom, Great Britain    22. c 1600 to c 1700   

Reviews (4)

Gotta Get It
For anyone who loves to collect, this book is a must-have. Not that you'll need the tips that the author includes for the novice, but this gem of a book is a collectible in its own right, presented in a hard plastic sleeve. Filled with whimsical photos of dozens of designs by today's most noted designers and architects, "Antiques of the Future" is irresistible and informative. As a student of contemporary material culture and the things that surround us, I got a huge kick viewing some of the best design of our time in this format. Makes a great gift for the person who has almost everything.

Love it
This book was a great addition to my library. I was surprised to see some of the objects that I own and love might be worth something someday, and to find out why. I have a few other "conversation piece" books on products, but most of them only talk about one type of design (like chairs) or are organized historically. I like that this book has a great variety of objects. The only bad thing is that now I want to own everything in the book!

Antiques of the Future
As a collector, I find this book timely and interesting.It's good to know what I should be collecting now for future value. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques / Collectibles    3. Antiques/Collectibles    4. Collecting    5. Popular Culture    6. Popular Culture - General    7. Reference - General    8. Antiques & Collectables    9. Antiques & Collectibles / General    10. Collectibles; pop culture   

Reviews (5)

Thorough Guide to Fashion Drawing
This book is a thorough guide for learning the art of fashion design illustration. The book features a plethora of examples to teach how to draw faces and poses in correct proportion, as seen in professional fashion illustrations. The examples in the book are large, facilitating the use of tracings prior to free-hand drawing. Anyone who wants to learn fashion design, especially teenagers interested in the field, will find this book an invaluable asset.

cool
i thought this book was great and easy to read you learn alot from just copying and praticing your drawing technigues, its amazing and loved the art.its a must buy for a fashion student or for some interstead in fashion illustration.

Better than expected!
I ordered this book as a hobby figuring that the 200+ pages must have some decent methods to improve my drawing skills. I have been looking for a fashion design instruction book for a long time now.This is certainly an elusive topic to find information on -- even on the web I couldn't find any website that offered any helpful instructions.I have never been able to find anything suitable, especially since I didn't want to invest a lot.This book was a good price that I didn't think would be too much of a loss if I didn't find it useful.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Art Forms, Treatments & Subjects    4. Design - Textile & Costume    5. Fashion    6. Industrial / Commercial Art & Design    7. Techniques - Drawing - Specific Subjects    8. Techniques - General   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Advertising    4. Commercial Art    5. Design - General    6. Graphic Design    7. Art / Commercial / Advertising   

Reviews (47)

Great starting point
This book is a great place to start when you've jumped into a project and have no idea of what direction you're going to go with color.
My Best Friend
Any new project I have, this is the first book to come out. It's great for everything from inspiration to seeing colors put together to working with clients!
Outstanding Color Resource
The Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color presents a foundation of basic color theory and then moves on to explain how individual colors, and their combinations, can evoke different responeses from the viewer.There are many photos to serve as examples so that you see the effects for yourself.The book does an excellent job of giving enough information to be useful without bogging the reader down with a lot of dry academic theory that would be of little practical use.In addition, there are Pantone color codes given for all of the specific color combinations shown for ease of use if you will be using professional printing services.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Color Theory    4. Design - Book    5. Graphic Arts - Use of Color    6. Graphic design    7. Theory of art   

Reviews (4)

The definitive reference for scientific illustration
Since its first edition this book has been by far the best single resource available for anyone with a serious interest in scientific, medical, biological, nature, botanical, or wildlife illustration. There is no greater guide to Scientific Illustration . . .
ELaine Hodges'"The Guild Handbook to Scientific Illustration" is truly a landmark as a referenceand the finest on my shelf-- and I cannot count the times I've sought it since 1989 out either to clarify a client's request or as a refresher for some obscure technique(carbon dust, for example). . . The book is the final word in scientific illustration
Over and over in my work I found myself referring back to this encyclopedic manual.A must for all those in the field of scientific illustration, and a huge help for graphic artists and illustrators ingeneral. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Commercial - Illustration - Science    4. General    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Natural history illustration    7. Research & Methodology    8. Scientific Illustration    9. Art / Graphic Arts    10. Biology, Life Sciences    11. Illustration   

Reviews (8)

A book of great inspirations
Yes, we can all use some inspiration and this one hits the spot. With this many examples, there is at least one that will inspire you. I agree with many of the previous comments about the book. I'd only like to add that what I take from this book is that keeping it simple still works best. Many great ideas are suprisingly often formed and created by using few words, pictures and colors. I especially love the birth announcement by Vinas Design (0425) on page 122 and Rick Rawlings printed feather on page 128. Love the FedEX envelope wedding invitation on page 216 and there are many more that make me smile and keep me inspired.A truly great book, weather you keep it on the coffee table, as a reference close by or as part of your library.

Something for everyone
It is a big book with a great collection of designs.It will definitely inspire you to find new way of expressing yourself as a designer.There is truly something for everyone.There is a big emphasis on Christmas and rightly so, since this is the most popular occasion for sending greeting cards.

How good design can be when the designer is the boss
Many of the examples in this extensive book were created for the designer's personal use, not for a client. When a designer must answer to no one, incredible creativity is often the happy result. No committees to ruin the mood, no visual illiterates to kill the design before it gets into the light of the outside world.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Catalogs    4. Design    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Greeting cards    7. Graphic design    8. Illustration & commercial art   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Commercial - Fashion Design    5. Fashion    6. Fashion design    7. Gucci (Firm)    8. History    9. Italy    10. Photography Of Specific Subjects    11. Subjects & Themes - Fashion    12. Art / Fashion   

Reviews (4)

thoroughly covered material
I used this textbook in a college course called Survey of the Fashion Industry. The text covers all aspects of merchandising, with a strong focus on fashion design (entire chapters on textiles, etc). Good photos and lots of material!

Fashion : From Concept to Consumer (8th Edition) by Gini Stephens Frings [Hardcover]
Quality book. Received in a timely manner.

The best
Plain and simple this is the best fashion book to study! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Clothing trade    4. Decorating - General    5. Design - General    6. Development - Business Development    7. Fashion    8. Fashion merchandising    9. Technical & Manufacturing Trades    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Art / Design / General    12. Clothing & footware manufacture   

Reviews (10)

Best grid book in the known universe
This book unleashes the every aspects of grid use in universal graphic design. I'm very satisfied the detailed text. Recommend to every student or professionals. Thank you Timothy. I'm looking for more great books from you.

Good overview of grid systems and their uses
This book is pretty sweet. Samara gives an overview of grid systems, how they are constructed and when they are used. Also, there is a large selection of example works, with cross-references within the book to other similar works.
Maybe post-Lasik...
I can't vouch for the content; it seems sound. I'm just trying to read the friggin' thing, which is quite a challenge because the body text is light grey and <9 point, in small columns. It's all very lovely from 2 feet away; the headings really stand out. The composition is subdued and attractive. You could frame some of the spreads if you wanted to. But to actually read it, well, pity those without 20-20, like myself. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Design - General    4. General    5. Graphic Arts - General    6. Graphic design   

Reviews (15)

book review
This is an outstanding introduction to drawing with exercises along with the text.It is like a course with the lab included.Starts with the basics.If you actually do the exercises, it's a lot of work but well worth it.By beginning one's drawing with this book, one can easily understand any others on the subject.It's a perfect - Drawing 101 - course.
Very helpful book for serious beginners
The book provides excellent instructions to master the foundation for good drawing. I have a very competent and professionally successful instructor. He has pointed out to me the areas that I need to improve. The book has become my 'in-home instructor' now. I needed to work on my perspective(mostly for objects above eye level), tonal values (light and shadow, reflections within and transitions) and translating the local color to black and white(the author has done a great job explaining this). After completing just one exercise, I could see significant improvement in my drawing. I highly recommend the book.

Wonderful book for both beginner & expert
I'm an instructor for digital art online and find this book to be a MUST for ANY artist.It has lots of illustrations and simple, well-written explanations!I would recommend it to any of my students who want to know theory and application, from perspective to tones and shading.Everything is in black and white, so you can really see the tonal changes in the renderings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Drawing    4. Study & Teaching    5. Study and teaching    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Techniques - General    8. Art techniques & materials    9. Drawing & drawings   

Reviews (6)

AN EYE OPENER

THOMAS PROVES WHY HE IS THE CONAN EXPERT
On the back dust jacket, former Editor-in-Chief Tom DeFalco refers to Roy Thomas as the world renowned expert on Conan the Barbarian and it's hard to argue that claim.Outside of Robert E. Howard himself, no one knows Conan like Roy Thomas...and Roy wrote about him for far longer than Howard to boot!I still remember the first Conan comic I ever read.It was issue #42 in 1974 and the cover showed Conan battling a gargoyle in mid air.I quickly became a huge Conan fan.And now DK books have released this absolutely gorgeous over-sized hardcover book, "Conan-The Ultimate Guide to the World's Most Savage Barbarian" written by Roy Thomas.
A letter to Roy Thomas..
First off, EXCELLENT book. Now I think it's time you picked up where Robert E. Howard started, L. Sprague DeCamp and Lin Carter continued, and now YOU MUST FINISH. ONE MORE STORY, is all I (And maybe a million more fans) ask. It's time to take off from where" 'Conan Of The Isles' left off. You ARE the ONLY AUTHORITY LEFT ALIVE. Please consider this, as I have been reading Conan since I was 13.(Now 35) Thanks!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cartoons and comics    2. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    3. Comics & Graphic Novels    4. Conan (Fictitious character)    5. Fantasy Illustration    6. Fine Arts    7. History & Criticism    8. History: World    9. Juvenile literature    10. Literature - Classics / Criticism    11. Movie Tie - In    12. Techniques - Cartooning    13. Performing Arts / Film / Guides & Reviews   

Reviews (20)

New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook
Excellent.It really helped doing it step-by-step.Amazing results!

Too advanced for beginners
This book is way too hard for a beginner. After I read it, I set it aside and got the book So You Thought You Couldn't Draw by Sandra Angelo. That is truly a workbook for rank beginners. She starts you out with copying the masters, then photos and then from life. Edwards starts you off working from life which is too hard for a novice.
Worth Every Penny
This workbook comprehensively develops the skills that natural-artists take for granted. I am currently working my way through it for a college design class and I saw improvements in my drawing with the first 6 exercises (out of 40). The workbook hones skills that many artists have difficulty explaining to beginning artists. The accompaning text book is not necessary, but is an interesting read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Drawing    4. Individual Artist    5. Technique    6. Techniques - Drawing    7. Techniques - General    8. Art / Drawing   

Reviews (4)

SIMPLY THE BEST COMPILATION OF ILLUSTRATIONS EVER !
Amazing pics, great essays a lot of reference! one of the you must see of this year!

Successful illustration works.
This is a awesome collection of the new illustration style that the world is consuming today.
Really great examples of Illustration
I am a motion graphic designer, and used this book to give me inspiration... It has fantastic examples of the best in contemporary illustration artwork. A lot of my job is just keeping up with what is going on in the creative world. And this book definitely gives me a glimpse. There is a wide range of styles, concepts, and media. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Design - General    4. Techniques - General    5. Illustration