Graphic Translation, A graphic design project guide

by Kimberly Elam

The process of graphic translation produces drawings of instant recognition and startling visual interest. Graphic translation is as much art as it is design, and focuses on the creation of an image with the visual means of abstraction, reduction, and interpretation with point, line, plane, shade, and shadow. Over 300 examples portray a multitude of individual approaches to the drawing system and give the designer, educator, and student insight into understanding and learning this beautiful method of graphic drawing.

Genres: Design

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Kimberly Elam is a writer, educator and graphic designer. She currently chairs the Graphic + Interactive Communication Department at the Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL, where she has developed an academic minor in the Business of Art and Design. Her previous design education positions include the Kansas City Art Institute, North Carolina State University and The Ohio State University—where she received a Distinguished Teaching Award.

She has written extensively about graphic design and design education. Her first book, Expressive Typography, Word as Image (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1990) identifies and analyzes methods by which words can transcend didactic meaning and become images. Geometry of Design, Studies in Proportion and Composition (Princeton Architectural Press, 2001) visually illustrates the connection between classic proportioning systems and modern graphic design, industrial design, illustration and architecture. Grid Systems, Principles of Organizing Type, (Princeton Architectural Press, 2004) puts forth a clear methodology for understanding and learning the grid system of composition. Graphic Translation, A Graphic Design Project Guide, (BookSurge.com) focuses on the creation of images with the visual means of abstraction, reduction and interpretation with point, line, plane, shade and shadow. Her most recent book, Typographic Systems, Rules for Organizing Type (Princeton Architectural Press, 2007), presents an innovative series of nontraditional, rule-based, visual language systems for typographic composition. Her current work focuses on the development of a series of innovative ebooks and print-on-demand books for design education on her website, www.StudioResourceInc.com.

Reviews

[Odette Cortés · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very didactic book. It will guide you through the creation of a design project focused on animals through the use of positive and negative space. If this interests you you should also checkout Elam's other book Line Icons.