Graphic Design for Nondesigners: Essential Knowledge, Tips, and Tricks, Plus 20 Step-by-Step Projects for the Design Novice

by Tony Seddon, Jane Waterhouse, Rick Landers (Illustrator)

Not a graphic designer? Not a problem! Whether the project's a birthday card, a poster, or a flier, Graphic Design for Nondesigners is here to help. Twenty step-by-step projects for designing everything from Web sites to business cards to T-shirts are accompanied by a clear and concise initiation into the basic principles of graphic design€”including the effective use of space, color, and type€”presented in a way that's easy for anyone to start applying right away. Armed with this essential primer, nondesigners will have everything they need to go forth and create effective design with polish, panache, and grace.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of this year’s Library challenges was to read a how-to guide about something you’ve always wanted to do. Well, I found this book in (where else?) a Little Free Library, sort of a DIY regarding graphic design for the novice, about which I’ve always had at least a marginal interest. I found this manual quite educational and much more complex than I had thought, not only regarding layout and pictures/drawings/photos, etc., but also choice of font and sizes thereof. The book starts off with descriptions of various digital cameras (well, after all, the book was published in 2009, before the ubiquitous high-resolution of the common smart phone had been perfected, so is somewhat dated), printers, paper computers and sources of graphics (many of them free). It goes on to describe in a good deal of detail the above-mentioned hints, strategies and tricks of presenting an appealing page, poster, program, or menu in a good deal of detail. This was a fascinating voyage into an area I had hitherto known very little about. Really, the only criticism I have is a big one, namely that after describing fonts that should be appealing to the reader, the font for the text itself is “8 point Myriad pro light.” For my 80 year old eyes, this is d*** near impossible to read, and more than once I felt the urge to put the book under a microscope. I guess that the book is aimed at a much younger audience. Still, worth the effort. Four stars.

[ladydusk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very little of this was new information or things I hadn't picked up over the years. It isn't the book that was recommended to me (The Non-Designer's Design Book). What was helpful is pulling things together into one place. What wasn't was ... I didn't really love the design of the book itself, which is not a good way to imbue confidence.

There is a good glossary, section of sample projects and how to think through them, and some general background information, so it might continue to live on my shelf for reference.

[Celia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read through page 125 and honestly, this book is kind of awful. I don't mind if a design book is dated as far as technology is concerned. As long as the bones and principles are sound, a book on design can remain relevant and useful. While this entry-level guide hits all the usual points, such as color, composition, and typography, there are far better books out there for the budding designer.

I particularly recommend Before and After: How to Design Cool Stuff by John McWade and Layout for Graphic Designers: An Introduction by Gavin Ambrose. You may also like to take a look at the other books on my design shelf.

Two design books that I haven't gotten a chance to consume, but that look equally fabulous, are Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton and Layout Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Using Grids by Beth Tondreau.

What design books would you recommend for the new or self-taught designer?

[Jennifer Saylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and learned a few new tricks that will help me when putting together presentations and other printed materials in the future. The projects at the end of the book were another plus and I have enjoyed trying some of them out!

[Rachel Smalter Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been looking for some practical graphic design tips for doing my own design work on the cheap, and thought this was bound to be the perfect little volume! Verdict? Just OK. The concepts were more abstract than practical, and Seddon veers towards saying that "there aren't really any rules, so just do what looks good." I got an earful about watching out for so-called "trapped white space," but didn't learn anything new about alignment, color, or any concrete aesthetic principles.

My hunch is that graphic design has got to be like any other creative pursuit: you have to learn the rules first, and then you learn how to break them. So, I guess I was just a little disappointed that Seddon didn't give me more rules to break.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well laid out book on graphic design. I liked that they presented 20 everyday projects at the end of the book. Very accessible and easy to understand. I think we should get it for our library.

[Allison Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, basic introduction to design. I enjoyed examining the numerous example projects in the last chapter for inspiration.

[Nurshafiqa · Rating 3 out of 5]

practical, actually quite helpful.