Notes on Book Design

by Derek Birdsall

In a career spanning more than forty years, Derek Birdsall has achieved renown as a leading book designer in Britain. This practical and inspirational book distils a lifetime’s professional experience. It presents and discusses nearly fifty books he has designed, showing 360 spreads and covers, all in full color and to scale. The designs range from Penguin paperback covers in the 1960s to a recent complete redesign of The Church of England’s book of Common Worship. Among Birdsall’s projects are award-winning art catalogues, catalogues raisonné on such major artists as Mark Rothko and Georgia O’Keeffe, and books on wine, chess, astronomy, architecture, and fine paper. Birdsall discusses and illustrates the process of book design, from brief to deadline (which he calls the designer’s muse). He includes specimen settings of his favorite text faces as well as an innovative metric grid system for designing books. In addition, he lists books he himself has found useful or inspiring. For every reader curious about the design or production of books, this is a uniquely informative and instructive book.

Genres: Design, Art, Art Design, Nonfiction

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Leonard Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birdsall's book was my bible when I worked in publishing, and I highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in the history, theory, practice, and art of book design. It's playful but not light, with some outstanding and insightful observations, tons of background, and, of course, gorgeous design, with plenty of examples of what works and what doesn't. It's not exactly for a general audience (though it isn't academic or abstruse either), but I think anyone with a design, publishing or similar background would get a lot out of it.

[Muhammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's what the title says. Learn by example from a true master. For those times that you just want to see good book design this book is it.