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Never Use More Than Two Different Typefaces: And 50 Other Ridiculous Typography Rules
Never Use More than Two Different Typefaces presents a humorous overview of the rules governing typography. A joy for graphic designers and everyone who has anything to do with designing texts. Like no other, this is a world that is held together by rules, which designers, of course, often take great delight in breaking. In this series, "ridiculous" is a relative term, because what is nonsense for one can be an important guideline for another. In these books, it is not about laying down the law. For each of the fifty rules covered in each book, Anneloes Van Gaalen refers to quotes by famous fellow designers who either think there is something to the rule or have made a personal variation of it. Whether you agree with them or not, the Ridiculous Design Rules books sharpen your own thoughts about the assumed truths of design, advertising, fashion, photography, and the Internet. Each rule is convincingly illustrated, with the illustrations either confirming or disproving the rule in question.
- GenresDesign
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 9, 2012
This is unquestionably the worst book about design I have ever seen. It was lazily researched, sloppy in design, poorly written, and somehow tedious despite being so short.
Let's further critique this miserable book, shall we?
The book declares itself to be about "ridiculous" typography rules, yet the author never defies or argues against a single one of the rules presented. The author is Dutch, so perhaps there was a misunderstanding of what the word "ridiculous" means.
It also contains "rules" that are not rules at all. My favorite example — 06. Type design is a discipline — explains notion that people design typefaces professionally, which is both true and completely uncontroversial.
Most of the content within Never Use More Than Two Typefaces comes in the form of quotes from other designers, each pulled from no more than 5 or 10 other (far superior) books about typography. Several dozen of the quotes are directly pulled from the Helvetica documentary by Gary Hustwit without any credit to movie whatsoever. I found this to be lazy and dishonest, making it appear as if the author did extensive research, but in reality she just watched a movie and wrote down things people said in it.
The design of the book was so flawed that I literally thought it was trying to show bad examples as an illustration of some of the rules. For example, in the page immediately after explaining why baseline grids are so important, there is the book's only case where the baseline grid is seemingly accidentally broken because of a leading snafu. Another "ridiculous rule" is about never allowing widows and orphans in your paragraphs, despite the book being riddled with countless widows and orphans.
It is mind-boggling to me that this steaming sack of garbage ever got published.
Let's further critique this miserable book, shall we?
The book declares itself to be about "ridiculous" typography rules, yet the author never defies or argues against a single one of the rules presented. The author is Dutch, so perhaps there was a misunderstanding of what the word "ridiculous" means.
It also contains "rules" that are not rules at all. My favorite example — 06. Type design is a discipline — explains notion that people design typefaces professionally, which is both true and completely uncontroversial.
Most of the content within Never Use More Than Two Typefaces comes in the form of quotes from other designers, each pulled from no more than 5 or 10 other (far superior) books about typography. Several dozen of the quotes are directly pulled from the Helvetica documentary by Gary Hustwit without any credit to movie whatsoever. I found this to be lazy and dishonest, making it appear as if the author did extensive research, but in reality she just watched a movie and wrote down things people said in it.
The design of the book was so flawed that I literally thought it was trying to show bad examples as an illustration of some of the rules. For example, in the page immediately after explaining why baseline grids are so important, there is the book's only case where the baseline grid is seemingly accidentally broken because of a leading snafu. Another "ridiculous rule" is about never allowing widows and orphans in your paragraphs, despite the book being riddled with countless widows and orphans.
It is mind-boggling to me that this steaming sack of garbage ever got published.
August 30, 2019
A good small ‘reminder’ guide book for lazy self-learn graphic designer.
Eventhough this book so simple, still it enough to intrigue a designer to learn more and search more.
Why?
They just give you keyword and than makes you wonder.
Dont use this book for ultimate guide, use it as reminder for your design routine.
Eventhough this book so simple, still it enough to intrigue a designer to learn more and search more.
Why?
They just give you keyword and than makes you wonder.
Dont use this book for ultimate guide, use it as reminder for your design routine.
June 4, 2020
It's ok to read and get a general sense of some typographic "rules" that we have all present (either by default or practice) in the design world.
Do't be fooled, this will not make you an expert typographer. It will not tell you anything you don't know already. It will not tell you any "secret rules" to excel in typography. And will not be the kind of book I would recommend if you know nothing of typography or design, as you will not get either the messages, internal jokes or point of each of the rules.
It is just a light reading. An experimental collection with an interesting format. Nice to take references of some type families you might not know. Some designers and typographers you might not heard of. And to get some smiles with some of the images they use to express these "rules". Nothing more trascendental than that.
Do't be fooled, this will not make you an expert typographer. It will not tell you anything you don't know already. It will not tell you any "secret rules" to excel in typography. And will not be the kind of book I would recommend if you know nothing of typography or design, as you will not get either the messages, internal jokes or point of each of the rules.
It is just a light reading. An experimental collection with an interesting format. Nice to take references of some type families you might not know. Some designers and typographers you might not heard of. And to get some smiles with some of the images they use to express these "rules". Nothing more trascendental than that.
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December 28, 2012“Opinions are like a$$holes, everybody's got one.”
Having said that, we love the positive reviews we’ve received from both critics and members of the press. Which is why we ditch the rules of etiquette and blow our own horn by sharing some of the reviews with you…
"Great holiday gift for an overly serious type fanatic.”
- Curated Magazine
"The book forms a handy designer’s go-to for the rules of typography and other more general pearls of wisdom. Andit certainly seems as though the book practices what it preaches: each page is beautifully set out and thoughtfully illustrated, set off with quotes from graphic designers and type folk from the around the globe over the last hundred years"
- designweek.co.uk
“In these pleasing and educational books,it is not about laying down the law. In each book, Van Gaalen refers to quotesby famous fellow designers, who either think there is something to the rule or have made a personal variation of it. Whether you agree with them or not, the Ridiculous Design books sharpen your own thoughts about the rules and the assumed truths of design, advertising, fashion, photography and the Internet.”
- swisslegacy.com
Having said that, we love the positive reviews we’ve received from both critics and members of the press. Which is why we ditch the rules of etiquette and blow our own horn by sharing some of the reviews with you…
"Great holiday gift for an overly serious type fanatic.”
- Curated Magazine
"The book forms a handy designer’s go-to for the rules of typography and other more general pearls of wisdom. Andit certainly seems as though the book practices what it preaches: each page is beautifully set out and thoughtfully illustrated, set off with quotes from graphic designers and type folk from the around the globe over the last hundred years"
- designweek.co.uk
“In these pleasing and educational books,it is not about laying down the law. In each book, Van Gaalen refers to quotesby famous fellow designers, who either think there is something to the rule or have made a personal variation of it. Whether you agree with them or not, the Ridiculous Design books sharpen your own thoughts about the rules and the assumed truths of design, advertising, fashion, photography and the Internet.”
- swisslegacy.com
April 27, 2012
- It's very short.
- There are a bunch of photos and quotes by various luminaries within the graphic design field that go along with each rule.
- There are some interesting rules, but if you have more than 2 years of design education, you probably know most if not all of them.
- Still, I really enjoyed most of the quotes and thought they went well with elaborating a little on the rules. Some certainly made you think a little.
- There are 51 rules mentioned ... and you can probably guess what #51 is.
- This is definitely a borrow-it, read once book and maybe write down some of the quotes you like type of thing.
- There are a bunch of photos and quotes by various luminaries within the graphic design field that go along with each rule.
- There are some interesting rules, but if you have more than 2 years of design education, you probably know most if not all of them.
- Still, I really enjoyed most of the quotes and thought they went well with elaborating a little on the rules. Some certainly made you think a little.
- There are 51 rules mentioned ... and you can probably guess what #51 is.
- This is definitely a borrow-it, read once book and maybe write down some of the quotes you like type of thing.
December 28, 2012
Got this as a Secret Santa gift from a colleague and totally enjoyed
it. The rules are pretty familiar but the art work is really nice and
I love the quotes.
I think I'll go for "never leave the house naked" next. Title cracks me up!
it. The rules are pretty familiar but the art work is really nice and
I love the quotes.
I think I'll go for "never leave the house naked" next. Title cracks me up!
June 12, 2016
As a designer reading this, I do not agree with some of the rules.
For example "Never use white type on a black background."
I would agree with that IF it finished off with when using thin and small size type.
Some of the rules were great while others had some exceptions.
For example "Never use white type on a black background."
I would agree with that IF it finished off with when using thin and small size type.
Some of the rules were great while others had some exceptions.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews