The Fundamentals of Graphic Design

by Gavin Ambrose, Paul Harris

A thoughtful exploration of the role of graphic design today, The Fundamentals of Graphic Design offers a unique overview of a challenging and dynamic profession. From new media to marketing, from package design and print design to typography, opportunities in graphic design are everywhere. This book discusses both the familiar aspects of graphic-design jobs, such as art directing, copyright issues, and web design, and the broader implications of graphic design, including social responsibility, the art world, and the future. The Fundamentals of Graphic Design is an ideal guide to anyone starting out or seeking a place in the world of graphic design.

Genres: Design, Reference, Nonfiction, Art Design, Art

200 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sandro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chapters 1, 2 and 6 had some interesting know-how, but other than that, the book was kinda meh. It wasn't very informative due to it relaying information that is kind of common sense in a lot of ways. Example (I'll paraphrase): some design studios are big and take on a lot of jobs, others are small and take on fewer jobs. Yeah, no kidding...

Also, for a book called The Fundamentals of Graphic Design, I have to say that a lot of those fundamentals aren't really specific to graphic design at all, but are very multi-disciplinary, so in my opinion, those don't count as fundamentals for graphic design. I expected a bit more graphic design specific background knowledge and not watered-down, or generalised, tidbits that are usually common knowledge.

On a positive note: there were a lot of examples of graphic design, which I liked, and which could serve as a source of inspiration. It also helped to make the book less of a bore.

[Baraa · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب رائع جدًا وشيق ومليء بالتغذية البصرية وتحليلها انصح به كل مصمم مبتديء او محترف ترجمته رائعة والجهد المبذول عليه عظيم مليء بالمعلومات القيمة والنقاط الثانوية التي قد يهملها اي مصمم وتكون سبب في رجعيته عن الاحترافية مهتم بالتغذية البصرية كثيرًا وهذه خطوة رائعة لأن التصميم فن أمثر من كونه علم من سلبياته انه غير مريح للعين احيانًا

[HT · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review is based on my expectations of the book. That is to say, I expected a lot more practicals in the book, more applicable guidelines that can be instantly adopted to enhance one's own graphic design skills further, even for non-beginners.

But this book is not about practice. Its pure theory. It is extremely simple so that someone who has never paid attention to graphic design material could understand.
Thing is, I don't know if such person would exist; because anyone with any remote interest in graphic design would've first googled and learned some things before they spend any money on this book.

Or maybe there are people who are willing to accept the uncertainty around whether they'll find graphic design interesting, and would also like to start from absolute scratch.

[Eng.sultan · Rating 3 out of 5]

الكتاب جميل و فسحة خفيفة للمصممين الهواة و مفيد للمصمم المحترف للتعرف على مفردات التصميم الجرافيكي و أنواعه والأساسيات المؤثرة في هذا المجال بمراحله المختلفة حتى إخراجه وطباعته، محتويات الكتاب جيدة وغير مملة وقد تفيد الأكاديميين أكثر وبنفس الوقت تجذب القارئ الهاوي خاصة بطريقة العرض والطباعة الجميلة للكتاب.
فصول الكتاب الستة غطت: التصميم كتعريف، والمؤثرات والعناصر الخلاقة، ومراحل التصميم، وإيصال الرسالة، وإدارة العمل وأخيراً مراحل الإنتاج.
الفصل الثاني كان المفضل لي شخصياً. هل أضاف الكتاب الكثير لي شخصياً ؟ ربما كانت التوقعات أكبر ولكن ذلك لا يعني بأن الكتاب سيء، ومفيد للتغذية البصرية خاصة فيما يتعلق بالتصاميم المرافقة لكل فصل، بشكل عام هو جيد جداً للهواة كما قلت بدون التعمق في محتوى كل فصل من فصول الكتاب.
التقييم الشخصي : ٣.٥ من ٥ .

[Layan Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

بداية أساسية لكل شخص مبتدئ بالتصميم الجرافيكي
أو ينوي يدخل هذا المجال ...

أتمنى لو يوجد كتاب مثله عن التصميم الداخلي :)

[Amr]

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK

[Adnan Hafiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content is too basic. Below then my expectations.its just a overview of graphics design industry.

[Sebah Al-Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتاب ظريف يتحدث عن فن/مهنة/مجال التصميم، يستعرض الأساسات من عدة جوانب و مزود بالكثير من الأمثلة/الصور التي تشرح الأفكار التي يستعرضها.


----

تعلمت:

-> Graphic designs as a term was only introduced in the 1950s.

-> Tracking: horizontal type spacing. Leading: vertical type spacing. Glyph switching (flipping): is to make a typeface contain more than one version of characters to make the typing seem as if it wasn't produced using the computer.

----

اقتبست:

"Graphic design takes ideas, concepts, text and images and presents them in a visually engaging form through print, electronic or other media. It imposes an order and structure to the content in order to facilitate and ease the communication process, while optimising the likelihood that the message will be received and understood by the target audience."
(p. 10)

***

"Designers are modern storytellers who try to make sense of the world through the arrangement and presentation of text and images."
(p. 22)

***

"What: what are you trying to say?
Why: Why is your message unique?
Who: Who is the message for?
How: How are you going to do it?
Where: Where will the message appear?
When: When will it be delivered?"
(p. 22)

***

[Nura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baca punya adek, penasaran ama buku kuliahnya. ternyata isinya std. cuma contoh gambarnya emang bagus. seru pas baca adbusters, gimana desain grafis yang menjadi pendukung konsumerisme malah digunakan untuk melawan konsumerisme itu sendiri. Misalnya pada kasus ‘Buy Nothing Day’ yang mempertanyakan kenapa kita membeli barang, bukannya menyuruh orang berhenti mengonsumsi.

[Viviane K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very good book for those who are interested in Graphic Design but don't know much about it and may be considering going to a Design school. It offers a basic overview about the profession and covers all the relevant areas in graphic design such as layout, typography, identity, print processes etc.

[Goce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fundamentals... literally.

[Mills College Library]

741.6 A496 2009