Information Design14 reviews The MIT Press, 1999 Illustrates Why Info Design Is More Than Just Flowcharts + Heavy reading + into the minds of others I am a professional Information Architect; However, I picked up the book without any preconcieved notions or superficial expectations. I found especially illuminating (and actually empathisized with) the comparisons between IAs conceptualizing Information Design and Traditional Architects ...             A Short History of the Printed Word5 reviews Warren Chappell, Robert Bringhurst Hartley and Marks Publishers, 2000 Chappell's "Short History" is Lively and Thorough + Best intro to the history of printing + Check out updated version by R. Bringhurst + a must read + What Historians Don't Know             Grid Systems: Principles of Organizing Type (Design Briefs)18 reviews Kimberly Elam Princeton Architectural Press, 2004 Good Introduction For Using Grid Systems + Great for Computer Geeks Too! I really enjoyed this book. It provides a nice, historically aware introduction to design by grid systems. The book is ideal for those interested in print design, but it is also helpful for web designers as well. Mainly exercises, it will return what you put into it. The book is more of a hands on ...             The Elements of Typographic Style87 reviews Robert Bringhurst Hartley and Marks Publishers, 2004 Excellent book + For Serious Typography Info + you've to learn your type rules somewhere + Best book on Type ever!             Grid Systems in Graphic Design/Raster Systeme Fur Die Visuele Gestaltung13 reviews Josef Muller-Brockmann Arthur Niggli, 2001 Excellent detailed book. Absolutely satisfied. + Great / Solid Book + Excellent source! + learn from the master + good book but             Graphic Design: A Concise History, Second Edition (World of Art)6 reviews Richard Hollis Thames & Hudson, 2002 follow the arrow + Comprehensive book + A must read... insightful, full of samples (about 800 though largely black & white) a great guide to graphic styles, and the key movers & shakers in the history of graphic design right through from the 1890s to the 1990s. a huge resource for such a little book, definately worth reading if not just to look at ...             On Book Design5 reviews Richard Hendel Yale University Press, 1998 A new classic -- a great find. + The best book on book design! + How designers work + Excellent + Book Designers on Book Design             Arabic Typography1 review Huda Smitshuijzen Abifares Saqi Books, 2000 An excellent first on the subject Not only does this book provide an excellent overview of the history of Arabic script and printing, but it also lays out a vision and guidelines for the development of contemporary Arabic fonts. The book also focuses on the history and state of Arabic printing (as opposed to Arabic calligraphy), ...             Designing Visual Interfaces: Communication Oriented Techniques26 reviews Kevin Mullet, Darrell Sano Prentice Hall PTR, 1994 A Great Book This book does a great job of covering fundamentals. Many real world examples make it a great reference.             The Elements of Color11 reviews Johannes Itten Wiley, 1970 so you decided to learn the truth about colors... + essential color theory reference + Great reference book to have Itten, himself is one of the greatest color theorist of our century, and the masterful mind behind the Bauhaus School. In this book Itten describes his color theory and the facts of his famous "Color Star", which is one of the most strongest tools for color harmony for designers and alike. ...             About Face: Reviving the Rules of Typography2 reviews David Jury Rockport Publishers, 2002 Beautifully presented with many historical examples In an era when many books about typography principles focus on the ins and outs of specific computer programs, here is a beautiful book for beginners that focuses on principles, theory, and examples. Not as densely written as Bringhurst's classic "Elements" book, this book nonetheless has the ...             Josef Muller-Brockmann: Pioneer of Swiss Graphic Design1 review Paul Rand Lars Müller Publishers, 2001 this is excellent! A good introduction to Muller-Brockmanns work, the book takes us from his very early works to later exhibitions and poster design. It even mentions 'Grid Systems', which I am a firm disciple of. Graphic Design is a subject of which to have strong oppionions and Lars Muller has just that. I enjoyed ...             Paul Rand: Modernist Designer4 reviews Derek Birdsall, Steven Heller, ... Center for Art and Visual Culture, UMBC, 2003 Paul Rand: Modernist Designer + Paul Rand: Modernist designer + uh, 34 pages? + Modernist Design             Language Culture Type: International Type Design in the Age of Unicode2 reviews Graphis Press, 2002 Beautiful book + Very well put together; great essays and visual examples This is by far the most beautifully designed book I have. The binding is elegance like I have not seen in a long time. Definitely gives off that "wow" factor when you first open the box. But it's what is inside that counts. It is put together so well, the writing is fantastic and well illustrated. ...             The New Typography (Weimar & Now: German Cultural Criticism)9 reviews Jan Tschichold University of California Press, 1998 A founding document of modern history + Revolutionary for its time, useful now, but long-winded + Good Historical Value, But No Applicable Lessons + Interesting, if you're into type history             Designing Books: Practice and Theory4 reviews Jost Hochuli Hyphen Press, 2004 A Picturebook of Typography / Design + Beyond the Bauhaus dogma + The ironic part... As indicated by the review above, the book is divided up into three sections that tackle the history, methods, and styles of book design. The title, "Designing Books," may sound like a technical reference, but it's not. The book should have been named "Book Designs," for it is more a picturebook of ...             The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 2nd edition96 reviews Edward R. Tufte Graphics Press, 2001 Life Changing and Beautiful + Very nice book + Masterpiece of graphic design proves timeless and universal + Easy and fun to read             Design and Form: The Basic Course at the Bauhaus and Later, Revised Edition4 reviews Johannes Itten Wiley, 1975 lighting the creative spark in everyone + Don't expect a textbook + Itten is a god, bow down. This book is not a step by step syllabus to follow blindly. Itten wrote this book to share the fundamental principles that he taught all his students (no matter how advanced) before allowing them to pursue higher classes and goals at his school. The book is broken down into sections that (to ...             2D Visual Perception1 review Moritz Zwimpfer Arthur Niggli, 2001 More Than a Catalogue of Optical Illusions A great number of optical illusions are covered, but the book also teaches the reader how to control them. Perfect for artists, illustrators, and designers who want to give the two dimentional plane some levity. The illustrations teach the subtleties of visual phenomena. The lessons are useful for ...             Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative37 reviews Edward R. Tufte Graphics Press, 1997 another great book by Tufte on graphs + Learn the life-or-death value of visual explanations + Great book + Many good examples of illustrations + What a gem - but not your first design book