Best Practices for Graphic Designers, Grids and Page Layouts: An Essential Guide for Understanding and Applying Page Design Principles

by Amy Graver, Ben Jura

This unique, go-to guide for designers fully details the essential layout and design skills needed to succeed in this competitive industry. With fun and practical application, it offers valuable insight into strategy and business when working in the real world with real clients, starting with basic information on layout principles before delving more deeply into theory and application on a project-by-project basis. Illustrated with real-world assignments and case studies, this guide offers a behind-the-scenes take on the entire process and steps necessary to go from concept to final outcome, including how to overcome challenges presented along the way.

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Roberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an easy read, the layout is elegant, clean, and clear. Is obvious the painstaking matter in which the typography was handled. The case studies presented serve as a refreshment about design concepts and principles and it does stimulates the designer in me to think about different ways to approach the same design problems…er opportunities! This is not a “how-to” guide and perhaps not for novices; however, the text is not so esoteric as to really confuse anyone. As a graphic designer one gets to question everything, if somethings aren't clear, one does research!

[capt. madness · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential but there were just too many inconsistencies for me.

First off I would say that it started on the nice note of presenting how the grids are made. What would be good is if the creators did a bit diy making a grid with a viewer inside of the book after each section applying it to 'our-grid' which would make it much more easier than just explaining. Or if even grids were drew over the examples shown so that reader can have better understanding. Again - visually more than just text-wise.

My main problem was that this few times when makers were talking about some brands and renewing visual identity of brands - they weren't showing old ones. So if you are familiar with how the brand names looked back in the days you have no comparison of what was that 'wow' new identity about.

I would also really like to see not only who made the examples shown (which were always listed) but also what are the years of these designs? So that I can place it on the timeline inside of my mind since some of examples shown weren't that special. Or didn't have that wow factor authors were talking about.

From the technical production of a book - for me the pages were very shiny so it was quite hard to read it in both natural and artificial light since you had to place book the way it won't reflect it.

In general book felt a bit too opinionated. All of these 'beautifully' and other adjectives putting author's thoughts into what supposed to be (I think) informative piece. It made it feel like student's final project and gave it more essay-ish than professional-feeling to it.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sách về design có khác, design cuốn hút quá trời, lướt qua trang mới cũng ngắm nghía trang đó 1 tẹo rồi mới đọc.
Đa phần là case study, đâu thể gọi đó là practice như tiêu đề đề cập đâu nhỉ. Tuy vậy cũng học được kha khá nhờ làm lại các thiết kế trong ấy. Cách viết cũng thật khó hiểu quá.

[Osamuyi Okpame · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is well structured with good design layout and the text and colours, are well formatted, well placed and easy on the eyes.

It shows the authors practiced what they preached with their own design and grids. I enjoyed every piece of this book.

[maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book saved my life

[Hannah Leimkuhler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Straightforward information but boring to read. Thinking with Type is the better book

[Muhammed Mustafa · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you already know the basics of graphic design, layout and grids... then this book might be for you as it is just a book of examples (case studies) that discusses different types of grids. I had other expectations because of its cover. Some of the things werent even clear and therefore I had to Google to look into it.

I wished the authors, who seem to have so much knowledge, added more information to it and made things more understandable.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brushing up some layout skills for a new project. Lots of fun ideas in here, for more than just print media--good examples of digital media layout as well, and how to use color and typefaces as well.

[Zel Polev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an informative book with great examples that show different grid based designs.

[Dimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor, and a bit empty in content. I could definitely see a better book in this area.