What Is Graphic Design For?

by Alice Twemlow

What is Graphic Design For? is a major new graphic design handbook, which extends the issues raised in the bestselling original What is Graphic Design? This guide to the world of graphic design, explores all the issues that shape contemporary economics; ethics; technology; multimedia communication; theory and developments in other fields that impact globally on local cultures. A special focus on work from emerging design locations, including China, Russia and Eastern Europe, is particularly invaluable. The role of the graphic designer has never been so they must often copy write, edit, curate, originate photography and illustrations, design typefaces, and be astute marketers and businesspeople all in a world of converging media.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Alice Twemlow writes about design for publications including Arena, Baseline, Communication Arts, Design Issues, Design Observer, Good, Eye, Grafik, Graphis, I.D., New York Magazine, Paper, Print, The Architect's Newspaper, and Varoom. She is the author of What is Graphic Design For? (Rotovision, 2006), StyleCity New York (Thames & Hudson, 2005) and has contributed essays to Jonathan Barnbrook's monograph, Barnbrook Bible (Booth Clibborn, 2007), Looking Closer 5: Critical Writings on Graphic Design (Allworth Press, 2007), ELSE/WHERE: MAPPING (Design Institute, 2006), and Why Not Associates 2 (Thames & Husdon, 2004). She has directed several design conferences, including "Voice: AIGA National Design Conference 2002," and "Being Here: Craft and Locality in Graphic Design," held in Berlin in 2004, and co-directed "Looking Closer: AIGA Conference on Design History and Criticism." Alice is currently a PhD candidate at the Royal College of Art/V&A Museum History of Design program in London.

Reviews

[Christian Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you want to know about graphic design, this is the book that will open your mind to all of its possibilities. if you are a designer, this book will get you excited to expand your talent to its fullest.

what i love most about this particular book is the way it shows graphic design to be new, exciting and cutting edge. it shows dramatic new applications of design, instead of just layouts, brochures, etc.

great fun for the design lover out there...

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare that a how-to book on design is actually smart, insightful and highlights fresh, less-well-known-but-as-talented practitioners. Alice is one of our best design writers and her intelligence and insight radiates from this book. Don't let the crappy cover design dissuade you.

[Patrik Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read.

[Shouga · Rating 3 out of 5]

coffee table kinda book

somewhat informative
I liked the illustrations
but it didn't satisfy me