Visual Design

by Jim Krause

Visual Design speaks design, through design, to designers, presenting 95 core design principles with concise text and a touch of visual wit. Author of the bestselling Index series on design basics, Jim Krause uses a combination of Helvetica and Dingbats to teach a wide range of design topics (both conceptually and compositionally related) in a one-topic-per-spread format. Using humor, practical tips, and inspiring visual examples, Krause makes it clear how each of the 95 axioms of effective design are relevant and applicable across all forms of print, Web, and fine arts.

In this book, you’ll learn how
• Direct the eye through your designs using size relationships, color, visual pathways, and typographic hints
• Design effective compositions through grids, frames, outlines, dynamic spacing, symmetry, asymmetry, shading, patterns, and textures
• Fool the eye with shadows, depth, op-art, and visual subtraction
• Understand how color works and how to use it effectively
• See and use type by understanding type rules as well as when and how to break them

Visual Design is the first title in the brand new New Riders Creative Core series, which aims to provide instruction on the fundamental concepts and techniques that all designers must master to become skilled professionals.

Genres: Design, Textbooks, Read For School, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2014

About the author

Jim Krause has worked as a designer in the Pacific Northwest since the 1980s. He has produced award-winning work for clients large and small, including Microsoft, McDonald's, Kodak, Cingular Wireless, Washington Apples, Levi Strauss, Paccar/Kenworth, and Seattle Public Schools. Jim Krause has written over 15 books on design, creativity, and digital photography. His books are widely popular and are on sale around the world. Several have been translated into multiple languages.
Krause's latest books are Color Index XL, Lessons in Typography, Visual Design and Color For Designers.
When Jim isn't working on books, he can usually be found riding or racing either a motorcycle or a bicycle, hiking, reading, roasting coffee beans in his back yard, drinking espresso, or doing an art project of some kind or another.

Reviews

[Glen Farrelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for people new to studying graphic design or wanting to add some skills to their repertoire. It covers a lot of ground in a quick and enjoyable manner - with an accompanying illustration for every key concept. I recommend this to all my communications students.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice overview of design principles.

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for studying graphic design. This was a required book for my “Introduction to Graphic Design” class. It had some helpful tips throughout the book.

[Julie Akeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good information here about entering into the graphic design field. I found it an enjoyable read.

[Erin Newby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for beginners and a simple reference for the more experienced. It's out dated when it delves into printing areas. It also uses horrible graphics (which bothers me as this is a design book). Despite the graphics it covers the surface of a majority of design principles.

It doesn't go in depth on principles such as typography, layout, color theory..etc.