How to See : A Guide to Reading Our Man-Made Environment

by George Nelson

How to See was originally published in 1977. This reedition is updated and in color. More than a guide to visual appreciation, this is a book about how to recognize, evaluate, and understand the objects and landscape of the man-made world. The pursuit of design is not about the way things appear, but rather about the way things give meaning and relevance to the human experience.

Genres: Design, Art, Nonfiction, Architecture, Photography

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little surprised (tho probably shouldn't have been) at how many things focused on were still issues. Enjoyed all the questions and challenges posed throughout the book. How often do we really take in all the elements of a scene, instead of filtering it for what we're already looking for or expect to see? Why is it considered a good trait to be able to ignore the ugly and redundant parts of our landscapes and surroundings? Thought-provoking and still pretty relevant.

[Brian Kovesci · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here's the thing: This book is not helpful.

John Berger published Ways of Seeing 5 years before this book was published. In it, Berger trains the reader to interact with their surroundings in a new way, teaching us how to have aesthetic experiences in our everyday lives, and he provides a framework for how to do it.

George Nelson, the famed mid-century designer who brought giant names to Herman Miller, tried to do something similar by showing us how he sees, illustrated through his slide collection. The narrative, though, isn't structured and therefore comes across as a somewhat random collection of photos with certain themes that lack a real message. Okay, faces are on things. Yes faces are on things. What exactly is the insight? Is the reward of an aesthetic experience the pleasure of such observations? Not sure, George. Your suppositions are void of meaning.

Also, George wanted this book to be called "How I See," which is definitely what it should be called. It would set the expectation of the reader to enter his mind, and not set the expectation to learn how to see. I didn't learn anything and I'm extremely disappointed.

Just read Berger's book and extrapolate those lessons to design.

[Vlad Golovach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splendid little book of Nelson (not just a great designer but also a clever and witty writer and polemist) splendidly reissued (with upgraded photos and slightly lavisher design).

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was aware of Nelson's iconic design work for Herman Miller, not only from working at a competitor for many years but also due to a general interest in design. Originally published in 1977, this edition published in 2017. Nothing describes the writers intent better than his quote from the back cover, "Seeing is not a unique God-given talent, but a discipline. It can be learned."

My hope is that I will have somewhat of a new eye after reading, especially for the everyday object that has been carefully and uniquely designed.

[миша сафронов · Rating 3 out of 5]

Автор всю жизнь собирал и выстраивал коллекцию изображений, которые иллюстрируют разные темы, принципы и подходы к взгляду на окружающий мир.

"Эволюция предметов через дизайн проходит примерно так же как эволюция в природе: это серия адаптационных изменений под воздействием массы различных факторов окружающей среды. Подобно биологам мы можем изучать постепенные превращения форм и "считывать" их, раскрывая причины этих процессов. ... Ранние модели автомобилей были оснащены держателями для кнутов. Их делали, потому что такие приспособления было принято устанавливать на конных экипажах".

[Brian Durance · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Comrade, the problem is not with these paintings, but with you.... imagine, my friend, that this is not a painting gallery, but a display of mathematical equations. Would you then shout at this nice young woman and get her to explain these to you? Of course you wouldn't. You would realize that you don't understand mathematics, and keep quiet." - George Nelson

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visual literacy. How to understand what you see in design.

[Muhannad Helvacı · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's for visual illiteracy, good resources with great visuals

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great lunch time book.

[Evelyn Amaral Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I

[Neil]

https://twitter.com/hbrophy93/status/... - might be on to something

[Tolendi Kaken · Rating 2 out of 5]

Морально устаревшая книга, жалею что купил!

[Kevin Demel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book on observation and would be worth reviewing again if I can learn more about seeing.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[HITWM · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nelson’s critics of the culture back then remain surprisingly the same now. A bit jarring how social issues have remain unchanged.

[Justin Labelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A succinct introduction to the signs and symbols of day to day life.
Though it is a watered down introduction to semiotics, it does what it seeks out to accomplish. It reminds you that human things are constructed things and while we want to believe that the objects that surround us were designed with a purpose, they're also just as often designed by chance and stupidity.
An often funny, insightful look at the world we see, or at least saw, roughly 30 years ago.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting primer on how to, indeed, “see”—though Nelson is borderline dyspeptic in his worldview and motivations for this book. The death of Modernism was a tragedy for a lot of people, especially control-freak designers like him, I guess. For a more upbeat, open-armed embrace of the same subject I recommend checking out Rob Forbes’ See For Yourself.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Pink recommended this book (in A Whole New Mind, I think). Designer George Nelson seems pretty confident that I am visually illiterate. I loved reading/viewing this collection of pictures (of our man-made environment) with Nelson's voice uniting them. So much to be seen all around us all the time! How to See (I hope) will help me remember to take a critical look around more often...really enjoy the designs that surround us.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published in 1973 for the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to improve upon government design. Brushes through the most basic of visual design, it is a quick 71 page read. Most interesting to see what was considered a technological advancement in the 70s...which was the beginning of seeing with the technology of the camera and telescope.

[Tim Belonax · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish that I had read this book as a teenager. I think it would have been a big help in my development as a designer. Nonetheless, it’s a solid read that will feel familiar to those in a “creative” field.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some interesting things to say about seeing, and I enjoyed the retro photos of a time gone by, but there wasn't anything truly eye-opening within its pages that would really make me see things differently.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st edition hardcover w d/j

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're all visually illiterate, according to designer George Nelson. Here are some ideas for actually seeing what's around us.

[Gochrisgo]

Read about on Dwell.com

[Fazla Fatiq · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice

[Paul]

Recommended by A Whole New Mind