Maggie Macnab is a self-taught designer from New Mexico. She began Macnab Design in 1981 and her work has received international recognition for over 30 years. With a lifelong passion for the creative problem solving process, Maggie’s work, teaching and books encompass the observation of how nature solves design problems and how to practically apply these principles to design. She teaches for various universities in New Mexico and speaks internationally for institutes, conferences and schools. She is author of Decoding Design and Design by Nature; both have received awards and are translated into multiple languages, including the Farsi version of Design by Nature that won best translated book in Iran in 2014. Designing Effective Logos, a learn by video series produced by Peachpit Press, released in late 2014.
Excerpt from review: "Maggie Macnab thinks we are all designers deep down if we just open our eyes and hearts to the best teacher possible: nature. She believes this so passionately that she’s written a book to encourage the masses to tap into their creative side and make the world a more aesthetically pleasing place. Design by Nature is Macnab’s lovely soapbox for this and several other big concepts that challenge us to think differently about design."
به نظرم کتاب خوبیه ولی بیشتر مناسب کسایی هست که تازه وارد عرصه هنر و طراحی شدن، چون در واقع داره مهارت های ابتدایی رو با یه رویکرد طبیعت انگارانه بیان میکنه
I am not a designer, but I do design (slides). Geeky, but I enjoy crafting a set of slides that distills complex ideas into a compelling story that is simple yet communicates the essence. Looking for ways get away from traditional pyramid/architectural approach. Looking to learn from visual designer. This book teaches design philosophy and basics of how designer should think - which I found very helpful. Best line from the book
"Simplicity is at the heart of complexity bec. complexity arises from simplicity."
Also
- Synchronicity is meaningful coincidence - Emptiness emerges as a vessel for audience. Breath between ideas - Simplicity distills info to its absolute - Problems are opportunities for creativity - Nature is completely economical. Perfect balance of past and future - always appropriate in its response. - Energy is neither lost nor gained in the process of transfer. It is simply re-ordered. - Form of an object is a diagram of force - Square: Stability and security - Circle: Origin of all shapes - Triangle: transformation - Spiral: in motion returning to previous reality. Regeneration - Structure and flow are inextricably related - People ignore design that ignores people
A definite reading material for students of design, this book has managed to weave interesting ideas originating from nature, and its impact in man-made designs. Readers would be elucidated with big but basic ideas behind everyday patterns around us, the obvious, and the ones that requires a certain degree of observation. From the relationship of 5 and 6-petaled flowering plants, to the application of various dimensions of symmetry, to the common concept of the Golden Ratio; the use of case studies also adds an authentic element to making the book more engaging.
I never actually finished this book, though I thought it had a lot of potential. I couldn't get past the tone of the author. She is unashamedly self taught and has disdain for education. She clearly does not believe that any education in design is necessary ever. I actually sold this book back to Amazon.
Maggie McNab has crammed this book full of thought-provoking and interesting illustrations of practice not only for designers but for anyone. It is not a read from beginning to end but a reference book I know I can pick up whenever I need to. It is great!
Her description of science and history giving context to design principles has helped me look at work in a new way. I have already begun using metaphors and examples from the book in my work.