Make It Bigger

by Paula Scher

An outspoken voice in the world of graphic design for more than twenty years, Paul Scher has developed a worldwide reputation for her bold, modern graphics and her incisive critiques of the design profession.

Genres: Design, Art Design, Nonfiction, Art, Biography, Creative, Reference

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting just a monograph (lots of pictures of design projects) and was surprised but happy to find a great deal of very blunt writing about the ups and downs of working for difficult clients and in power-struggle-ridden corporate hierarchies. Good read so far, and very surprising design work.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring collection of anecdotes and artwork from the career of an innovative designer. As design student, you don't often get to learn about famous female designers. This was such a treat! I am so glad that I took the time to get to know Scher's work. This book was a joy to read and will serve as a reminder to reinvigorate and reinvent my own designs as I enter the workforce.

[Iancu · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books to read if you're new in the field or just want to learn how a designer's career feels like.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, you don't have to be a graphic designer to read this--anyone can read it and get inspired and create something meaningful.

As a self-proclaimed and self-taught graphic designer, it embarrasses me that I haven't heard her name until about 4 or 5 years ago (totally my fault). This book is essentially a wet dream for every aspiring designer. Paula, armed with 3-decade long experience, shares her experience & advice as a working professional--from Office politics 101, How businesses work, how to hustle, how the process works, how design philosophy works, how she struggles as a woman in a male-dominated industry and other essays.

The author Paula Scher started as a low-level junior designer in a records company until she made her way up as a partner in Pentagram, the most prestigious and renowned agency, perhaps one of the best in the world. Her style of writing is personal & professional at the same time.

The images & illustration can also be a source of inspiration. It's hard to not get inspired while reading it. Her works vary from typography to packaging to environmental design. To reiterate, I wish I'd read this book sooner. Definitely a worthwhile read.

[Pedram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paula Scher Deserves All the Praise

Paula could easily fit into anyone's Mount Rushmore of graphic designers, not only for her A- body of work, but her personality and the role she has played in the industry and dare-I-say-because-of-people-like-her design community.

A few of her projects have reached to that status where you'd see them in most graphic design history books. It's always a delight to hear the story and trivia on those. I find it inspiring to see this book could have had at least two updates since it was published, as she and her team continue to produce cutting-edge and era-defining work.

She starts dropping the big jewels right at the end of the book with her articles about the business of design, the design community, and gender politics in design.

[Chelsea Parrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget grad school. Just read this book.

[R.Friend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific overview of work from one of the most influential and respected designers in the business. My only complaint? It wasn't big enough. ;) Scher's wonderful work easily could have warranted a larger volume.

[Katie]

i honestly think that paula scher (maybe along with tibor kalman for colors) is the first designer i was ever enamored with. when her public theater and stomp posters went up in the 90s, that might have been a seminal moment.

[Meiqimichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it loved it loved it (and, naturally, while reading did actually have a client as me to 'make it bigger'). Great insight into what it is like to work in the design field, and in particular how to manage office politics. Full of quotes and kindness.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's nice to know that the most successful female gd-er the us has yet to produce hate her job at the begining...

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me quit my corporate job because it was impossible to get through the layers. Ironically, I checked the book out from that same corporation’s library. Awesome.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paula Scher is the most influential woman designer on earth. This book shows why. It's a designer's monograph with real content and purpose.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye-opening look at design. Records to posters to environmental.

[Keight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Link to booklog

[Wendi]

My favorite designer!

[Taylor Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some good career advice contained herein, but I got a bit bored with it.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paula Scher uses cheeky and illustrative examples that simultaneously teach the reader more about the field of graphic design by making and breaking the rules. Half Memoir, Half Art Gallery, wholly snarky.