A primer in design and communication that offers solutions to the recurring problems faced by by students and professionals. It explores the ways creatives interpret their clients' brief, propose new ideas and reinvent existing products and brands, referring to a huge cross-section of different projects by acclaimed designers and agencies, including Saatchi and Saatchi, Paul Rand, George Lois, Bob Gill and Pentagram.
So far, this is one of the best broad scope reference books on graphic design I've read. This collection of iconic, unique, and historically influential graphic design solutions is categorized by common design challenges such as budget constraints, repetitive briefs, etc.
The book competently discusses and depicts a wide range of design work from much of the world including America, Europe, Scandinavia, and Asia reaching back into the early 1900s up until the year of the book's publication.
There is a ton of content here. At times it felt like trying to drink from a fire hydrant. I may have to revisit it again in a couple years.
I docked it one star because it claims to be a "how-to" book, but it isn't at all. There are no steps or instructions. There are ideas and how they've been implemented in the past, but any "how" for new solutions will still be entirely up to the designer.
Content warning: This volume does contain some nudity, so I wouldn't recommend it for kids.
this book is easy to read. i finished it quickly. i feel it is a good book for anyone interested in advertising design - professionals as well as students. although he doesn't provide any in-depth study of the examples that he discusses. the entire material is a good reference source and a good starting point. (hope the review helps someone.)