Graphic Designers
Graphic Design calls upon a range of cognitive skills, aesthetics and crafts. Artists are all about self-expression. Their only boundaries are their own skills and imagination.
Graphic Designers deal largely in aesthetics and have the unfiltered freedom to invent new visual codes to deliver their feelings or perceptions.
Self-expression becomes a characteristic that must blend with the message. It is the process and art of combining text and graphics and communicating an effective message.
Egle Vertelkaite Graphic Designer
03/07/09
Egle Vertelkaite is among the most conceptual Lithuanian (printmakers) graphic designers. She is a participant and award winner at the Main European Printmaking Exhibition. It is possible to recognize her work easily from its' horizontal format: chosen motifs reverberate like an echo against the edge of a picture and are repeated in another work. The line marks not the separation of form and space, but time. As if the artist was drawing a giant staff and people were notes. Vertelkaite subtly connects 'high' art and domestic or even kitschy motifs: roses, hearts and glasses of wine next to characters permeated with existential concerns which only emphasize the drama. It is interesting that in Vertelkaite's works one could often meet people well known in the art world: Cindy Sherman, Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp or a sword devourer from Diane Arbus' photographs. This exceptional company is not just popular icons: not only their images, but also ideas that communicate.
In Scream by Vertelkaite we see Cindy Sherman performing a Lithuanian folk song (just her big mouth and the sound waves), and then Cindy is rising to heaven and is reflected on the water - but we don't know which image is a reflection. We all consist of bits and pieces of information. And when the sound or image is transformed to the sequence of numbers, one can hardly tell the difference between a folk song and a communist, futurist or any other manifesto. Egle Vertelkaite is breaking visual and conceptual codes juxtaposing different contexts. Legs of cancan dancers reflect the multiple gesture of a fascist salute - both dancers and soldiers are merely body-machines under total control of power structures. Drawing a line is always a political gesture. It implies order and separation, ruling and borders.
Graphic Designers Art
09/06/09
Swiss graphic designer Josef Muller-Brockman, was one of the great pioneers in the New Graphic Design movement, (also known as Swiss Graphic Design). This two-color poster, designed in 1960, was one of the revolutionary turning points in contemporary graphics. And it was not just another transitory style, it defined a contemporary graphic environment world wide.
Graphic design is a popular art and a practical art, an applied art and an ancient art. Simply put, it is the art of visualizing ideas.
It is the most universal of all the arts. It is all around us, explaining, decorating, identifying; imposing meaning on the world... Without graphic design's process and ingredients - structure and organization, word and image, differentiation - we would have to receive all our information by the spoken word. We would enter another Dark Ages, a thousand years of ignorance, prejudice, superstition and very short lifespans.
It is the process and art of combining text and graphics and communicating an effective message in the design of logos, graphics, brochures, newsletters, posters, signs, and any other type of visual communication. Today's designers often use desktop publishing software and techniques to achieve their goals.
This artform often refers to both the process by which the communication is created and the products which are generated.
Literal Typography
19/05/09
Typography, the most conservative of all the crafts, can also illustrate concepts that are either defined directly by words, or demonstrate, or even perform the actions they represent.
Typography, the visual form of language, while historically restrictive compared to other crafts in terms of expressing ideas outside its basic message, can be profound and memorable once the text message and the artistic expression of the message are combined, such as in the 'dead' graphic in top right. Even the period behind the "dead" text expresses profound finality!
The value of literal typography in graphic design, is that it communicates succinctly. By effectively integrating image and type into literal typography, you have established your number one goal - memorable, concise communication and perhaps even profound communication.
Graphic Design and the Message
02/05/09
In graphic design, self-expression becomes a characteristic that must blend with the message. If style becomes too "loud" in graphic design, the work loses effectiveness and turns into noise, interrupting the communication.
In today's competitive field graphic designers must grapple with producing art that appeals (pretty) solutions and creating strategic communication designs that produce results.
James Turner's graphic novel, NIL : A Land Beyond Belief is so graphically dense it really must be seen to be believed. The entire book is done in the black & white vector style and it just works.
Kinetic Typography
Helvetica (2007)
Time Out London
One of the wittiest, most diligently researched, slyly untelligent and quietly captivating documentaries of the year.
Product Description
Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.
Helvetica
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/14/2009)
"The historical significance of the typeface as well as the on-going evolution of typography make this a must see for anyone interested in typography and graphic design, but also a fine entertainment for film enthusiasts. Compelling interviews with notable professionals are informative, witty and often hilarious. Visuals run the gamut from elegance to true grit. Kudos to Gary Hustwit and his crew for this living history before it is not longer possible." ~ Ronda Davis (Atlanta, GA USA)
NIL
Join fellow sufferer Proun Nul on his quest to find meaning in a desolate world saturated with angst and ennui. Foreman on a deconstruction ship that specializes in demolishing belief outbreaks, Nul is prodded out of his complacency by a false murder charge, and sets off on a journey that takes him to the very brink of hope. A 240-page concoction of fiction and intrigue that delves into the bleak and bitter philosophical brew of Nihilist chic.
Nil: A Land Beyond Belief
Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
List Price: $12.95
Used Price: $2.54
"I don't have a single negative thing to say about this book. Everything is excellent. The artwork is fantastic and it really grew on me. The test itself is very well written, and if looked at closely, could raise quite a few eyebrows. I can (and have) read this book over and over again, it's that good." ~ Carl Brutananadilewski
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A History of Graphic Design (Hardcover)
Critical acclaim for previous editions of A History of Graphic Design
"I expect it to become a foundation and keystone of serious study . . . it is a fortress work." -Communication Arts
"[It] traces the role of the designer as a messenger of culture." -STA Journal
"Now . . . a hefty, yet concise, documentation of the entire field exists." -Print
"It is a noble and formidable undertaking." -he Artist's Magazine
"An excellent and invaluable work." -Library Journal
"This is a reference work that reads like a novel. It's comprehensive, authoritative, graphic, and exciting." -U&lc: The Journal of Typographics
History of Graphic Design 3e IM
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
"In my opinion, this 3rd Edition "A History of GD" is the best reference book written about graphic design. This 500 plus pages book/bible is simply divided into 5 sections, 1) The Prologue to Graphic Design, 2) A Graphic Rennaissance, 3) The Industrial Revolution, 4)The Modernist Era, and 5) The Age of Information. The topics range from the invention of writing to, creation of new typogrphic styles to, the digital revolution and computer art. There are plenty of graphics and photos on every page to accompany the wonderfully written text. If you study art history or graphic design, I think this would be a great reference book to have. It will take some time to read the entire book. But this is like a text book, so, reading only part of the chapters would be quite informative as well. Once you are done, you will definitely appreciate graphic design/graphic designers." ~ SL
Branding through identity design
Fingerprint Book
The book showcases projects from an impressive roster of designers, using handwork techniques that range from lettering, illustration, mixed media and surface embellishments, to printing methods such as letterpress and silk screening. It is an inspiration and a call-to-arms for all designers to step back from the computer and reconnect with our repertoire of non-digital tools, especially the brain. Josh and his team of designers shared with us their collective thoughts and philosophies about handmade design. Afterwards, Josh mentioned he was struck by the synchronicities in his team members' approaches. "Personally," he said, "this reminds me again what a special group of talented, intelligent designers I get to work with day in and day out, and how thankful I am to have them be part of the CDA team. I wouldn't be able to do half the things we've done as a design studio without these guys."
Fingerprint: The Art of Using Hand-Made Elements in Graphic Design
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 07/14/2009)
Design is at a turning point. Our infatuation with--and the backlash against--technology is over. Today's best designers have learned to embrace its advantages and think beyond its limitations by combining the power of the computer with the tactile qualities of handmade elements.
Inside you'll find examples of work that showcase a variety of design methods, including mixed media, illustration, letterpress, screenprinting and collage. You'll find inspiration in examples from outstanding designers and see how traditional elements can make a more powerful statement than anesthesized computer-only work. Fingerprint also includes insightful essays on the power of the handmade by Debbie Millman, Jean Orlebeke, Jim Sherraden, Martin Venezky and Ross Macdonald.
The projects in this book are beautiful, technical, simple, layered and powerful. Each project communicates its intended message with eloquence.
You can be part of this exciting design revolution. Leave your own fingerprint on the world by exploring the fusion of the digital with the hand-wrought.
Chen Design Associates is a visual communications firm based in San Francisco. Firm Principal Joshua Chen is a frequent guest speaker for professional conferences, workshops, studio tours and educational institutions. The firm self-published the award-winning Peace: 100 Ideas.
Design Software
- Insofta 3DText Commander
- 3D Text Commander turns any plain-text message into a captivating 3D text, letting you create your own 3D text logos, banners, messages and save it to your computer for use on your web pages, in documents and presentations.
- Insofta 3DText Commander - Trial
- 3D Text Commander turns any plain-text message into a captivating 3D text ...
- Insofta Cover Commander
- This is a typical designer's task: create an image of a product box for a web site, electronic presentation or a paper publication. Insofta Cover Commander offers an easy and fast way to create such images. The program uses a software renderer for maximum quality and hardware compatibility. An easy-to-use wizard allows you to customize your graphic step-by-step. Unlike most of the competitors, the program offers several basic 3D objects to work with.
- Insofta Cover Commander - Trial
- Insofta Cover Commander offers an easy and fast way to create product box images.
- Insofta Vista Artistic Icons
- A collection of Windows Vista fashioned icons. Comes with full vector sources ...
Things I have learned in my life so far
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best of the Month, March 2008: Many consider Stefan Sagmeister to be our most important living designer, but he reaches beyond design circles in sharing 20 Things I have learned in my life so far, including the fact that "keeping a diary supports personal development." Proving his point, this book grew from a list in his diary during a year-long commercial hiatus. He returned to paid work with greater freedom from clients and himself, and created a series of projects spelling out personal truths--"worrying solves nothing," "trying to look good limits my life," and other simple, meaningful statements. Most are public and interactive (words spelled out on the backs of swimmers in the Hudson River, or displayed by enormous blow-up monkeys lounging around Scotland, or flaming in Singaporean bamboo scaffolding), while others are more private experiments with intriguing materials (sausages, cacti, sperm). All are presented--along with personal anecdotes supporting his assertions and notes on the practicalities of creating each project--in an alluringly interactive format: a "box" of 15 booklets with unique covers that can be switched to transform the look of the case from creepy to lovely. --Mari Malcolm
Things I have learned in my life so far
Amazon Price: $26.40 (as of 07/14/2009)
Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual
by Timothy Samara
This book is simply the most compact and lucid handbook available outlining the basic principles of layout, typography, color usage, and space.
Being a creative designer is often about coming up with unique design solutions. Unfortunately, when the basic rules of design are ignored in an effort to be distinctive, design becomes useless. In language, a departure from the rules is only appreciated as great literature if recognition of the rules underlies the text. Graphic design is a "visual language," and brilliance is recognized in designers whose work seems to break all the rules, yet communicates its messages clearly.
This book is a fun and accessible handbook that presents the fundamentals of design in lists, tips, brief text, and examples. Chapters include Graphic Design: What It Is; What Are They and What Do They Do?; 20 Basic Rules of Good Design; Form and Space-The Basics; Color Fundamentals; Choosing and Using Type; The World of Imagery; Putting it All Together?Essential Layout Concepts; The Right Design Choices: 20 Reminders for Working Designers; and Breaking the Rules: When and Why to Challenge all the Rules of this Book.
Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 07/14/2009)
"As a graphic designer with little academic preparation in the field (my college major was in psychology, supplemented by a handful of college-level art classes and several continuing education classes in Adobe software & printing technologies), I rely heavily on books for my continued growth and education. Over the past few years, I've amassed a rather large library of graphic design books. The vast majority of my collection falls into one of two categories - either "technical" (dealing with software & printing techniques) or "eye candy" (fun to look at and good for inspiring a new idea now and then, but not suited to actually improving my design skills). Timothy Samara's books are one of the few exceptions. I actually *read* his books and learn a great deal about design from them.
Design Elements is the best primer on graphic design I've encountered. It starts out with 20 rules for good design, while readily admitting that rules are meant to be broken, once you fully understand them and can break them *deliberately*. It goes on to cover the topics of form & space, color, typography, images, and layout. Finished examples are combined with simple thumbnail "studies" that illustrate the concepts quite well and provide you a springboard for playing around on your own. The textual portions are concise and well-written.
I heartily recommend this book for anyone seeking a serious, concise overview of all the major elements of graphic design - whether you're a student or a seasoned professional looking for a good reference book/refresher. Yes, there are books out there that cover each of these topics in much greater depth. But for what this book attempts to do, it does amazingly well. " ~ ZanBee (Albuquerque, NM)
Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design
Layout Workbook is one of five volumes in Rockport's series of practical and inspirational workbooks that cover the fundamental areas of the graphic design business. In this edition, author Kristin Cullen tackles the often perplexing job of nailing down a layout that works.
More than a collection of great examples of layout, this book is an invaluable resource for students, designers, and creative professionals who seek design understanding and inspiration. The book illuminates the broad category of layout, communicating specifically what it takes to design with excellence. It also addresses the heart of design-the how and why of the creative process.
Cullen approaches layout with a series of step-by-step fundamental chapters (a "how-to" of layout) addressing topics such as The Function of Design, Inspiration, The Design Process, Intuition, Structure and Organization, The Interaction of Visual Elements, Typography, and Design Analysis. The book offers inspirational quotations and a unique, progressive design that truly reflects its content.
Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 07/14/2009)
"The Layout Workbook if not only thorough in covering the fundamentals of designing a layout, but in addition the second half of the book contains a gallery of examples of successful layout.
Another of my favorite features is that the author not only addresses the topics like "grid" and "space" but they also cover the mental process behind design; there is a section just about intuition and creativity.
Above all the book was enjoyable to read - not just informative. " ~ M. Sorenson (Utah)
Meggs' History of Graphic Design (Hardcover)
by Philip B. Meggs (Author), Alston W. Purvis (Author)
Now in its Fourth Edition, this unrivaled, seminal work continues its long tradition of providing balanced insight and thorough historical background. Under the new authorial leadership of Alston Purvis, this authoritative book offers more than 450 new images, along with expansive coverage of such topics as Italian, Russian, and Dutch design. It reveals a saga of creative innovators, breakthrough technologies, and important design innovations.
Meggs' History of Graphic Design
Amazon Price: $58.90 (as of 07/14/2009)
"I was introduced to this book early in my undergraduate studies of design but rediscovered it during my recently completed senior year. It became a reference for every project and a permanent fixture on my bedside table. I was required to read many different books on history but this was the only one that I read time and time again."
"In my opinion, this 3rd Edition "A History of GD" is the best reference book written about graphic design. This 500 plus pages book/bible is simply divided into 5 sections, 1) The Prologue to Graphic Design, 2) A Graphic Rennaissance, 3) The Industrial Revolution, 4)The Modernist Era, and 5) The Age of Information. The topics range from the invention of writing to, creation of new typogrphic styles to, the digital revolution and computer art. There are plenty of graphics and photos on every page to accompany the wonderfully written text. If you study art history or graphic design, I think this would be a great reference book to have. It will take some time to read the entire book. But this is like a text book, so, reading only part of the chapters would be quite informative as well. Once you are done, you will definitely appreciate graphic design/graphic designers." ~ SL (RI)
Color Restraint In Web Design
"Less is more." That expression, credited to renowned architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe has a fitting application to the use of color in web design. A restrained or limited color palette often contributes to a more effective and tasteful web design.
The "real estate" or viewing area of a web browser window is restricted, quite like being in a small room. Interior designers strive to create an 'airy' open feel that makes small rooms feel larger. To achieve this, they usually stick to simpler color palettes in small spaces, with a preference for pastels or neutrals. It is quite the same in web design.
With the limited space we have for content in a web page, simple, clean color palettes using neutral or pastel colors has the effect of creating an 'airy' open feeling. Here is an example of this principle in action: read more on color restraint in web design.
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