If you just stumbled into design, maybe via a hobby that grew into a career, and you want to improve your work without having to enroll in a degree program, this book can bridge some of the gaps in your acumen. Not really a primer on basic facts, Design Workshop is more like a guide to style.

The first chapter quizzes readers on mostly technical, basic details of design (like dpi), all of which can be found in Williams's previous publications (for example, The Non-Designer's Design Book). Readers will be dismayed, possibly annoyed, that the quiz answers are not provided. Even if not knowing the answers means that you need remedial help, it feels like a bit of a tease.

The next chapters show how to use stock images, or your own images, to increase the visual impact of your piece (basically through an increase in contrast). The best part of this section, and the book as a whole, is the "before-and-after" approach in the examples; they're like a series of makeovers. The captions effectively describe what was changed in the image, and how it improved the design.

The book applies a similar set of makeovers to various types of design projects: logos, forms, newsletters, tables of contents, etc. In the final section, seven designers, including coauthor Tollett, break down the process that they went through on a job of their own.

Self-taught graphic designers probably would make the best audience for this book, but designers who are of their own "school of thought" might find fault with some of the tenets that are put forth. Graphic design by nature is a subjective enterprise--at the mercy of "styles." What you get in this book is more of a "desktop-publisher style" (many of the drawings are clip art, for example). There's a lack of sophistication in the design of the book, as well as in the illustrations of posters, letterheads, advertisements, and other applications that are used as examples. On the other hand, this same open, naive look gives the book an inviting appeal, and makes it perhaps a bit less daunting than style guides, such as Robert Bringhurst's The Elements of Typographic Style, that are intended for die-hard professionals. --Angelynn Grant

Topics covered:

Style advice for design projects, including:

Logos Business cards and letterhead Invoices and forms Advertising Billboards Web sites Tables of contents and indices Newsletters and brochures Flyers

From Book News, Inc.
Describes practical graphic design principles and concepts, and how to apply them to projects. The authors explain why some designs are more likely to grab attention, and which looks are suitable for specific types of projects, such as business cards, letterhead, brochures, logos, and other advertising. Ample color design examples are sprinkled throughout the book.Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR

Book Info
A colorful tutorial in creative design, with advice and lessons in composition, visual impact, and design challenges. Filled with hundreds of full-color examples, the ideas in this text tackle design theory, visual puns, and layout and graphics for real-world projects. Softcover.

From the Back Cover
Learn design theory and practical know-how from the award-winning author/design team, Robin Williams and John Tollett Robin Williams introduced design and typographic principles to legions of readers with her best-selling Non-Designer's book series. Now she and designer/co-author John Tollett take you to the next level of creative design with practical advice and lessons in composition, visual impact, and design challenges.Presented in Robin and John's signature style—writing that is so crystal clear, it's accessible to absolutely anyone—and illustrated with hundreds of full-color design examples, the ideas in this book tackle design theory, visual puns, and layout and graphics strategies for real-world projects. Developing designers will appreciate the author's imaginative approach and well-chosen examples.Discover practical and effective design principles and concept–and how to apply them to virtually any project.Learn why some designs are attention-getting and others are not.Learn how to choose just the right look—corporate or casual, classic or trendy—for specific types of projects, such as business cards, letterhead and envelopes, newsletters and brochures, logos, advertising, and more.Test your design acumen by comparing before-and-after examples.Find a wealth of inspiration for your own design projects.Gain insight into the design process by studying the works of guest designers, who offer their personal commentary and insights.

About the Author
Robin Williams is the author of piles of best-selling and award-winning books, all by Peachpit Press, including The Non-Designer's Design Book, The Little Mac Book, The Non-Designer's Web Book, and many more. Robin has been teaching college-level graphic design for fourteen years. John Tollett is a designer, art director, and illustrator with over thirty years experience in the graphic design world. He is the co-author of several best-selling books, including The Non-Designer's Web Book and The Little iBook Book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Learn design theory and practical know-how from the award-winning author/design team, Robin Williams and John Tollett

Robin Williams introduced design and typographic principles to legions of readers with her best-selling Non-Designer's book series. Now she and designer/co-author John Tollett take you to the next level of creative design with practical advice and lessons in composition, visual impact, and design challenges.

Presented in Robin and John's signature style—writing that is so crystal clear, it's accessible to absolutely anyone—and illustrated with hundreds of full-color design examples, the ideas in this book tackle design theory, visual puns, and layout and graphics strategies for real-world projects. Developing designers will appreciate the author's imaginative approach and well-chosen examples.Discover practical and effective design principles and concept–and how to apply them to virtually any project.Learn why some designs are attention-getting and others are not.Learn how to choose just the right look—corporate or casual, classic or trendy—for specific types of projects, such as business cards, letterhead and envelopes, newsletters and brochures, logos, advertising, and more.Test your design acumen by comparing before-and-after examples.Find a wealth of inspiration for your own design projects.Gain insight into the design process by studying the works of guest designers, who offer their personal commentary and insights.

SYNOPSIS

Robin Williams Design Workshop picks up where The Non-Designer￯﾿ﾽs Design Book leaves off, and takes the reader to the next step of creative design with discussions and examples of visual metaphors, visual impact, grid theory, and problem-solving, and practical lessons on how to work with color, photos, and clip art. The majority of the book focuses on specific projects, such as brochures, business cards, flyers, ads, logos, etc., each with "before" and "after" examples. Clear explanations of exactly what was wrong with the "before" version, and exactly what was done to create the "after" are included.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews

Describes practical graphic design principles and concepts, and how to apply them to projects. The authors explain why some designs are more likely to grab attention, and which looks are suitable for specific types of projects, such as business cards, letterhead, brochures, logos, and other advertising. Ample color design examples are sprinkled throughout the book. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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