Design books?

[KnuteRockne]

Anyone know some good ones?

And I don't mean books like the SND award winner collections.

I'm talking books that are designed as tutorials on the basics and beyond. Textbooks, I guess.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

"The Newspaper Designer's Handbook" by Tim Harrower is a good place to start.

 

[shotglass]

Beat me to it. It is the ultimate, Knute.

 

[KnuteRockne]

Beat me to it. It is the ultimate, Knute.

Does it talk about things like how to split headlines into two decks (i.e. separate thought on each line)? I just want some points of reference for that so that I can have an authority to reference for the other people in my department other than, "That's what I was told in college or high school or my previous paper. Somewhere along the line, I swear."

 

[playthrough]

Harrower's book was a college textbook of mine. Simply outstanding. I haven't worked as a designer in almost 10 years and probably never will again, but that book will always stay on my shelf.

 

[devils_claw]

One more voice to add to the praise for Harrower.

I'm not too long out of j-school, and that is one of the only textbooks I kept. It's easy to understand, has great visuals, and can be really entertaining.

 

[Pi]

Don't bother with any of Mario Garcia's books unless you like self-indulgent crap.

 

[Satchel Pooch]

I always wanted to pick up Harrower's book but it ain't cheap, if I recally correctly.

 

[Write-brained]

Harrower is the Bible ... gotta be in the 5th or 6th printing by now ... you could probably get 3 or 4 for cheap, though I don't remember it being too expensive for a new copy.

 

[Cadet]

For someone completely brand new to the world of layout, fonts, etc. I recommend books by Robin Williams (a female). Her stuff isn't really directed at professionals, but it's a good starting point.

http://www.amazon.com/Non-Designers-Design-Book-Second/dp/0321193857/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3640422-2002223?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176007868&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Non-Designers-Type-Book-2nd/dp/0321303369/ref=sr_1_14/103-3640422-2002223?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176007868&sr=1-14

 

[Bullwinkle]

For someone completely brand new to the world of layout, fonts, etc. I recommend books by Robin Williams (a female). Her stuff isn't really directed at professionals, but it's a good starting point.

http://www.amazon.com/Non-Designers-Design-Book-Second/dp/0321193857/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3640422-2002223?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176007868&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Non-Designers-Type-Book-2nd/dp/0321303369/ref=sr_1_14/103-3640422-2002223?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176007868&sr=1-14

Thanks, Robin. You got any extra copies laying around?

 

[Cadet]

That joke is really getting old. Can't someone pimp a useful book/good article/strong writer without being accused of self-promotion?

 

[Mighty_Wingman]

That joke is really getting old. Can't someone pimp a useful book/good article/strong writer without being accused of self-promotion?

Nope.

 

[philly fanatic]

Pure Design by Mario Garcia

Once you know the basics, this book will change your life (or something like that).

Harrower and Garcia both get the Fanatic's approval.


http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Design-Mario-Garcia/dp/0972469605

 

[shotglass]

The only problem I ever had with Harrower's book -- and granted, it's a small one -- is that he obviously approaches newspaper design with a West coast mentality.

At one point, he suggests that you can't design a page unless you have all the art and copy in your hand. Well, 70% of the pages you're doing on an East coast or Midwest paper, you can't afford that. You have to fill the holes after the plan has been made.

 

[Precious Roy]

I always thought the same thing of the Harrower's book, shot, but it is still simply the best

 

[shotglass]

Absolutely agreed, Roy.