The Non-Designer's Design Book

by Williams, Robin

• ISBN13: 9780321193858
• ISBN10: 0321193857
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-28
• Publisher: Peachpit Press

Summary

So you have a great concept and all the fancy digital tools you could possibly require¿what¿s stopping you from creating beautiful pages? Namely the training to pull all of these elements together into a cohesive design that effectively communicates your message. Not to worry: This book is the one place you can turn to find quick, non-intimidating, excellent design help. InThe Non-Designer¿s Design Book, 2nd Edition, best-selling authorRobin Williamsturns her attention to the basic principles of good design and typography. All you have to do is follow her clearly explained concepts, and you¿ll begin producing more sophisticated, professional, and interesting pages immediately. Humor-infused, jargon-free prose interspersed with design exercises, quizzes, illustrations, and dozens of examples make learning a snap¿which is just what audiences have come to expect from this best-selling author.

Author Biography

Robin Williams is the author or co-author of more than 20 best-selling and award-winning books

Table of Contents

Is this book for you?	9	(1)
Mini-glossary	10	(1)
Design Principles
1 The Joshua tree epiphany	11	(4)
The four basic principles	13	(2)
Proximity
Alignment
Repetition
Contrast
2 Proximity	15	(16)
Summary of proximity	30	(1)
The basic purpose
How to get it
What to avoid
3 Alignment	31	(18)
Summary of alignment	48	(1)
The basic purpose
How to get it
What to avoid
4 Repetition	49	(14)
Summary of repetition	62	(1)
The basic purpose
How to get it
What to avoid
5 Contrast	63	(16)
Summary of contrast	78	(1)
The basic purpose
How to get it
What to avoid
6 Review	79	(8)
Proximity	80	(1)
Alignment	81	(1)
Repetition	82	(1)
Contrast	83	(3)
Little Quiz #1: Design principles	84	(1)
Little Quiz #2: Redesign this ad	85	(1)
Summary	86	(1)
7 Extra tips & tricks	87	(36)
Creating a package	88	(1)
Business cards	89	(4)
Letterhead and envelopes	93	(4)
Flyers	97	(4)
Newsletters	101	(4)
Brochures	105	(4)
Postcards	109	(4)
Newspaper ads	113	(4)
Web sites	117	(6)
Designing With Type
8 Type (& Life)	123	(8)
Concord	124	(2)
Conflict	126	(2)
Contrast	128	(2)
Summary	130	(1)
9 Categories of type	131	(12)
Oldstyle	132	(1)
Modern	133	(1)
Slab serif	134	(1)
Sans serif	135	(2)
Script	137	(1)
Decorative	138	(1)
Be conscious	139	(3)
Little Quiz #3: Categories of type	139	(1)
Little Quiz #4: Thick/thin transitions	140	(1)
Little Quiz #5: Serifs	141	(1)
Summary	142	(1)
10 Type contrasts	143	(32)
Weight	148	(4)
Structure	152	(4)
Form	156	(4)
Direction	160	(10)
Combine the contrasts	170	(1)
Summary	171	(4)
Little Quiz #6: Contrast or conflict	172	(1)
Little Quiz #7: Dos and don'ts	173	(1)
An exercise in combining contrasts	174
Extras
11 So, do you get it?	175	(4)
The process	176	(1)
An exercise	177	(1)
Okay-redesign this!	178	(1)
12 Answers to quizzes	179	(4)
My philosophy on tests and quizzes	179	(1)
Answers to quizzes	180	(3)
13 Resources	183	(2)
Magazines
Web sites Design Typography
Ideas and concepts
14 Typefaces in this book	185	(4)
A list of all typefaces used, shown in each style
Index	189