1,000 Graphic Elements: Details for Distinctive Designs [Paperback]

Wilson Harvey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2004

Often, the small, delightful details make a piece shine, similar to the way unique buttons on a white shirt can give it an entirely new look. This book explores 1,000 of these embellishments available to graphic designers across all kinds of projects, from books to brochures, invitations to menus, CDs to annual reports.

Exacting photography, which is accompanied by credits outlining the vendors and materials used, focuses on these details. This book invites designers to literally shop for ideas. Content is organized by type; if youÆre in the market for an unusual binding, turn to the bindings section to see a wide collection of fresh ideas.

Other topics covered include fasteners, graphics, unique materials, embossing, debossing, specialty inks, type treatments, interesting color usage, add-ons, die cuts, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wilson Harvey is a London-based integrated design and marketing agency with a focus on producing high-end communications for a wide range of clients. Wilson Harvey has designed more than 500 books for a variety of publishers including Berg, Random House, Cond¬ Nast, Pavilion, Quintet, and Rockport. Wilson Harvey is also the author/designer of The Best of Brochure Design 7.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (September 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159253077X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592530779
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #641,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific resource - one of a kind January 24, 2005

By Yael Miller

Format:Paperback

To be up-front, a few of my package design pieces have been featured in this book which is a compilation of design ideas from around the world. You may consider me biased because of this, but I have found the work of the designers in this book to be very inspiring and practically useful in my day-to-day design work.

Rockport is the premier design book publisher - and this book is a terrific example of it. The book is divided into sections that zero in on different techniques and effects that designers around the world have utilized to create terrific look and feel for printed pieces.

The book features mostly brochures, annual reports and mailers. A small proportion of packaging is represented.

Harvey Wilson zeros in on effects like hotstamping, folding methods, unusual materials and methods of closure, bindings, type treatments and some graphic treatments. Handy little icons beneath each picture describe the effects that are used.

Like the other reviewer, I thought the last chapter on graphic treatments was far too edgy to be useful to me. (Unless you do a lot of edgy work.)

This book is for those who want to use special effects. This book acts more like a scrapbook of ideas than a design/technique book. You can mix and match many of these ideas - most of which are from cutting edge European design firms and some talented US firms plus others.

I don't know of any book that is quite like this, so it would make a great addition to any design library.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 1000 times I wished I was that good! May 31, 2006

By C. S. Ogryzlo

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a wonderful book. From front to back it reaches out and messes with your head. So many inspiring examples, so many great minds have been at work. Designer envy is taking hold, and I don't want to put it out of my hands, oh, if only holding it to my head by osmosis all these amazing creative juices would fill my empty creative void. So then, I study and rejoice in finding beautiful, fun, clever and artistic masterpieces that seem so innocently displayed on these pages. You need to see it to believe it. I feel inspired and free again. I will try again, or maybe tomorrow, to be the best designer I can be. I love grapic design!

If only coffee had the same effect on me :)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Graphic Designer's eye candy May 27, 2006

By Taylor Beck

Format:Paperback

Truly inspiring. This book is a good idea generator, with page after page of projects organized by different graphic elements employed: materials, die cuts, add-ons, embossing, formats, bindings, graphic devices, text, and inks. I gave the book 4 stars because it really lacked more explanation to each example given. I really wished that they would have included what the pictured project was used for and other helpful information like exactly what type of material was used. I suppose that information couldn't be disclosed in a book for the public?? Despite all that, the book still proves useful. I'm very satisfied with my purchase.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but... March 10, 2006

By Alejandro S. Rubio

Format:Paperback

The work shown in this book is REAL good, the picture's quality is amazing, and it shows you what the title promises, but at the end I wish every sample would have detailed explanations concerning its final production (amount of inks, tools involved, used material) that kind of stuff that makes a book a helpful one over a simple catalog of samples.

In spite the lack of information, this book is really cool.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Fluff March 2, 2006

By freelancer and mom

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I hoped this book would provide inspiration and novel approaches to inspire my design projects, but I was sadly disappointed. Most of the projects featured, although obviously expensive to produce, lacked concept and clever ideas. I would rather see projects that started with a great idea, then added the special effect to really shine. Instead, this was all about special effects for the sake of special effects.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book March 24, 2006

By Kenneth J. Shoemake

Format:Paperback

Great examples, not only of typography and design elelments, but of printing techniques as well. Though, there are no explanations added, the pictures do all the talking. Great resource for design inspiriration.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff; inspiring and spans the spectrum, even 3D/boxes/pop-up January 26, 2007

By B. T. Denyer

Format:Paperback

This book not only gives you the latest in cutting edge design and graphics, but it also does a good job of covering the world over. UK, Croatia, USA, Denmark, Germany, Australia, Austria, Canada, The Netherlands to name a few.

Inside it is broken out into:

Printing Techniques

Manipulated Surfaces

Formats and Binding

Add-Ons

Unique Materials

Graphic Devices

and a nice index by agency.

Each photo is a studio shot of the actual product, not a reprint from file. In some you see hands holding the brochure open or a page curled open. Very high quality shots of the actual finished product, and artistically done, as well. I give it a big thumbs up for presentation value, inspiring choices and for it being edge to edge, chock-full of pictures and no lengthy write-ups on how the artist milled the paper herself from the hair of a Burmese goat or other such unnecessary drivel.

Get this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars 1000 Graphic Elements September 29, 2008

By R. Kerr

Format:Paperback

As a graphic designer, I did not find this book very useful in generating ideas. There is very minimal info about the pieces featured and some photos are unnecessarily close-up and you cannot get a sense for the project.