The Big Book of Design Ideas [Paperback]

David E. Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2003

This is a book that many have described as a must have for every designer's bookshelf. Finally available in paperback, this invaluable compendium offers more than 900 examples of graphic design projects of all kinds -- promotional materials, letterheads, editorial layouts, exhibits, packaging, posters, annual reports, T-shirts and more -- culled from the work of leading professionals in every area of the graphic design field.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A noted authority on the subjects of graphic design, logo design, and corporate branding, David E. Carter has produced over 100 best-selling books in those fields, including The Big Book of Logos, The Big Book of New Design Ideas, and The Big Book of Business Cards. He is currently working on several new corporate identity books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Harper Design (April 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060087633
• ISBN-13: 978-0060087630
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,170,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No Explanations, November 25, 2001

By 

Jeffrey Leeper "kem2070" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Design Ideas (Hardcover)

If you are looking for creative ideas for your designs, this book was specifically created for you.

If you are new to design, this is not the best book for you. Like me, you may not know exactly what to look for in the examples shown. Included are book jackets, catalogs, calendars, posters, and other creative designs that you can look at for ideas. Unfortunately, they are just pictures so the detail does not always come out as you might hope.

There are no explanations. With each idea are the client, the art director, and the creative firm. Sometimes, it will list the designer.

Unless you know what you are looking at, and can see the different elements of the whole as well as how they interact, then this book will not be very helpful. This book would be a good reference for people with design backgrounds, but not for the beginner.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Inspiration, December 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Big Book of Design Ideas (Hardcover)

The Big Book of Design Ideas is a great resource for any project imaginable! It's got ideas for a variety of projects--from logo, letterhead and package design to CD, book cover, catalog and annual report design--almost any project you can think of. The possibilities are endless! The book is a great compilation of different artistic styles, providing inspiration for almost any type of project conceivable. It's a wonderful resource for anyone interested in design.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A worthy book to have near your work book shelf, December 16, 2002

By 

Dennis A. Amith (kndy) (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Design Ideas (Hardcover)

As a graphic designer, sometimes you need to look towards books or publications to get some inspiration. I have invested in many books for my company and for myself for "idea" inspirations but for those in a very tight budget, design books and magazines can be quite expensive and there are many out there that some may feel a bit confused.

What I like about "The Big Book of Design Ideas" is that it takes several of those different books ...and condense it all into one book.

So, in a way, for those who can't purchase many books, I highly recommend this one because it shows visuals for annual reports, books, catalogs, calendars, exhibits, self-promotions, logos, letterheads and a few dozen more.

For those who do own many books, you can look at this book as something to glance in one setting from creative people throughout the world and instead of looking through many books, perhaps this book may have what you are looking for.

A very good visual resource for designers looking for a design "ideas" book.