A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good [Hardcover]

Mark Gonyea (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Design is all about the perception of size, shape, and color.

A fabulous and fun introduction to the concepts of design

A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good takes a most creative approach to introducing young (and not-so-young) readers to the fundamental elements of design. Using simple shapes, lines, and a sense of humor, this book explains why complicated doesn't make it good-and why that matters. Mark Gonyea opens up the world of design and makes it accessible to young artists and non-artists alike.

A Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5-Starting with two circles, one red and one green, symmetrically arranged against a field of white, Gonyea shows how changes in size, shape, and color alter perception. In 10 brief chapters, he covers concepts such as the difference between straight and diagonal lines, the usefulness of using a 1:3:9 design ratio, the clarity of contrast, and the impact of warm and cool colors. One of his strongest examples pits a traditional smiley face against a psychedelic version, reinforcing the subtitle. Less successful is the chapter "Letters Are Shapes Too," in which he pairs some letters with design terms. For example, he states "A is for Angles," but doesn't show or describe what angles are and why they're worth mentioning. By way of conclusion, the author builds a scene with planets and a spaceship, reviewing his major points. His minimalist approach to text and composition makes this book an effective advertisement for his message about the beauty of uncluttered design. It also makes the title accessible to children who are able to grasp the visual impact of formal elements, but are not yet ready to deal with the psychological effects as explored by Molly Garrett Bang in Picture This: How Pictures Work (North-South, 2000). The humorous tone and hands-on approach add to the appeal and usefulness of an offering on an important topic about which little else exists.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Mark Gonyea was born in upstate New York and spent the majority of his childhood consuming cartoons, video games, and monster movies. Little did he realize this was to be the essential groundwork for a career in cartooning and graphic design. He lives in Vermont.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (May 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805075755
• ISBN-13: 978-0805075755
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #907,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in northern New York seven years before I saw Star Wars for the first time. While spending the better portion of my early life watching tv, going to movies and playing video games, little did I realize this was to be the essential ground work for a career in cartooning and graphic design.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bright and Basic, August 8, 2005

By 

R. Tiedt (Potterville MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good (Hardcover)

A Book About Design by Mark Gonyea is an attractive, very clearly illustrated quick introduction to some principles of design. A glance at the illustrations would lead one to believe it was a book for young children, however the text, though brief, utilizes vocabulary (intersect, aggressive) and concepts, like ratios, more suitable for older children or adults. I intend to use the book as a quick introduction/ illustration for design concepts with middle school and high school students and think it will work well for that, but if one is looking for in depth discussion, for older students, or suitable vocabulary for younger, this might not be your best bet.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Aout Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good, November 6, 2006

By 

Art Mom (Provo, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good (Hardcover)

This is a great book to teach basic principles of design in a simple, yet understandable way. It can teach ages from kindergarten to adult. I wish every elementary classroom could have a copy to help kids with their art projects!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING BOOK!, August 30, 2006

By 

artsie mom (Ephrata, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good (Hardcover)

This is the best design book I ever read! I stumbled across it at our public library last year... I knew right away it was a book I had to add to my collection! I'm an elementary and middle school art teacher, and I plan to use this book with several of my classes... including my 6th grade in middle school! The book breaks down the rules of creating a good design and a balanced composition so simply, step by step... all of my kids will be able to follow it. With only a few words per page, Gonyea uses the simple illustrations to really get his point across. Most illustrations are simple shapes and colors. At the end of the book he brings together all the elements mentioned earlier and illustrates how all the elements work together to create a balanced composition. This is a must have... great gift even for first year art majors!