Design Essentials: A Handbook (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Gisele Atterberry (Author), Jonathan Block (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0135024692 | ISBN-13: 978-0135024690 | Publication Date: December 26, 1999 | Edition: 2

Built around a glossary which contains terms drawn from both studio and theory, Design Essentials gives readers the vocabulary required for successful development as artists and designers. This practical book offers advice on professionalism and contains an illustrated glossary that includes terms describing visual elements, design principles and aspects of color; terms describing media or materials, including a basic vocabulary for talking about digital imaging; and terms describing critical idea, historical styles and movements. For design professionals who want to increase or refresh their knowledge of the vocabulary of the field, and to continue to develop their personal understanding of form, content and style in their own work and that of others.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Practical in approach, this handbook prepares readers for issues and challenges facing them as artists and designers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Built around a glossary which contains terms drawn from both studio and theory, Design Essentials gives readers the vocabulary required for successful development as artists and designers. This practical book offers advice on professionalism and contains an illustrated glossary that includes terms describing visual elements, design principles and aspects of color; terms describing media or materials, including a basic vocabulary for talking about digital imaging; and terms describing critical idea, historical styles and movements. For design professionals who want to increase or refresh their knowledge of the vocabulary of the field, and to continue to develop their personal understanding of form, content and style in their own work and that of others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 130 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (December 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0135024692
• ISBN-13: 978-0135024690
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The book with a 112 page Glossary?, August 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Design Essentials: A Handbook (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This little book could be an excellent book for a basic introductory course in design. In fact, I do use it in my classroom because it is small, not terribly expensive, and easy to carry for the students. It would not be suitable for art majors. I use it for students who just take an occasional art course during their stint in college.

It is classified as a "Hand Book" yet it has only one small chapter on The Design Process, and a mere FIVE pages of projects or assignments listed under the title of Exercises and Analysis. This short final chapter has a few exercises thatcan be used in the classroom.

The enormous Glossary (112 pages!) falls in between the eleven page first chapter on Design Process and the five page chapter on Exercises and Analysis.

This handbook need much more information in it and needs much more added to it in the exercises chapter. It would be wonderful if it was organized with exercises that would accompany the different terms in the glossary. Perhaps one exercise for every page or two in the glossary. Now, that would be WONDERFUL for teaching beginning students.

Another displeasure I have with this book is that it is about ART and there is not even ONE color page or illlustration in the entire book. The book is a bit pricey for such a small book with very little "meat" and with no color in it at all. Couldn't the "color" section at least have ONE color photo?

On the plus side, the book does have a number of small thumb nail illustrations throughout and in particular in the Glossary. These are helpful as we all know that basic art students don't spend much time reading text anyway. I think Prentice Hall could put more effort into developing this book and hope that the 3rd edition, IF it comes out, will be better.

3.0 out of 5 stars About as expected, October 17, 2011

By 

E. Hardy "suupperbugg" (NV usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Design Essentials: A Handbook (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is for the extreme new comer to art. Middle school text level. If you want to know the basics, this is for you.

2.0 out of 5 stars not worth it, but necessary, June 9, 2009

By 

Robert B. Jenkins - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Design Essentials: A Handbook (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

The book itself is not much. It has a brief introduction, a big glossary of terms, and a few exercises at the end. I bought it not out of desire, but necessity since it's required for a college course I'm taking. I paid a lot less than the publisher's list price from an Amazon seller and a lot less than the college bookstore price. The color information is all in black and white -- go figure. All in all I'm satisfied with the price, but again, the book is pretty sparse in terms of information -- unless you like reading definitions.