Design-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop: The Step-By-Step Guide [Hardcover]

Chuck Green (Author)

Book Description

Series: Design-It-Yourself | Publication Date: October 1, 2004

You want a concise how-to book on graphic design that avoids all the theory and just gets down to the nuts and bolts of getting a project done? Then this book is for you. It includes hundreds of projects for logos, letterheads, businesses cards, newsletters, and website design that even the most design-challenged individual can accomplish easily with impressive results.

The templates are here -- all you have to do is follow the easy-to-understand recipes for executing the projects. There's no guessing involved. Project recipes cover setting dimensions for page layouts; recommendations for type, including its name and the suggested point size; color ideas; paper information; sources for graphics and photographs; and a complete production guide.

This book is the one sure thing every non-designer can count on to create winning designs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chuck Green is the principal owner of computer software company Logic Arts Corporation, and has worked with clients including AT&T, Lotus Development Corporation, and the United States Navy. He is the author of Rockport Publisher's Design It Yourself: Logos, Letterheads, and Business Cards; Desktop Publishers Ideas Book, 2nd Edition; and Clip Art Crazy, and is a frequent contributor to, and column writer for, several design and business publications. He lives in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592530885
• ISBN-13: 978-1592530885
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #918,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chuck Green is the principal of Logic Arts Corporation--a design and marketing firm--and the host of ideabook.com--a popular center for the exchange of print and online communication ideas.

He is a contributor, past and present, to many publications including:
Before & After Magazine
Dynamic Graphics Magazine
Layers Magazine
Home Office Computing
InDesign Magazine

Sites:
Web > http://www.ideabook.com
Links > http://www.jumpola.com
Blog > http://www.pageplane.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Design Workshop, complete with blueprints !, December 16, 2004

By 

Fred Showker "DTG Magazine" (The Design Bookshelf) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Design-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop: The Step-By-Step Guide (Hardcover)

In his famous skillfull manner, reknown graphic designer and author Chuck Green helps you tackle real projects from the initial idea to the final printed pieces. But what makes this book so wildly special is the clean, clear way Chuck gives you the inspiration and then guides you through the steps to handle each detail.

Chuck says:
      "Think of it as a cookbook. Instead of discussing the history of the stove and the intricacies of milling flour, I'm going to show you how to bake a cake. And if I've done my job -- following one of my design recipes will result in a logo, letterhead, business card, and newsletter that looks and sells as if it were designed by a pro."


Ideas Galore - a creative shot in the arm

This book is not about making a non-designer a designer -- but it is for everyone. Non-designers will find these designs easy to understand and easy to copy. Professional designers will use them as inspiring and helpful building blocks and idea starters.

The ideas and concepts are thoroughly brainstormed, well designed, and well presented -- in color. With each example comes a design statement, step-by-step plans and highly valuable tips and referrals to the resources you'll need to make your own design creative and effective.

No, it's not a coffee-table book. It's not eye-candy or compilations of 'other' designers work. It's not even one of those hit-and-run "killer tips" or "secrets" books that are so compelling yet leave you cold. It's a shop manual... a workshop. If you were building a house, this would be the blueprints. Mine is already well handled, with an array of post-it notes popping from its edges. It's the kind of book you actually use.

I recommend this book 100% for anyone who designs or publishes anything. I recommend it particularly if you're in the process of creating or updating your business cards, stationery, newsletter and other collateral materials -- even if you have a Madison Avenue design firm -- this book will benefit you greatly! Buy it. Your money will be well spent.

Fred Showker
The Design-Bookshelf

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect resource - or gift - for ANY designer, July 30, 2005

By 

Jeff Fisher "Engineer of Creative Identity" (Portland OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Design-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop: The Step-By-Step Guide (Hardcover)

"This is not a design theory book - it is a design instruction book." With the first line of his introduction to 'Design-It-Yourself Graphic Workshop' designer, marketing specialist and writer Chuck Green has defined his recently released book succinctly. Rockport Publishers has wisely repackaged Green's earlier books "Design-It-Yourself Logos, Letterheads & Business Cards" and "Do-It-Yourself Newsletters" into one handsome, all-inclusive hardback resource that will be a great addition to the design library of any wannabe, newbie or seasoned design professional. The book provides you immediate desk-side access to that favorite design instructor at school who always had the suggestion of how to tackle any creative challenge. Green belittles no reader as he conveys the hows, whys, shoulds and musts in making use of basic graphic design principles on a variety of projects. The messages throughout "Graphic Workshop" are clear, straightforward and gently challenging. The design is clean, colorful and inspiring. Some design professionals may cringe at the "do-it-yourself" portion of the title (as I admittedly did with the earlier books), which seems to unconsciously bring the controversial "anyone with a computer can be a graphic designer" school of thought into play. However, if a potential reader can get past that descriptive title element, and concentrate on the phrase "Graphic Workshop," the price of admission will be well worth the ride Chuck Green provides. When that young student in your life expresses an interest in the field of graphic design, "Graphic Workshop" would be the perfect gift. For those starting their careers, opening their own firms, or just needing a gentle kick in the rear-end, the book should be a welcomed source of encouragement. Every corporate, or organization, in-house designer should have copy at hand. In reading the book, I also realized "Graphic Workshop" would be a great tool to use in explaining to clients why something has been designed for them in a specific manner. - Jeff Fisher, Logo Notions, CreativeLatitude.com

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, Amazing, Amazing Book, May 10, 2011

By 

Lilach Lavy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Design-it-Yourself Graphic Workshop: The Step-by-Step Guide (Paperback)

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing Book
As a graphic designer i found this book extremely helpful.
This is the third time i have read it, and every time i read it i just get more from it.
Green is someone i am sure i would like to meet- you must be a truly special human being to be so talented both in graphic design AND in writing and teaching.
Immensely helpful book to everyone making his/her beginner steps in the world of print design.