Customer Reviews

Design-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop: The Step-By-Step Guide

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

"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

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.

The Graphic Workshop book has been a lifesaver for me in my InDesign class! As a beginner in the Graphic Arts program, this book has guided me through the steps needed to create letterheads and the logos on them. It has been so helpful to have this book along with my InDesign workbook. It was delivered in a very timely fashion and in excellent condition. Thank you so much!

I recommend this book as more of a reference than a comprehensive guide. Though aspiring designers may get a lot of ideas from this book, I found it more mix-and-match or quick-fix, complementing what I already know about design. To me, it shouldn't be treated even as a short design course.

I use this book to help me as a refresher, and it's very effective that way.

(I wish, though, that I had waited for the smaller paperback to come out. The size of the hardcover isn't space-friendly. The smaller one would have been perfect.)

Until now I purchased 7 graphic design books. In fact,
I used to like them, until I found this book, which
destroyed them all. I wish if Design-It-Yourself was
the first one I purchased!

Anyway, it is great and detailed reference you should
not miss out if you are in graphic design business.
This book doesn't only cover the different design
aspects. In fact, it digs even deeper!


Why it's my favorite:
---------------------
1. Simple but detailed!
(Illustrates in pictures all what is needed to know in a
simple way and without saying too much)

2. Colorful
(Inspires and gives a better understanding of the content)

3. Combines two areas
(Graphic design and touches slightly business branding)

4. Hardcover
(A reference that you will not be able to put down since
you catch! So, this way it will last longer)

5. I don't want to be unfair when writing this review
(This book contains even more reasons to buy than what
I just mentioned above)

Thank you Chuck Green for the great effort you put
into this great reference :)

The book covers the basics of creating a logo, stationary system, and newsletter. There are no hands-on exercises or data files to go with the book.

Considering what this book cost it is not worth it. The CD has no descriptions and you need to go from book notating what the number is making it very time consuming. The Graphic work is very simplistic and has nothing to offer that is outstanding. Again, useful stuff, but way too much money for what is being given.

This was indeed a nice surprise. I've read a lot of books on graphic design and this is indeed one of the best - very practical oriented, with lot of examples. I've enjoyed reading it.

Very useful and illustrative book that guides you to the entire design process. This is for both, designers and non-designers. I recommend it so much.