A Designer's Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need (Design Field Guides) [Hardcover]

Jennifer Visocky O'Grady (Author), Kenneth Visocky O'Grady (Author)

Book Description

Series: Design Field Guides | Publication Date: October 1, 2006

Doing research can make all the difference between a great design and a good design. Most experienced designers would quantify this "legwork" with the term research. By engaging in competitive intelligence, customer profiling, color and trend forecasting, etc., designers are able to bring something to the table that reflects a commercial value for the client beyond a well-crafted logo or brochure. Although scientific and analytical in nature, research is the basis of all good design work. This book provides a comprehensive manual for designers on what design research is, why it is necessary, how to do research, and how to apply it to design work. As designers embrace research methodologies, they share a common vernacular with their clients, and establish respect as idea people. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, embracing research practices will ensure a continued viable role for designers in business. No other books address this issue for student and professional graphic designers. Books on how to do research are usually aimed at writers, business marketers, and scientists. The ability to execute effective research methods is as important to a career in graphic design as the ability to build a grid or layout a page. Understanding the needs of the client and the client's market are essential components of creating value.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Associate Professor Jennifer Visocky O'Grady is a graduate of the Kent State University Visual Communication Design program (B.S., & M.F.A.), and has been teaching at Cleveland State since the spring of 1999. She is also co-founder and principal of Enspace Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592532578
• ISBN-13: 978-1592532575
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great service to the design profession and it's clients, December 11, 2006

By 

John Chen "DesignGeek" (NYC, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Designer's Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need (Design Field Guides) (Hardcover)

In my search for structured discussion on design process and research, I was fortunate enough to find this book, "A Designer's Research Manual," at the MOMA bookstore in SoHo. I only wish this had been available and required text when I was still in school. The Authors have done a great service to the design profession, and it's clients. Those of us who are more designers than "artists" would do well to integrate the principles of this book into our processes & methodologies for tackling our clients' business problems. It's thinking like that in this book that will make the case for design's value to the business of our clients. Thank you Jenn & Ken Visocky O'Grady!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Research Simplified, June 17, 2009

By 

Graphic Lunatic (Bangalore, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Designer's Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need (Design Field Guide) (Paperback)

This book presents the otherwise-boring-for-us-designers subject of research in an extremely readable format with effective use of charts and diagrams.

It explains why research is important and goes on to explain the different methods of research, but not in such great detail as to make you doze off mid-sentence. The information is brief, to the point, and very well laid out.

On the whole, a very good read. Almost half the book is dedicated to case studies that portray how research influenced the design direction (This, I particularly enjoyed).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed resource for the design community, November 27, 2007

By 

Hilary Ashworth "RGD Ontario" (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Designer's Research Manual: Succeed in Design by Knowing Your Clients and What They Really Need (Design Field Guides) (Hardcover)

Graphic design is about much more than typography, composition and colour. Researching and understanding the client's needs and those of the target audience are key to the design process. This book is a valuable resource for designers seeking to understand the research strategies and methodologies appropriate for their work.

Kudos to the authors and the professional community of contributors for this book specifically aimed at designers. A Designer's Research Manual conveys information in a clear and readable manner with concise text, helpful graphics and relevant international case studies.