Creativity is more than an inborn talent; it is a hard-earned skill, and like any other skill, it improves with practice. Graphic Design Thinking: How to Define Problems, Get Ideas, and Create Form explores a variety of informal techniques ranging from quick, seat-of-the-pants approaches to more formal research methods for stimulating fresh thinking, and ultimately arriving at compelling and viable solutions. In the style with which author Ellen has come to been known hands-on, up-close approach to instructional design writing brainstorming techniques are grouped around the three basic phases of the design process: defining the problem, inventing ideas, and creating form. Creative research methods include focus groups, interviewing, brand mapping, and co-design. Each method is explained with a brief narrative text followed by a variety of visual demonstrations and case studies. Also included are discussions with leading professionals, including Art Chantry, Ivan Chermayeff, Jessica Helfand, Steven Heller, Abott Miller, Christoph Niemann, Paula Scher, and Martin Venezky, about how they get ideas and what they do when the well runs dry. The book is directed at working designers, design students, and anyone who wants to apply inventive thought patterns to everyday creative challenges.
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"Graphic Design Thinking explores a variety of techniques from quick, seat-of-the-pants approaches to more formal research methods for stimulating fresh thinking and solving design problems. Brainstorming techniques are grouped around the three main phases of the design process: defining problems, getting ideas, and creating form. Visual demonstrations and case studies show the design processes and solutions at work." --grainedit.com, July 28, 2011
"Put down that beach read and get a headstart on autumnal productivity with Graphic Design Thinking: Beyond Brainstorming (Princeton Architectural Press), the hot-off-the-presses, fully illustrated guide to creativity by Ellen Lupton. The writer, curator, designer and educator guides readers through techniques ranging from rapid-fire strategies for defining design problems to formal research methods that yield fresh ideas. Lupton's creativity boot camp includes ample visual demonstrations and case studies that demonstrate the design processes and solutions at work. Pick up a copy today and hit the ground running (and creating) after Labor Day." --liquidtreat.com, August 5, 2011
"Adds the crucial final step of making forms to complete the design process... Beyond Brainstorming will appeal to anyone who understands they don't have to sit and wait for inspiration. These creative methods can loosen up thinking practices and inspire imagination." --Communication Arts, September 2011
"Put down that beach read and get a headstart on autumnal productivity with Graphic Design Thinking: Beyond Brainstorming (Princeton Architectural Press), the hot-off-the-presses, fully illustrated guide to creativity by Ellen Lupton. The writer, curator, designer and educator guides readers through techniques ranging from rapid-fire strategies for defining design problems to formal research methods that yield fresh ideas. Lupton's creativity boot camp includes ample visual demonstrations and case studies that demonstrate the design processes and solutions at work. Pick up a copy today and hit the ground running (and creating) after Labor Day." --liquidtreat.com, August 5, 2011
"Adds the crucial final step of making forms to complete the design process... Beyond Brainstorming will appeal to anyone who understands they don't have to sit and wait for inspiration. These creative methods can loosen up thinking practices and inspire imagination." --Communication Arts, September 2011
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Pat
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Lupton is one of the biggest names in graphic design teaching in the US, author of several successful books.
I've read Graphic Design: The New Basics and Thinking with Type, which are two great books, especially the latter. For this book, nevertheless, I thought there is a feeling of "I wanted more". Maybe it's too basic, maybe it wasn't fully developed, but the overall theme of creativity just fell short.
I'd say it's OK for beginners, but for the folks who already work with design, reading stuff like "during a focus group pay attention to making the right questions" seems quite foolish.
In my opinion the best stuff in the book is the bibliography, I'll definitely check out the authors she mentions throughout the book. Maybe then I'd be able to get some in-depth content on such interesting topics.
Mrs. Lupton: please write your next book for advanced students! Or if you don't, make it clear before people buy the book. Just basic consumer targeting.
I've read Graphic Design: The New Basics and Thinking with Type, which are two great books, especially the latter. For this book, nevertheless, I thought there is a feeling of "I wanted more". Maybe it's too basic, maybe it wasn't fully developed, but the overall theme of creativity just fell short.
I'd say it's OK for beginners, but for the folks who already work with design, reading stuff like "during a focus group pay attention to making the right questions" seems quite foolish.
In my opinion the best stuff in the book is the bibliography, I'll definitely check out the authors she mentions throughout the book. Maybe then I'd be able to get some in-depth content on such interesting topics.
Mrs. Lupton: please write your next book for advanced students! Or if you don't, make it clear before people buy the book. Just basic consumer targeting.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wow -- I loved this book! It is kind of a hodge-podge of topics related to design, but more than that, it is a visually-stimulating catalyst to creativity and innovation.
What the various chapters lack in depth, the book more than makes up for in breadth by touching on a wide range of incredibly valuable topics from problem-definition to idea-generation to solution-finding.
As a non-designer, this book opened my eyes to the value of adopting a design perspective, and triggered numerous thoughts and questions that I had never before considered while providing me with a greater appreciation for topics related to form & function, user experience, and so much more.
I recommend this visually beautiful book to anyone who wants to change their paradigm and see the world around them through an exciting new lens. This book is a welcome new addition to my innovation and visual thinking library that I know I will reference often.
What the various chapters lack in depth, the book more than makes up for in breadth by touching on a wide range of incredibly valuable topics from problem-definition to idea-generation to solution-finding.
As a non-designer, this book opened my eyes to the value of adopting a design perspective, and triggered numerous thoughts and questions that I had never before considered while providing me with a greater appreciation for topics related to form & function, user experience, and so much more.
I recommend this visually beautiful book to anyone who wants to change their paradigm and see the world around them through an exciting new lens. This book is a welcome new addition to my innovation and visual thinking library that I know I will reference often.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Camille
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great to guide you through the difficult road of creativity, very nice and inspirational. And if it's edited by Ellen Lupton, then you can be certain it's a good book!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Graphic Designer
This book is such a helpful tool. I love referencing it, drawing ideas and learning how to form new ones.. I recommend all Graphic Designers investing in this.
Published 2 months ago by Holly
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tasty snacks, no meal
As an experienced designer/design educator, I was happy to find some ideas here that I'd never heard before (or perhaps had forgotten). Read more
Published 3 months ago by alan wasco
5.0 out of 5 stars
1 of 5 Top Design Books to Have
Hands down; one of the BEST books on how to approach design problems, exemplifies insights on how others think and overall is a great reference book to keep within arms reach.
Published 4 months ago by Jamie N. Turpin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just Excellent All Around
This is a great book - one that shows you how to arrive at quality ideas and design through thought and process. Read more
Published 5 months ago by ComfyShoesOnly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Big Fan of Author
Great insight and valuable resource. Had to get the follow-up to "thinking with type". Highly recommended by instructors and got both for the price on one.
Published 6 months ago by Mark A Gruber
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