Graphic Idea Notebook: A Treasury of Solutions to Visual Problems [Paperback]

Jan White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004 | ISBN-10: 1581153546 | ISBN-13: 978-1581153545 | Edition: Third Edition

This updated edition of the much-heralded classic of page design offers surefire ideas and inspiration to anyone stuck with the task of designing cutting-edge printed material. This book is a collection of more than 2,000 visual "idea generators"-illustrations and line art-that visualize the various abstract problems that page editors encounter.



• Previous editions of this book (0-8230-2149-1 and 0-9356-0364-6) have sold more than 57,000 copies

• "Jan White's are the very best working and how-to and why-to volumes available on the use of graphics in books and publications."--Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In the esoteric world of publication design, Jan V. White must rank as one of the first citizens, as well as resident theoretician.”
(Communication Arts )

About the Author

Jan V. White is a communication design consultant and the author of many books, including Editing By Design. He lives in Westport, CT.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press; Third Edition edition (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581153546
• ISBN-13: 978-1581153545
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #864,248 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 True Classic in Visual Solutions, July 15, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Graphic Idea Notebook: A Treasury of Solutions to Visual Problems (Paperback)

I've been singing the virtues of Jan White's Graphic Idea Notebook since 1980. I recommended this to all my workshop and seminar attendees, until it became out of print. Since then Jan has written many other books -- but never updated this one. Then, just last week this new edition arrived in the Design Bookshelf mail box and we all rejoiced.

What the publisher says really doesn't do the book justice. Here is page after page of doodles, sketches and ideas all penned by Jan himself. It's pure visual brainstorming that's been organized into a form that is both inspiring and entertaining. It's a joy just to thumb through the pages. Many of the ideas are classics... others are quirkish twists on visual and word plays.

Jan says:
Some of the captions identify or describe the images themselves, some are possible interpretations of an abstract concept or metaphor. All are just stabs at meaning. None claims to be the right one or the only one, because there's no such thing. Interpret them -- or twist them -- to fit your story. Their only purpose is to trigger a thought and spark an idea, which is the purpose of this book as a whole."

First there are ideas in cliches. Then ideas in mime -- gestures, body language or expressions. From there through time, then facts and figures and ending with my favorite; type and typography. He even provides you with an extensive list of printing terms in six languages.

There's no index. Who needs an index? Besides, since when could you index ideas? Yet the book is ultimately 'flippable' -- any page you land on has a good idea. His notations are delightfully informal yet engaging.

If you need ideas. If you need creative sparks. This is the place to look. The best part is how much you'll enjoy looking. And don't be surprised if you find many more creative ideas than you thought you needed.