Customer Reviews

HOW Magazine (1-year)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This would be a great magazine for someone who either owns thier own design business, a pro freelancer or an art director who is high up on the food chain in an agency. Not very good for an entry-level design student such as myself. This magazine is first and foremost about the business of graphic design: how to promote your business, attract and retain clients, how to deal with a team of designers.

There are very little, if any, how-to's or design theory covered in this magazine. There isnt even much in the way of showing off of good design examples. Only some examples of "best-of" works that you have to really search for, and there isnt much in the way of advanced critiques of said works.

The "Guide To Self-Promotion" special section for subscribers was probably most benificial for me, because there was a nice little section on resume's and interview tips. However, you will find that most of that info can be found for free on the internet anyways.

As with many other reviewers, I'm a tad disgruntled at shelling out $29.99 for a bi-monthly magazine, 70% of which contains advertisments for different stock-image houses and specialty paper manufacturers. It is very difficult to "flip" though this magazine as every 10 pages or so you will find a paper manufacturer's ad printed on a thick card-stock sample. It is hard to stay concentrated on reading the articles when you are constantly fighting and struggling with the pages to stay open and flat.

I have been buying copies of this magazine in New York City newsstands for years now. I think the first one I picked up was because it contained listings for graphics compatitions. But, I was an evolving graphic artist in Rochester, NY ... educated in Architecture, and teaching myself the rest of what would become my career - Graphic Design. Pen & Ink, masking, layouts, the evolution of a logo design ... all the techniques and steps laid out in feature articles which focused on the work of an individual or design studio at the top of their game. And in between were the articles on how to negotiate a contract, how to present your ideas to a client .. how to GET clients.

It's full of images ... less talk. We are, afterall, visual artists and know we learn best through what we see.

This is a worthwhile magazine to get. You'll find something useful every issue.

HOW is very practically-oriented, not a lot of "look at us, we're graphic designers" [junk] you see in other graphic design magazines. Self-importance is out. Information-importance is in. Each issue has loads of sage advice, and it's all very understandable to all designers, novice to Madison Aveenue.

Great magazine for all graphic designers.

This magazine really fills the voids that design school leaves behind. I have developed some serious guts in fighting for what I am worth due to this publication. When you are a new designer, you get taken advantage of frequently. College did not prepare me to stand up for myself in this competitive market, and this magazine not only keeps you up-to-date with the latest in the design realm, but also serves as a gutsy, motivational read as well. This is a must have subscription for budding designers. What a relief to read a killer design publication from the midwest!

I believe that this magazine is a must have for any designer. Especially those that are new to the field. I am a student and I read this magazine from cover to cover and feel that it covers all aspects of the business well. It is written so that even the beginner can understand all of the aspects and use the ideas in their everyday work/projects. I think that this magazine is one of the best references for graphic design on the market that I have found.

It's full of ads.
Not just plain ads on plain papers, but on special papers that are triple times as thick as other regular pages...

It's so cluttered with ads that actual contents of this book are hidden among those "specially treated" ads, and you have to look for those contents pretty hard... if you still wanna read it.

I would recommend Communication Arts

I found a how magazine and it is charging $29.99 for a subscription. I came across this same problem on another magazine that I was going to subscribe from Amazon...but the magazine itself was charging far less. I wrote Amazon about the price change (and they claim they correct prices in a few weeks) months later that magazine cost has not changed...

Not a good sign for Amazon...for magazine subsrciptions. I love Amazon...but why are they so out of whack with magazine costs?

Of all the design magazines, Print, CA, and HOW, HOW is the only one that has continued to match good business articles, print AND web. The only one I need every issue of.

As a freelance graphic designer only 6 months out of school, I would recommend this magazine to anyone else who is in the same boat. Not only does this magazine site books that may help designers, but it also gives advice on what works - the profiles of top design studios would give anyone ideas on what they need to do to keep business flowing.

I come from an entire family of designers, illustrators and art directors, all whom love Communication Arts - but that one is far too boring for me. HOW is more exciting, and for only $30, it is at a very reasonable price.

We were seeking a good creative magazine subscription that covers the commercial side of the art and design world. "How" was all we found thus far, and it has too many advertisements, but still provides some useful info.

Much of the articles contained in several issues provided BASIC information - perhaps meant for neophytes that are new to the design world. It is unfortunate that the product specifications page does not mention this.

"How" is not recommended for intermediate or advanced professionals, but rather, it may be a good read for beginners whom don't mind overwhelming ADs.