The Layout Book (Required Reading Age) (Paperback)

~ Gavin Ambrose (Author), Paul Harris (Author)
Key Phrases: deep design, baseline grid, address panel, Studio Myerscough, Frost Design, Aquae Sulis (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Most books just tell how to do layout. The Layout Book explains the hows, whys, and why nots of layout. A historical overview of layout, from the early scribes to today, is followed by a systematic look at key theoretical principles and practical applications. A selection of great layout designs and more than 300 illustrations in full color and black-and-white provides ideas and insight. Invaluable for design students, helpful to working designers looking for a better understanding of layout design, The Layout Book is unique and uniquely inspiring.

About the Author

Gavin Ambrose is a graphic designer. He is the co-author, with Paul Harris, of the books in the Basics Design series, including Image, Colour, and Format, and the author of several other books. He lives in Kent, England.

Paul Harris studied at the London College of Communication and has gone on to become a freelance writer and editor. His work has appeared extensively in magazines and journals on both sides of the Atlantic, including style bible Dazed & Confused.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: AVA Publishing (November 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2940373531
• ISBN-13: 978-2940373536
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #432,325 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good, basic introduction to layout, January 18, 2008

By	Line Lisberg Refstrup - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a student at a designschool in Denmark (third year), and I bought "The Layout Book" by Ambrose/Harris. This book is a good and basic introduction to graphic design. Maybe a bit to basic I realize, but still good. It has a short historic view and treats subjects like The Golden Section, The grid, and Typography in a very basic manner. A good introduction, and perfect for new students of graphic design or people with beginning interest for this field. I give it four stars because it really is good for beginners, but realize I probably should have bought a book the deepens more into the subject.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The collaborative work of freelance writer, journalist and editor, December 2, 2007

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The collaborative work of freelance writer, journalist and editor Paul Harris and professional graphic designer Gavin Ambrose, "The Layout Book" is a profusely illustrated introduction to the basic principles of graphic design as they have been employed for in the worlds of fashion, the principles of architecture, the creation of art, and the organization of the illustrated printed page. With a wealth of images ranging from magazine covers, to maps, to packaging design, "The Layout Book covers everything from the use of white space, to the measurement of images, to the balancing of lines and geometrical spacing of individual elements into something that is so much greater than the mere assembled sum of its parts. The transformation of image and proportion into graphically designed works of art. "The Layout Book" is the perfect introduction for graphic art design students, and will prove to be of immense interest to non-specialist general readers with an interest in art and design as well. Also very highly recommended from AVA Publishing is Tony Gibbs' "Fundamentals of Sonic Art and Sound Design".