An inspired resource for creating meaningful design, Layout Workbook is one of five volumes in Rockport's series of practical and inspirational books that cover the fundamental areas of graphic design. In this edition, author Kristin Cullen tackles the often perplexing job of nailing down a layout that works. More than a collection of great examples, this book is a valuable resource for students, designers, and creative professionals who seek design understanding and inspiration. The book illuminates the broad category of layout, communicating specifically what it takes to design with excellence. It also addresses the how and why of the creative process. Cullen approaches layout with a series of step-by-step fundamental chapters addressing topics such as design function, inspiration, process, intuition, structure, organization, the interaction of visual elements, typography, and design analysis.
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About the Author
Kristin Cullen is a graphic designer, author, and educator based in Chicago. Her work has appeared in national and international exhibits, as well as publications that include American Corporate Identity, Graphic Design USA, Graphis Poster Annual, HOW, and Print. She also wrote Design Elements, Typography Fundamentals: A Graphic Style Manual for Understanding How Typography Affects Design, published by Rockport Publishers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
137 of 140 people found the following review helpful
By Jared
Format:Hardcover
An excellent book on the basics of graphic design. One of the hardest books to find (despite the seeming abundance of them being published) is a well rounded book of design that is useful to both the beginning and advanced student of graphic design. This book provides a strong overview of topics ranging from the pragmatic (project briefs, client interaction) and the technical (grids, hierarchies, typography) to the elusive (intuition, conceptualization). It also provides specific information (anatomy of grids, use of em and en dashes, classification of typefaces) that I've had to go to separate books for in the past. As the title implies though, it does not cover issues that don't directly relate to graphic layouts (e.g. logos, signage, websites) though many of the principles can be applied to them. It also does not delve deeply into color systems, just looking at the role of color in hierarchies and compositions.
I find the title slightly misleading in that it is not what I would normally consider a workbook. It covers the entire design process step by step, so in that sense its very instructional but when I think of workbooks I imagine sample projects, worksheets, etc. It has more in common with an instructional / reference / design specimen book (a third of the book is a catalog of design projects done by professional designers). As mentioned above its focus is print layouts so there is little direct reference to web or interface design.
Overall, it is a well conceived, well designed book that gives a design student the basics of print design and can replace a variety of other books on your shelf.
I find the title slightly misleading in that it is not what I would normally consider a workbook. It covers the entire design process step by step, so in that sense its very instructional but when I think of workbooks I imagine sample projects, worksheets, etc. It has more in common with an instructional / reference / design specimen book (a third of the book is a catalog of design projects done by professional designers). As mentioned above its focus is print layouts so there is little direct reference to web or interface design.
Overall, it is a well conceived, well designed book that gives a design student the basics of print design and can replace a variety of other books on your shelf.
43 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By M. Sorenson
Format:Hardcover
The Layout Workbook if not only thorough in covering the fundamentals of designing a layout, but in addition the second half of the book contains a gallery of examples of successful layout.
Another of my favorite features is that the author not only addresses the topics like "grid" and "space" but they also cover the mental process behind design; there is a section just about intuition and creativity.
Above all the book was enjoyable to read - not just informative.
Another of my favorite features is that the author not only addresses the topics like "grid" and "space" but they also cover the mental process behind design; there is a section just about intuition and creativity.
Above all the book was enjoyable to read - not just informative.
81 of 98 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ok, so what does the word "workbook" mean to you? To me it means there will be exercises in the book for the reader to complete which aid in learning. Not in "The Layout Workbook" there aren't. I realize that a topic as subjective as graphic design isn't the easiest to do that for without an instructor actually looking at what you do, but I'm disappointed that there isn't something more hands-on than sidebars with factors to consider in a design. Designers who've been to art school probably already know everything in this book and have no need for it but those of us flying by the seat of our pants could use all the help they can get. And holy smokes, NO INDEX!! That said, the information in the book is extremely useful, but it is a mostly narrative-based presentation of information with example pieces telling "what works" (not even any examples of "what doesn't work"), but it isn't a "workbook".
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for inspiration
I had use this book for design layout inspiration, and I find it very helpful. There is not a lot of reading to do for those who have short attention span, however they cover the... Read more
Published 23 days ago by unique
4.0 out of 5 stars
Graphic Must
This book covers all of the categories critical to good graphic design. The writing is succinct. Oddly I find some of the typography a little off for readability. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cathy
4.0 out of 5 stars
A dream
This book really helps the designer or art director to get inspiration and to understand the fundamentals of print design. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Zella Llerena
4.0 out of 5 stars
More than a layout book!!
This was required in a college design course and I found it most useful. What was the best though was the use of pictures and illustrations!! Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. Parker
5.0 out of 5 stars
How I found this book
I don't remember how I found this book, or why I bought it.
It changed my life.
This book is the reason I decided to change my major and apply for the Digital... Read more
It changed my life.
This book is the reason I decided to change my major and apply for the Digital... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Zach B
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Guide
This book is an excellent guide for Graphic Designers to help them with creative process and it gives inspiration, real world examples and much, much more. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kalikitty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Happy
Extremely Satisfied with my purchase and at how fast everything arrived.I would definitely by from this person again. A+ all around,
Published 4 months ago by Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love it.
It's a book filled with magic and wonder...and ideas. If you've hit a creative wall, open this book to any page and just read...it'll come to you.
Published 6 months ago by lpedreros
2.0 out of 5 stars
Elementary Information and Terrible Graphic Design
This book contains some elementary information about typography and layout, but the examples are TERRIBLE and the actually layout of this book is also TERRIBLE! Read more
Published 6 months ago by Scott Mclendon
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not such a good buy
I only had to read the first few pages of this to realize that this book was designed by a "designer"... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Xim1970
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 9
books:
See all 9 books this book cites
- Layout: The Design of the Printed Page by Allen Hulbert in Back Matter
- Type and Typography by Phil Baines in Back Matter
- The Grid: A Modular System for the Design and Production of Newpapers, Magazines, and Books by Allen Hurlburt in Back Matter
- Design, Form, and Chaos by Mr. Paul Rand in Back Matter
- Interaction of Color: Revised and Expanded Edition by Josef Albers on page 134
See all 9 books this book cites
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