The Web Designer's Idea Book, Vol. 2: More of the Best Themes, Trends and Styles in Website Design [Paperback]

Patrick McNeil (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2010 | ISBN-10: 160061972X | ISBN-13: 978-1600619724 | Edition: 1

Web Design Inspiration at a Glance

Volume 2 of The Web Designer's Idea Book includes more than 650 new websites arranged thematically, so you can easily find inspiration for your work. Author Patrick McNeil, creator of the popular web design blog designmeltdown.com and author of the original bestselling Web Designer's Idea Book, has cataloged thousands of sites, and showcases the latest and best examples in this book. The web is the most rapidly changing design medium, and this book offers an organized overview of what's happening right now. Sites are categorized by type, design element, styles and themes, structural styles, and structural elements. This new volume also includes a helpful chapter explaining basic design principles and how they can be applied online. Whether you're brainstorming with a coworker or explaining your ideas to a client, this book provides a powerful communication tool you can use to jump start your next project.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patrick McNeil is a freelance web designer, developer, author and teacher.  His blog, designmeltdown.com, presents trends in web design and provides inspiration for designers by organizing the sites thematically.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: HOW Books; 1 edition (September 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160061972X
• ISBN-13: 978-1600619724
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Patrick McNeil's diverse interests have merged web technology and design, resulting in work that touches everything from high design to hard-core programming. Ultimately, his love for design, inspiration, and sharing knowledge has fueled his passion for running Design Meltdown, where he has cataloged and observed web design trends over the last few years.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars INSANELY good compilation of styles and inspiration September 2, 2010

By TexasAggie

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

First, if you don't have the first one, you're missing out. They fit together perfectly... hopefully the start of a long series!

The Web Designer's Idea Book: The Ultimate Guide To Themes, Trends & Styles In Website Design

Like the first volume, this is full of carefully picked examples of the best in modern web design. It's organized into very clever topics making it the perfect reference book. It's loaded with screenshots, screenshots, and more screenshots... just as before, but all new, and more recent.

In this version, the screenshots are even larger and easier to pick up on detail and text. They've also included "Developer Notes" which I think are pretty insightful and in context.

If you are involved in web design in any way (even if you're hiring other people to do it), this book will be super handy. The two editions are the same size and style... they're intended to be on the bookshelf together. With the two combined, there must be a thousand organized designs to look through. The amount of work that went into collecting such quality work without "filler" junk is astounding.

I'm really impressed... if you can't tell!

On the negative side: I'd personally prefer these came in large hardback coffee-table books. While maybe not as handy, it certainly would be great to have around the agency. Maybe after the 3rd edition, they should release a combined volume!

51 of 55 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing, pretty skimpy book January 30, 2011

By E. Lee

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I think this book has a brilliant and potentially terrifically useful idea -- lots of examples of great websites -- but unfortunately the book was mostly useless for me. The main problem is perhaps subjective -- the author seems most interested in the design principles from the 90s -- flipping through the book, about HALF the examples feature a white font with a black (or very dark) background. Those of us with high-converting websites know that most major sites (e-commerce, publishing, major blogs with lots of traffic, social sites, search sites -- basically, most companies that make money) eschew these aesthetics because they convert POORLY. Those kinds of pages might look great in a museum, but they make less money on the web. The author dedicates 5 pages to "ultra-clean" design -- those 5 pages were useful for the kind of information I am looking for. But, if you are making a graphics intensive website that prioritizes very interesting visuals over what many people have learned actually converts and succeeds (clean design, clarity, clear all to action, simplicity, etc.), this book could be 4 stars for you (it wouldn't be a 5 star for anyone, IMO, because it's too short and the analysis is way too skimpy).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Where design is going ... September 2, 2010

By m burwell

Format:Paperback

This the second of two comprehensive, up to date books. Great for the talented wanna-be web designer or already-is web designer but needs inspiration to get to the next level and see patterns in beautiful web design. Organization of this book is beautifully laid out and easy to reference. The author really knows good web design. The pictures are rich with color. Absolutely love the spot varnish on the cover.
Anyone who wants to know where design is going should buy this book. I have ordered several for my friends who are thinking of getting into this field or already are...!