Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design [Paperback]

Ian Noble (Author), Russell Bestley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2005

Serious graphic design students and creative professionals will find this presentation of quantitative and qualitative research methods in visual communication invaluable. Fully illustrated with eye-opening real-life case studies, it focuses on the relatively unexplored process of design analysis. Illuminating and thought-provoking discussions deal with such issues as the audience, communications theory, experimentation in the studio, semiotics, and semantics. A final section features suggestions on how to synthesize practical and theoretical models, with strategies that working designers can really use.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I found the book relevant and helpful ... Tha layout is good, I particularly like the definitions/explanations available on the bottom of the page." Debra Heffernan, Intercollege Larnaca, Cyprus.

Book Description

Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies is a guide to the practice of researching for graphic design projects. The book explains the key terms and theories that underlie design research; examining the importance of audience, communication theory, semiotics and semantics. Inspirational case studies demonstrate how the use of rigorous research methods can form the basis of effective visual communication and design problem solving.

This new edition is packed with more than 200 color illustrations and includes all new case studies, end of chapter exercises, a new chapter on Visual Grammar and a foreword by Ellen Lupton, an internationally renowned graphic designer, writer, curator and educator. 

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: AVA Publishing (April 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2884790497
• ISBN-13: 978-2884790499
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars horribly designed, March 21, 2011

By 

K. Williams - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Visual Research: An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design (Paperback)

The authors, who I assume also designed the layout and the typography of this book, must not want you to actually read the content. All the main text content is typeset inbetween dotted lines. Seriously, what good designer in their right mind would do this? I couldn't read more than a few sentences at a time because of all the dotted lines inbetween the lines of text. It about gave me a migraine. There might be some good information in this book, but I'll never know because I can't read it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, January 20, 2012

By 

M. Velasco "mv" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Visual Research (2nd ed.): An Introduction to Research Methodologies in Graphic Design (Required Reading Range) (Paperback)

This is a must read for students, academics and professionals who want to learn the basics of visual research.

Don't pay attention to the previous reviewer on Amazon who gave this book one star rating because he didn't like the design of the book itself.

First, the content of this book is extremely valuable and useful. Second, the design of the books does justice to the best of design.

In summary, this is a great book and I would encourage you to buy it.