Design Principles and Problems (Paperback)

by Paul Zelanski (Author), Mary Pat Fisher (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This comprehensive text is now updated and includes equitable coverage of fine and commercial art. Media and methods span from the traditional to computer design, and a global emphasis reveals the design solutions seen around the world. The critiquing process begun in the analysis of student examples will be useful to students preparing for applied design disciplines. The art of women and non-Western cultures provide a broad base of visual examples.

Product Details

• Paperback: 334 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 2nd edition (October 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0155016156
• ISBN-13: 978-0155016156
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #77,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book has many strengths, but some important weaknesses, October 20, 1999

By	Richard Hellman ([e-mail]) (Baltimore, Maryland) - See all my reviews

I have used Design Principles and problems for several years to teach Basic Two-Dimensional Design to both art majors and non-art majors. It is clearly written and well structured, with emphasis on the design principles and elements. I particularly like the chapters on the Unifying Principles, Shape and Form, and Color.

There are many excellent projects and student examples, plus an explanation of what each project is trying to achieve.

I do find, however, that I have to suppliment the text with a few chapters from other books and my own notes. Particularly, I am referring to the lack of any depth on the importance of the grid as one important formal way to create structure. Another area I find lacking is a chapter on structure itself with the many sources in nature as examples. The importance of the use of the Golden Mean is also not covered, even while it is still used by many contemporary artists and was used by many artists in 19th century as an understructure in creating a painting. For instance, the analysis on Seurat's "Circus Sideshow" talks about the repetition of the brush strokes, textures, colors, and gaslights as a means to unify the picture but neglects the fact that the entire picture is divided up into squares and rectangles with a loose grid formed by the continuation of the edges of figures and rectangles. It is at once an asymmetrical picture with strong use of approximate symmetry on both sides of the central musician. The Golden Mean is at work in the creation of the proportions in this picture yet is never mentioned.

Because of these shortcomings I continue to look for alternatives and go back to using classics like Lauer's Design Basics from time to time, supplimented with examples from Wucius Wong's books and those of my own students.

All in all, though, Design Principles and Problems has many strengths and it most definitely belongs in your library if you teach Basic Design.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This Has to be Part of the Textbook Mafia, December 3, 2007

By	T. Campbell - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is no way I can give five stars for this book at this price. Only something purporting to be a textbook could get away with this. It is no wonder that college/university students are banding together to split the cost of books, priced as this is, buying from the internet used market, or forgoing the purchase all together.

Its presentation is insulting given its already injurious price. While the content and illustrations do their jobs well, there is no color until about 80% through the book. Any number, maybe most of the illustrations could or should have been presented in color. If there is a point to be shown in a monochrome image, fine. This book was last printed in 1996. The price is today's inflated textbook price. Any book about art, with anything near this one's price should be full of color, anywhere it can be used.

This is a $50 book - max.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative but uninteresting, July 25, 2008

By	Rachel N. Diamond "College student" (Westminster, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is sort of your standard textbook. It tells you what you need to know but doesn;t really engage your artistic or design sense very much. I obviously bought it for use in a class but discontinued using it halfway through the class because I didn't find it to be much help. I definitey referenced it throughout the semester and do not regret buying it but it isn't exactly a book to get excited about.