Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design (Paperback)

by Steven Heller (Author), Teresa Fernandes (Author) "Most art schools wisely teach graphic design as a general practice, the theory being that the orchestration of type and image, whether on paper or..." (more)
Key Phrases: many typefaces extant, most fulfilling aspect, environmental graphic design, New York, Design Client, Don Morris (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Back Copy: Here is the complete guide to today's graphic design careers -- a clear and concise survey of the many types of opportunities available in the field. Filled with interviews and advice from leading designers, it covers graphic design media, work types and settings, educational training, portfolio preparation, getting a job, and much more. Flap Copy: The world of graphic design now boasts more opportunities in more industries using a broader range of media than ever before. Becoming a Graphic Designer gives you the information you need to start taking advantage of them -- with a clear and comprehensive survey of today's graphic design careers filled with thoughts and advice from top working designers. Drawing on years of experience in the business, veteran designers Steven Heller and Teresa Fernandes cover everything from education and training, design specialties, and work settings to preparing an effective portfolio and finding a job. They profile the major industries employing graphic designers and explore advertising, corporate, editorial, and other key design disciplines. Both traditional and electronic media are examined in detail -- including print, film titles, TV graphics, Web design, motion graphics, and more. Dozens of up-front interviews with leading graphic designers let you see how companies such as Wired magazine, Martha Stewart Living magazine, and MTV hire and work with employees. These inside perspectives offer invaluable real-world insights on what different industries and positions are really like. And a resource guide to design publications and organizations points the way to further information and guidance. Complete with easy-to-use, compact sections, useful sidebars, and sample design pieces, this outstanding guide is invaluable for anyone interested in launching or developing a career in graphic design. STEVEN HELLER is Art Director of the New York Times Book Review, Editor of the AIGA Journal of Graphic Design, and Chairman of the School of Visual Arts MFA/design program. Teresa Fernandes is a publications designer and art director. Cover Design: Teresa Fernandes

From the Inside Flap
Becoming a Graphic Designer provides a comprehensive survey of the graphic design market, including complete coverage of print and electronic media and the evolving digital design disciplines that offer today’s most sought-after jobs. This visual guide has more than 600 striking illustrations and features the latest mate-rial on interactive design, information design, motion, and more.

Drawing on years of experience in the business, veteran designers Steven Heller and Teresa Fernandes cover everything from education and training, design specialties, and work settings to preparing an effective portfolio and finding a job. They profile major industries employing graphic designers and explore advertising, corporate, editorial, and other key design disciplines.

The major industries covered here include architecture, interactive design, television and film design, publishing, and more. Dozens of up-front interviews with leading graphic designers let you see how companies such as Wired magazine, Martha Stewart Living magazine, and MTV hire and work with employees. These inside perspectives offer invaluable real-world insights on what different industries and positions are really like. And a resource guide to design publications and organizations points the way to further information and guidance.

Complete with easy-to-use, compact sections, useful sidebars, and sample design pieces, this outstanding guide is invaluable for anyone interested in launching or developing a career in graphic design. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471292990
• ISBN-13: 978-0471292999
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #785,279 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Design Career Guide, November 20, 1999

By	Simulacrum - See all my reviews

Everyday, more and more university students are choosing some area of design as a career field. This guidebook is divided into four major information sections: Design Specialties, Design Businesses, Design Options and Design Education, followed by a Resource Guide, which consists of the names and addresses of design-related organizations and publications. Interwoven with these sections are portions of interviews with about 90 design professionals on such subjects as How I Became a Graphic Designer; Advice to Designers; On Personal Style; Major Influences; and The Future of Graphic Design. Other informative features include How Many Graphic Designers Are There? What Do They Earn? and The Optimum Portfolio. For the curious but uninformed, this is very likely the best introduction available. (Copyright by Roy R. Behrens from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol. 15, No. 1, Autumn 1999.)

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Becoming a Graphic Designer : A Guide to Careers in Design, December 7, 1999

By	Jason Williams "3d235" (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews

Coming from a graphic design student in my senior year, this book has been so helpful in pointing me in the direction of where I want to go after I graduate in the spring. BUY THIS BOOK! You won't be disappointed. The insight of the designers featured in this book is very informative.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, June 22, 2000

By	Aimee Hamilton (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews

I can't believe this book. It encompasses everything an aspiring graphic designer needs to know, including art schools, design organizations, and what you need in a portfolio. My teacher lent me this book, and I didn't want to give it back! Get this book!