A Smile in the Mind (Paperback)

by Beryl McAlhone (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This text explores witty thinking, looking at clever ideas rather than funny drawing, and gathering together the best examples of graphic wit since the 1960s. Work is included from more than 300 designers in the US, Britain, Europe and Japan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (August 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714838128
• ISBN-13: 978-0714838120
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #381,785 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think twice before buying!, August 19, 2000

By	Glenn Sakamoto (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If graphic design to you is pretty decoration and the latest cool font then this book is not for you...

However, if you want to gain the ability to apply witty and conceptual thinking to create communicative and memorable graphic images, then buy this book!

Concept and wit (two forgotten tools in the "computer first" design education in today's schools) can aid the designer in creating work that provokes the viewer to solve clues in his/her mind, sometimes resulting in a smile or "aha!" When this happens the graphic image leaves a lasting impression because the viewer has participated in it's closure.

Some may consider the contents of the book "old school." But good examples of wit and ideas are two things that will never go out of style!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars for a worthy referencial work, September 22, 2003

By	torquemada "sweating_demon" (beirut, lebanon) - See all my reviews

this book has an awesome collection of works by hot shot designers plus the 'receipe' for their displayed idea. this adds significant amounts of life and meaning and fun into this book. however, i cite it as a reference because most of the designed works in it are frozen in the past and will most likely need a rejuvenation process before long. the only timeless part in that book is the 'wit' section. this is something a designer must have to stay afloat in a continuously steeper competition. my rating goes for this only. again, 90% of the featured designs are the now dusty images of pentagram, the partners and the like. actual design doesnt look like this anymore. if that's what you're looking for, check out books by Metadesign, or Bruce Mau.
do i advice you to get this book? if you're a designer, YES because our past is a rough draft for a better future and there's no use denying it. amateurs and computer-only freaks will not find this book helpful at all.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Desert island book, December 24, 2003

By	martin neumeier (San Francisco, CA, United States) - See all my reviews

I've been doing (and reviewing) graphic design for three decades now, and this is the one book that I recommend every designer have on his or her shelf. Why? Because it not only contains some of the wittiest design from the last couple of decades, but it takes a good stab at explaining what made it witty in the first place. Interestingly, you quickly learn that what makes design witty is pretty much the same thing that makes it innovative. If you're intent on mastering the art of graphic design, or if, like Paul Rand, you just want to know what you're doing, this is your book. Personally, if I were stuck on a desert island and could only have one book, this would be it. A delight from start to finish.