D.I.Y.: Design It Yourself (Design Handbooks) (Paperback)

~ Ellen Lupton (Author) "This book is for people from all walks of life who want to publish words, images, and ideas on paper, on t-shirts, on the Web,..." (more)
Key Phrases: binding studs, wall graphics, office labels, Veronica Semeco, Nancy Froehlich, Dan Meyers (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Its not so much no brand as just be your own brand" -- Jason Tinney --UbaniteBaltimore.com:

"...she wasnt saying, Lets teach everybody to do what we do, but rather, Let them do what we used to do - create ephemeral artifacts. Well learn to use our talents for a higher purpose, to make significant ideas public." -- Ellen Shapiro --Print

"A fun-filled, project-based primer in visual literacy that encourages the aesthetically inclined to get intimate with the design process and become a DIY digital cowboy." --Utne

"Design is a way of thinking and creating that is accessible to everyone." --Coral Gables Living

"Ellen Lupton believes that you - yes, you - are a brilliant designer.

It does'nt matter if you are colorblind, or if you can't draw., or if you have never been sure whether shagreen is something wallets are made of or something that goes in salads at fancy restaurants. " -- Jeff Turrentine --Staten Island Advance, March, 2006

"Finally - good design for the masses! This fabulously designed (of course) book was produced collaboratively by the self-described bastard children of the fine arts: MICA graphic design students and faculty....Each page is an open invitation to reinvent your world, as well as yourself." -- Goli Mohammadi --Make: Technology on Your Time:

"Her goals are revolutionary, and her manifesto goes something like this: Each one of us has a unique way of looking at, and dealing with, the everyday world. So why shouldn't the basic units of that world - coffee cups, envelopes, business cards, tote bags - bear our individual stamp? Multinational corporations put their brand on everything they make. Why can't you and I have our own brands too?" --Courier, March, 2006

"I love the aesthetic of the book. It has a really young, contemporary feel, rather than that grandmotherly style found in a lot of craft books. I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time with D.I.Y." --Gwinnett Daily Post, June 18, 2006

"If Martha Stewart transmogrified into a passel of inventive 20- and 30-somethings, she might have come up with this design handbook about everyday art, which has chapters on everything from books and blogs to invitations, newsletters, posters, stationary, fliers, press packets and t-shirts." --Baltimore Sun

"It's a book. No, it's a web site. Wait! It's both. The book shows you how to create business cards, flyers, invitations . . . and lots more, all packaged in a sophisticated design for non-designers. If you visit the web site, you can pick a project and find design guides to download and a list of fabulous resources to take you farther." --Skirt!

"Lupton is determined to bring basic design skills to the masses." --House and Garden

"On the offing are inspired suggestions for how to customize business cards, clothing, press kits, and zines. If you've got creative juice, D.I.Y. will get it flowing." --ReadyMade

"This book is more than a handbook--it's an empowerment tool. There's something here to bring out the designer in everyone . . . So if you're getting tired of ubiquitous corporate brands, pick up this book and get started on a more personal and meaningful alternative." --Baltimore Magazine, May 2006

"Todays D.I.Y. ethic emphasizes customization over craft. The point is not to perfect an underlying skill, but to produce something thats yours alone." --Print

"What separates DIY from other craft books is that Lupton is hoping the projects inspired by it will not just end up on somebody's bedroom shelf. She and her students want the objects to go out into the world, as tangible emissaries of individual creativity. Inspiration begets inspiration." --Washington Post, April 2006

"Whatever your aim, you'll find clever ideas, intriguing examples and inspirational starting points." --Computer Arts

"Whether youre truely artistically inclined or just aspire to be, thi sbook will make you feel like Michelangelo sculpting away at the David.Corporate America should be worried..." -- Joanna Munoz --URB Magazine

"With technological advances, everyone can be a graphic designer if only to create a personal Web presence, video, CD label, photo book, personal papers, newsletter, T-shirt, greeting card." -- DK Holland --Communication Arts

"a hip head-on dive into the world of creative arts...The book offers practical tips on everything from bogging and web site design to how to make a more personal statement with business cards and party invitations." -- Jordan Bartel --Carrol County Times

...this book offers constructive and elegant projects that are easy to understand for a range of abilities. -- Bust, Feb/Mar 2006

A crash course in promotion and visual design, D.I.Y.: Design It Yourself is the perfect book for anyone looking to pimp their brand, their band, their blog or just their Christmas card list. -- Penascola Independent News, November 29, 2007

Dispense With Designers, She Says - Create It Yourself

"D.I.Y.: Design It Yourself is probably the only home-crafts book out there that shows you how to apply a screen print to a throw pillow on one page and extensively quotes the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci on another." -- Jeff Turrentine --The Philadelphia Inquirer, March, 2006

Lupton wants the objects to go out into the world, as emissaries of individual creativity. Inspiration begets inspiration. -- Syndicated-Washington Post, Philadelphia Enquirer, etc., March 2006

Simple ideas and concepts are repackaged into sophisticated design solutions for all lifestyles. This book beautifully shows that there are creative uses for anything, from bags, to stagionary, T-shirts, coasters, logos,.. you name it. You Can Do It Too :)- Elke Gasselseder from Baltimore --Just Do It... Yourself (rating 5 out of 5)

Review

Putting Your Stamp On Everyday Items

"(D.I.Y.) aims to show readers who long to put their personal imprints on everyday items and products how to do just that."

"(D.I.Y.) fills the gap between a designer's knowledge and an average person's vision, showing how to create everything from web blogs and business cards to unique gifts, eye-catching flyers and newsletters, stickers, t-shirts and more." -- James A. Cox

"a newbie's look at the world of graphic design that should appeal to even the most jaded Quark jockey.

Perhaps more importantly, the book is a document of our modern world, where blogging, customized clothing, and handmade posters are the norm." -- J. Bowers

"I love the aesthetic of the book. It has a really young, contemporary feel, rather than that grandmotherly style found in a lot of craft books. I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time with D.I.Y."

"Design ideas and tips for anyone who enjoys publishing and photography and design on paper, T-shirts or the web."

"Blending just the right amount of theory and technique, this book offers constructive and elegant projects that are easy to understand for a range of abilities."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (January 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568985525
• ISBN-13: 978-1568985527
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,241 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book for Already Talented Readers, August 26, 2006

By	Mindy Elle "Do-It-Yourself-er at Heart" (Plainsboro, NJ) - See all my reviews

This is a terrific book for ideas all across the board! I bought this book after flipping through it at a friends and was excited to see so many hip and unique ideas. I modeled my wedding invitations after an example from the book and have gotten compliments from all of the invitees! This is an amazing "get you thinking" book. The only drawback, there are no instructions or tips for carrying out the projects, so... you should have some crafting/design knowledge before picking this book up. I would highly recommend it for adventurous souls who want to create something out of the ordinary, or for anyone looking for fresh, new ideas. I've even purchased another copy to give as a gift to a design-oriented friend!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I <3 this book!!!!, August 9, 2006

By	Liv Watson "oliviarand" (Stillwater, OK) - See all my reviews

DIY is probably my favorite do-it-yourself book I've ever bought! When I first got it I was like, "oh, great some expensive, useless, technical stuff to read about. What a waste of money."
But, once I started reading it, I realized how great this really was. having my own clothing brand was something that I've always dreamed of, but it seemed so far away from me. But, DIY made it look so easy and inexpensive.
I've tried lots of the projects and there are so many awesome ideas in this book. I love the ideas for postcards, books and t-shirts.
Though most of the projects are for the more technically inclined, I loved this book and I am using some of the ideas for hangtags, business cards, and logos for my own brand, These Days.
I ended up finding something I wasn't even really looking for: The greatest design handbook ever!!!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Who is this book for?, July 12, 2007

By	Claire Monet (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I know a little about Lupton's career -- teaching, writing, and curating shows. She seems very intelligent, but I don't understand who this book is really for. Beginning or advanced people? Crafters or designers? Some of the ideas in this book (wrapping paper) are so obvious that I think anyone with an ounce of creativity has already figured them out. Some things (commercial embroidery) seem very advanced and specialized, and not useful to most people. The layout of the book is nice, but the content is very inconsistent. Was this really a student project, as someone mentioned? If so, I think Lupton should have made more of an effort to make sure that everything came together and made for a coherent whole. I think there are better DIY books out there.