Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

New in Paperback! An inspired resource for creating excellent layouts

Layout Workbook is one of five volumes in Rockport's series of practical and inspirational workbooks that cover the fundamental areas of the graphic design business. In this edition, author Kristin Cullen tackles the often perplexing job of nailing down a layout that works.

More than a collection of great examples of layout, this book is an invaluable resource for students, designers, and creative professionals who seek design understanding and inspiration. The book illuminates the broad category of layout, communicating specifically what it takes to design with excellence. It also addresses the heart of design-the how and why of the creative process.

Cullen approaches layout with a series of step-by-step fundamental chapters (a "how-to" of layout) addressing topics such as The Function of Design, Inspiration, The Design Process, Intuition, Structure and Organization, The Interaction of Visual Elements, Typography, and Design Analysis. The book offers inspirational quotations and a unique, progressive design that truly reflects its content.

About the Author

Kristin Cullen teaches graphic design at the University of Cincinnati and has also taught at the University of Illinois and the Rhode Island School of Design. For years, she worked as a designer at award-winning Chicago design firms, where she created a wide range of communication materials. Kristin lives in Cincinnati, OH.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592533523
• ISBN-13: 978-1592533527
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,367 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a design book, November 14, 2005

By	Jared - See all my reviews

This review is from: Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design (Hardcover)

An excellent book on the basics of graphic design. One of the hardest books to find (despite the seeming abundance of them being published) is a well rounded book of design that is useful to both the beginning and advanced student of graphic design. This book provides a strong overview of topics ranging from the pragmatic (project briefs, client interaction) and the technical (grids, hierarchies, typography) to the elusive (intuition, conceptualization). It also provides specific information (anatomy of grids, use of em and en dashes, classification of typefaces) that I've had to go to separate books for in the past. As the title implies though, it does not cover issues that don't directly relate to graphic layouts (e.g. logos, signage, websites) though many of the principles can be applied to them. It also does not delve deeply into color systems, just looking at the role of color in hierarchies and compositions.

I find the title slightly misleading in that it is not what I would normally consider a workbook. It covers the entire design process step by step, so in that sense its very instructional but when I think of workbooks I imagine sample projects, worksheets, etc. It has more in common with an instructional / reference / design specimen book (a third of the book is a catalog of design projects done by professional designers). As mentioned above its focus is print layouts so there is little direct reference to web or interface design.

Overall, it is a well conceived, well designed book that gives a design student the basics of print design and can replace a variety of other books on your shelf.

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great balance, March 16, 2006

By	M. Sorenson (Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design (Hardcover)

The Layout Workbook if not only thorough in covering the fundamentals of designing a layout, but in addition the second half of the book contains a gallery of examples of successful layout.

Another of my favorite features is that the author not only addresses the topics like "grid" and "space" but they also cover the mental process behind design; there is a section just about intuition and creativity.

Above all the book was enjoyable to read - not just informative.

40 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars disappointed!, September 4, 2007

By	alpha_grrl (Olympia, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

Ok, so what does the word "workbook" mean to you? To me it means there will be exercises in the book for the reader to complete which aid in learning. Not in "The Layout Workbook" there aren't. I realize that a topic as subjective as graphic design isn't the easiest to do that for without an instructor actually looking at what you do, but I'm disappointed that there isn't something more hands-on than sidebars with factors to consider in a design. Designers who've been to art school probably already know everything in this book and have no need for it but those of us flying by the seat of our pants could use all the help they can get. And holy smokes, NO INDEX!! That said, the information in the book is extremely useful, but it is a mostly narrative-based presentation of information with example pieces telling "what works" (not even any examples of "what doesn't work"), but it isn't a "workbook".