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Robin Williams Design Workshop (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: oldstyle numbers, lining numbers, centered alignment, Guilty Looks, Ballyhoo Headquarters, New Mexico (more...)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you just stumbled into design, maybe via a hobby that grew into a career, and you want to improve your work without having to enroll in a degree program, this book can bridge some of the gaps in your acumen. Not really a primer on basic facts, Design Workshop is more like a guide to style.

The first chapter quizzes readers on mostly technical, basic details of design (like dpi), all of which can be found in Williams's previous publications (for example, The Non-Designer's Design Book). Readers will be dismayed, possibly annoyed, that the quiz answers are not provided. Even if not knowing the answers means that you need remedial help, it feels like a bit of a tease.

The next chapters show how to use stock images, or your own images, to increase the visual impact of your piece (basically through an increase in contrast). The best part of this section, and the book as a whole, is the "before-and-after" approach in the examples; they're like a series of makeovers. The captions effectively describe what was changed in the image, and how it improved the design.

The book applies a similar set of makeovers to various types of design projects: logos, forms, newsletters, tables of contents, etc. In the final section, seven designers, including coauthor Tollett, break down the process that they went through on a job of their own.

Self-taught graphic designers probably would make the best audience for this book, but designers who are of their own "school of thought" might find fault with some of the tenets that are put forth. Graphic design by nature is a subjective enterprise--at the mercy of "styles." What you get in this book is more of a "desktop-publisher style" (many of the drawings are clip art, for example). There's a lack of sophistication in the design of the book, as well as in the illustrations of posters, letterheads, advertisements, and other applications that are used as examples. On the other hand, this same open, naive look gives the book an inviting appeal, and makes it perhaps a bit less daunting than style guides, such as Robert Bringhurst's The Elements of Typographic Style, that are intended for die-hard professionals. --Angelynn Grant

Topics covered:

Style advice for design projects, including:

  • Logos
  • Business cards and letterhead
  • Invoices and forms
  • Advertising
  • Billboards
  • Web sites
  • Tables of contents and indices
  • Newsletters and brochures
  • Flyers


Product Description

A colorful tutorial in creative design, with advice and lessons in composition, visual impact, and design challenges. Filled with hundreds of full-color examples, the ideas in this text tackle design theory, visual puns, and layout and graphics for real-world projects. Softcover.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Peachpit Press (November 5, 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0201700883
  • ISBN-13: 978-0201700886
  • 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 (38 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #353,291 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Authors

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Robin Williams
Robin Williams
John Tollett
John Tollett

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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oldstyle numbers, lining numbers, centered alignment, corporate look
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Guilty Looks, Ballyhoo Headquarters, New Mexico, Designer Exercise, Landon Dowlen, Center Alley, Url Ratz, Frankfurt Bookfair, Daisies Please, Outlook Express, Public Schools, Banyan Wines, Marcia Reefsdotter, Toad Hall Bring, Carmen Sheldon, Hormone Derange, Sandee Cohen, Former Huskivgs, Robin Williams, Adobe Publishing, Santa Rosa, Truchas Admission, Powerhouse Road, World Wide Web, The Non-Designer's Design Book
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Customer Reviews

38 Reviews
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 (27)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (38 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Non-designers get another boost!, November 7, 2001
By R. Stephen Gracey (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
As a self-taught, working graphic designer, I am indebted once again to Robin Williams' clear, principle-based teaching approach. Having become her fan through the "Non-Designer" book series, I found this one the best help yet.

Williams gives us more principles of sound design, which she then shows at work through a series of daily applications--letterhead, web sites, brochures, etc. She uses the principles in example after example, explaining why they are examples of good or blah design. I return to her examples again and again for simple ideas to juice up my non-profit communications and raise my customers' expectations of visual communication.

Snazzy pictures, lots of ideas, and comforting encouragement all make this one an essential part of my reference library.

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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference, March 8, 2001
By Frank Sinkavich (York, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Robin Williams Design Workshop is a well written text that contains a lot of valuable information for both beginners and those already familiar with desk top publishing. Design Workshop gives you some new ways to look at things, including many good examples that demonstrate concepts discussed in the text. Design Workshop is directed at those who have some existing knowledge on the areas of typography, graphics, and layout software. However, she presents short quizzes that allow you to test your knowledge and if you feel the need, she also provides references where the information can be found. I do a lot of advertising layouts in addition to a quarterly newsletter that will benefit from the information and ideas discussed in the book. Robin Williams Design Workshop is the kind of a book you will read more than once-a good reference.
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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great learning experience, May 1, 2001
By A Customer
I am not a graphics artist nor an art student. I needed some ideas for a project and this book came in very handy. I learned a lot from "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by the same author and when I saw this book, I just had to get it. It is one of my best investments yet. I love learning new things and this book opened my eyes to many aspects of design.

At first, I was almost going to give up and hand over the project to a professional but after reading the book, I found many helpful ideas and was inspired to give it a try on my own. I produced a flyer, a Flash presentation, a product logo and a report layout and cover based on the lessons from these two books. I will not claim that they are works of art but many friends and clients have complemented on the outcome. Some of my clients even thought that I had had them professionally done.

Although there are others who will say that some of us just has the flair for designing, I don't think I would have been able to do all that without the help of these two books. For those of you who wish to create artwork for print, I would recommend starting with "The Non-Designer's Design Book" and then advancing to this book. Also check out some other books by the same publisher mentioned in the introductory chapter of this book.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Outdated but can provide inspiration
Interesting book, could give you some ideas for improving design. But I find that it's outdated and not as modern as I would've hoped.
Published 4 months ago by Jordan N. Garn

5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied customer
I'm very happy with my purchase. The product was in perfect condition and I recieved it in a timely manner.

I am very satisfied with the product and service provided.
Published 11 months ago by Ryan Sutherland

5.0 out of 5 stars very accessible
All of Robin Williams' design books are not only well-written, but extremely accessible, and this one is no exception. In fact, this is my favorite of all of her books. Read more
Published 13 months ago by W. Mate

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great service
I lived actually in Spain and the sender estimate that my item will last at las more than a month, but it arrives in excellent conditions by the 2 first weeks.
Published 16 months ago by Jorge-luis Landivar Ycaza

5.0 out of 5 stars Love the follow up
The second edition was needed, but could be more meatier than adding a few extra insights from the first version. But hey, I love the writer.
Published 23 months ago by Jodel

2.0 out of 5 stars Only for beginners
This book was used as the textbook for a class I took. I was very dissappointed. The info was from first year design classes, and there were even suggestions given that are common... Read more
Published on November 3, 2007 by Sandoer Berg

5.0 out of 5 stars Robin Williams Design Workshop (2nd Edition)
Book has excellant information, good examples, and plenty of suggestions and recommendations. Easy to understand with many design images.
Published on September 26, 2007 by MYO

4.0 out of 5 stars Design workshop book review
The book is an excellent tool to assist in text layout for various documents, ads, marketing pieces etc. Read more
Published on September 19, 2007 by Kirk J. Pinto

4.0 out of 5 stars A Worthwhile Workshop
Not as compelling as her Non-Designers Design Book, but useful and inspiring nonetheless. I find this book useful when trying to solve design problems in my own business... Read more
Published on May 5, 2007 by Nchekwube J. Okonkwo

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful
I found this book to be very helpful and easy to understand. Examples of what to do and what not to do are very clear and provide many "aha" moments when you realize how much... Read more
Published on November 9, 2006 by T. Moore

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