DIY Graphic Workshop
Design-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop is not a design theory book—it is a design instruction book. To my way of thinking, a design theory book examines abstract concepts such as contrast, symmetry, and white space, under the assumption that if you learn to think the thoughts of a designer, you will be a designer.
I'm not sure it's that easy. I think the capacity to visualize and compose is influenced by more than theory. Some mix of natural talent and experience seems to play a significant enough role that I doubt many of us could get the desired result by simply understanding a premise.
I propose an different approach: to show you, in meticulous detail, how I do it, and to let you to choose the parts of the process that best match your way of doing things. It includes:
DETAILED, STEP-BY-STEP PRODUCTION CHECKLISTS guide you through the intricacies of production—from determining the customer benefit and choosing a style, to finding a commercial printer and evaluating the final printed product.
HUNDREDS OF ILLUSTRATIONS jam-packed with creative ideas and intelligent tips about developing, designing, and producing stunning logos, newsletters, business cards, and letterheads.
COMPLETE DESIGN RECIPES reveal all the details of every project—page dimensions, typeface names and sizes, sources of photography and illustration, and color palettes you are encouraged to copy.
NEW IDEAS get your creative juices flowing
FROM A MARKETER’S DESIGNER—If you're like me, you want to create designs that are more than mere decoration—the best designs move people to action.
FOR ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE—whether you’re a seasoned pro, a design student, a part time graphic artist, or a non-designer whose job requires design skills—you’ll discover many valuable insights, intelligent tips, and detailed information.
GRAPHIC WORKSHOP is a compilation of two of my Design-it-Yourself books—Design It Yourself: Logos, Letterheads, and Business Cards and Design-it-Yourself: Newsletters. It is written for both designers and non-designers in layman's language. New- and non-designers tell me it helped them understand the basic process—experienced designers appreciate seeing how another designer navigates familiar territory.
HOW TO USE IT
Each section is divided into two parts. Part 1: Step-By-Step Design, covers the steps necessary to research, design, and produce the subject matter. For example, for logos, we discuss how to create a name, write a benefits-oriented tag line, and how to choose the right tools and most effective resources. It includes eight ways to design a logo and shows you how to add important functionality to your business cards and letterheads. I even help you find a commercial printer and choose the right paper to print your letterhead on.
Part 2 features detailed Design Recipes—diagrams that show and tell you page layouts and dimensions, typeface names and sizes, specific color suggestions, even the sources of graphics and photography. Think of it as a cookbook. Instead of discussing the history of the stove and the intricacies of milling flour, I show you how to bake a cake. CHUCK GREEN
REVIEWS OF DESIGN-IT-YOURSELF GRAPHIC WORKSHOP
"Chuck Green is a master of the creative small project. His ideas are bright, his designs are beautiful, and his instructions are crystal clear. Whether it's a logo, letterhead, business card or newsletter, when what you need is a jump start, there's no better place to turn." JOHN MCWADE, Editor of Before & After magazine
"Designing anything yourself is a scary process. There are dozens of things you don't consider in advance. Chuck's book takes the hassle out of design. It's simple, step by step and so very elegant. If you want your design to look like a million bucks, get this book. You will never regret it." SEAN D'SOUZA, CEO of PsychoTactics.com
"Every graphic artist—whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out—would benefit (greatly) from buying this book. After reading and applying the author's tips and techniques, I bet you will want to join the Chuck Green fan club, too." LEE SILBER, Award-Winning Author and Designer, and host of www.creativelee.com
"Chuck Green hits another home run! Well laid out, lots of good ideas, details, and alternatives. In addition to providing a step-by-step guide for non-designers, Design-it-Yourself makes it easy to establish an enthusiastic dialog between professional designers and their clients. The book saves hours of effort and helps propel meetings forward." ROGER C. PARKER, Author of Looking Good in Print and Roger C. Parker's One-Minute Designer
"I’ve poured through the design bookshelves looking for something instructional to help get me started in my budding graphic design business, and Chuck Green’s book was just what I needed. I devoured it in one weekend. It breaks down the design process into manageable, easy-to-understand steps in the form of checklists, and provides tons of design examples to help you get your creative juices flowing. It doesn’t just SHOW you good design ideas, it EXPLAINS why they’re good, and why they work." ALEXANDRIA JIMENEZ, Sole Proprietor of AJ Designs
"Chuck’s approach in this book is to present you with both a finished product for inspiration and with instructions on how to recreate each look and adapt each design to your own needs. Although he mentions in the introduction that it is for the non-designer, I have no problem recommending it to those who also make a living as designers. Seeing another designer’s approach to the entire process is valuable to developing and improving our own skills." JACCI HOWARD BEAR, Desktop Publishing host at desktoppub.about.com
"Chuck Green’s attractive, practical examples are brilliant—with styles that run the gamut from traditional to modern, friendly to serious. Always tasteful, professional, and distinctive. Non-designers will find them easy to copy. Professional designers will use them as inspiring and helpful building blocks. Green’s consistent creativity and clarity make this a model for what design books should be." DANIEL WILL-HARRIS, host of www.will-harris.com
"I’m a beginning graphic design artist finding myself saddled with large, complex, high-budget projects. In my situation, I have to learn fast. Design-it-Yourself is the first publication I’ve read that gives me examples and SHOWS ME how to carry them out." ALISON VALLOCCHIA, Designer
"Another outstanding book by Chuck Green! Lots of designers throw around the term “less is more,” but few pull it off so successfully. Green’s designs are a perfect balance of shape and contrast, image and word. They just look and feel right. Design-it-Yourself includes the insights and how-to recipes that make it worth its weight in gold." RICK KELLY, Director Interactive Media Design, Indigo Productions, Inc.
Design-It-Yourself: Graphic Workshop $39.95352 pages; ISBN 1592530885
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