Rating: 
Summary: Inspiration
Review: This little gem is one of the most inspirational books I have in my graphics library. You open a page and immediately your creative side takes off. That is its purpose. Thumbing through fills your head space with so much energy that it is hard to keep up with all the ideas you want to go with. You had better get an extra one because a single copy will be dogearred before you know it.
Rating: 
Summary: Brainstorming Tool
Review: Though I did not really like some of the design solutions that the author came up with in this book, I did like how the book could be used as a very effective brainstorming tool. It's like an alphabetical index of all of the things you have learned as a designer, but that are sometimes forgotten when you are stumped for an idea. It really is best when you are stuck and looking for another direction to try out, it will motivate you with words such as "Movement", "Humanity" Cartoon" and other small suggestions of how to change the look of what you're working on. Great book for starting designers to keep the ideas flowing. A little rudimentary for more experienced designers who run through this mental checklist everytime we design. But, overall it is worth the money, a good little refresher course on design ideas and principles.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: Why didn't anyone think of this before? There's no shortage of "how to" books, but there are VERY FEW books that actually help you come up with the concepts and "looks" for those images and designs. You've probably got shelves full of books that help you use your computer better and faster, what you need now is a book that will help you use your brain better, faster and more creatively. I can guarantee this book won't end up on your shelf...it'll be parked next to your sketchpad or keyboard at all times!This fat little plastic-bound book has hundreds of well organized and cleverly illustrated images on the right-hand side of each spread, and short topic-relevant sentences on the left. I'm amazed at how quickly it helps me not only run through potential concepts and styles for new projects, but also how it helps me find ways of giving my own not-quite-ready ideas the extra "tweak" needed to bring them up a notch. I can't imagine not having it next to my computer and/or in my carry-all at all times. My advice for freelancers: get one. My advice for agencies and studios: get one for everybody.
| 
