Design Basics: Ideas and Inspiration for Working with Layout, Type, and Color in Graphic Design

Rating:
Summary: Coffee Table Book
Review: This book is supposed to explain "what makes a design's layout compelling" (it doesn't), show "myriad ways type can be used" (definitely not, most of the time the author doesn't even tell you what type face is being used), and demonstrate how to use "color to get the message across" (yes, there are some nice examples here but no CMYK or RGB color guide).

More often than not, this book resembles a coffee table book-- nice images, little information, weak analysis, and nothing noteworthy to learn. Basically, you buy this book to just flip, flip, flip, and then you are done with it. Still, it has a couple of nice images to look at, and maybe give you an idea or two, so it gets 2 stars. But don't buy it if you are seeking inspiration or if you want to learn to design.