On Screen In Time: Transitions in Motion Graphic Design for Film, TV and New Media

Rating:
Summary: Inspiration for the Eye & Mind
Review: I have been collecting design books for over 20 years and motion graphics is one area of design that has been incredibly underrepresented in print. Sure, there are lots of books on how to use Final Cut or After Effects, but few and far between showcasing the best work being done in the industry. Goux & Houff have done an amazing job of representing the moving in still images. The book is beautifully designed and jam packed with eye candy - every page an inspiration. This book is a must have if you are interested in the field of motion graphics. Use it to give yourself a break from all those mind-numbing tutorials. Oh, and did I mention I want to be Elaine Cantwell...

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: There are loads of useful books on motion graphics, but this one is not only useful/helpful, but highly enjoyable -- and inspiring. The writing is wonderful and the images are beautifully done, but the interviews really make this book stand out.

On Screen In Time is a gem -- I highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: The best book on motion graphic design yet published
Review: This book is a well-crafted homage to a new field of design, and offers remarkable insight into the creative process of the artists who produce the best of the images we see every day.

The authors, Goux and Houff, have put together an eclectic mix of interviews with famous pros and talented newcomers, and have packed their book full of gorgeously reproduced screen grabs illustrating the work. The interviews alone are worth the price of this book. They are honest and conversational, and read like discussions between friends who just happen to be the leading professionals in their field.

One might expect that a book on motion graphic design would be written for a professional audience only. That's not the case here. The authors do not get bogged down in industry jargon or buzzwords. Nor do they waste time talking about esoteric technical points or discussing the merits of various software. Instead, Goux and Houff have produced a great primer for anyone interested in who makes the coolest TV and film images and how those images are made.

One other plus: the authors did not limit themselves to designers in the US. Instead, the book presents a worldview of the current state of motion graphics design.

Taken as a whole, the book does an excellent job of explaining how and why these artists do what they do. A great read and beautiful to look at.