Graphic Design Referenced A Visual Guide to the Language Applications & History of Graphic Design

Graphic Design, Referenced is a visual and informational guide to the most commonly referenced terms, historical moments, landmark projects, and influential practitioners in the field of graphic design. With more than 2,000 design projects illustrating more than 400 entries, it provides an intense overview of the varied elements that make up the graphic design profession through a unique set of chapters: “principles" defines the very basic foundation of what constitutes graphic design to establish the language, terms, and concepts that govern what we do and how we do it, covering layout, typography, and printing terms; “knowledge" explores the most influential sources through which we learn about graphic design from the educational institutions we attend to the magazines and books we read; “representatives" gathers the designers who over the years have proven the most prominent or have steered the course of graphic design in one way or another; and “practice" highlights some of the most iconic work produced that not only serve as examples of best practices, but also illustrate its potential lasting legacy. Graphic Design, Referenced serves as a comprehensive source of information and inspiration by documenting and chronicling the scope of contemporary graphic design, stemming from the middle of the twentieth century to today.

Graphic Design, Referenced is a comprehensive, visual index of graphic design terms, historic figures, landmark design projects, technological innovations, other miscellaneous inclusions, and more. It gathers a comprehensive and inclusive range of this information and presents it in a visually laden and engagingly written reference index. From Caslon to Carson, from Gutenberg to Greiman, from Lascaux to letterpress, and from Postmodernism to pixel (among other entries), this index provides all the necessary information that designers need in order to work efficiently…not to mention survive a design conversation with peers.

A major challenge of comprehensive books on graphic design is to fit the numerous dimensions of the field into a work that is logical and readable. The authors of this book, both founders of UnderConsideration, an online graphic design networking site, provide an accessible overview of graphic design in a very browsable format. Its success is owing to a general-to-specific subcategorization based on four main ideas: principles (typography, color, etc.); knowledge (important books, journals, schools, and repositories); representatives (notable designers, firms, and typefaces); and practice (design applied to book and music jackets, posters, products, etc.). Each entry includes full-color illustrations with one- or two-paragraph discussions on the related concepts. The index is thorough, and a brief illustrated time line at the book’s beginning is also nice. VERDICT Highly recommended for design students as a supplement to the core texts mentioned above -- Library Journal, September 2009