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Visual Design speaks design, through design, to designers, presenting 95 core design principles with concise text and a touch of visual wit. Author of the bestselling Index series on design basics, Jim Krause uses a combination of Helvetica and Dingbats to teach a wide range of design topics (both conceptually and compositionally related) in a one-topic-per-spread format. Using humor, practical tips, and inspiring visual examples, Krause makes it clear how each of the 95 axioms of effective design are relevant and applicable across all forms of visuals: print, Web, and fine arts.
In this book, you’ll learn how to:
• Direct the eye through your designs using size relationships, color, visual pathways, and typographic hints
• Design effective compositions through grids, frames, outlines, dynamic spacing, symmetry, asymmetry, shading, patterns, and textures
• Fool the eye with shadows, depth, op-art, and visual subtraction
• Understand how color works and how to use it effectively
• See and use type by understanding type rules as well as when and how to break them
Visual Design is the first title in the brand new New Riders Creative Core series, which aims to provide instruction on the fundamental concepts and techniques that all designers must master to become skilled professionals.
10 Introduction
Directing the eye
16 Size relationships
18 Coloring with punch
20 Visual pathways
22 Pointers
24 Opposites attract
28 Typographic hints
30 Corner elements
32 Linear helpers
Creating spaces
34 Proportional considerations
36 Unexpected outlines
38 Intentional confinement
40 Framing
42 Gridding
Dividing spaces
44 Dynamic spacing
46 Static presentations
48 Varying sizes
50 Echoing forms
52 Curvaceousness
54 The golden mean
56 The invisible grid
58 Freeform
Filling spaces
60 Symmetry
62 Asymmetry
64 Busy
66 Minimal
68 Patterns and textures
70 Shading
72 Depth of interest
74 Images as filler
Avoiding unsightliness
76 Tangents that hurt
78 Trapped spaces
80 Illogical waste
82 Visual competition
84 Buzzing colors
86 Out of sync
Infusing with intangibles
88 Conceptual echoes
90 Thematic agreement
92 Stylistic considerations
94 Shock value
96 Creative radar
98 The power of juxtaposition
Delivering visuals
100 Realism
102 Twisted realism
104 Degrees of simplification
106 Casting themes
108 Being in-step
110 Containment
Fooling the eye
112 Shadows
114 Depth
116 Op-art
118 Visual subtraction
120 Much ado
Harmony and lack thereof
122 Avoid the middle ground
124 Set: more than a game
126 Variation within harmony
128 Radicalism
130 Color as connector
132 Nothing in common
Comprehending color
134 The color wheel
136 The language of color
138 RGB, CMYK, HSV
140 Practical color
142 Building trust
Color relationships
144 Value is everything
146 Monochromatic
148 Triads
150 Complements
152 Split complements
154 Analogous
156 Muting
Speaking through hues
158 Punching with Color
160 Establishing agreement
162 When dark is light
164 When light is dark
166 Power personified
168 The power of one
170 Borrowing palettes
Seeing type
172 Details within details
174 Conventional conventions
176 Breaking rules
178 Spacing
180 Minding trends
182 Establishing hierarchy
Gathering ideas
184 Inspiration is everywhere
186 Getting to the root
188 Fitting in
190 Standing out
192 Taking notes
Idea development
194 Digging deep
196 Going it alone
198 Collaborating
200 Hide and seek
202 Exploration
204 Banking ideas
Evaluation
206 Setting it aside
208 Looking in reverse
210 Seeing consistency
212 Input
214 Question everything
216 When is it finished?
218 Index