Art Presentation Book 11×17

Books

Building Design Portfolios: Innovative Concepts for Presenting Your Work (Design Field Guide)

Building Design Portfolios by Sara Eisenman tackles how to build your portfolio and, for hiring managers, it tackles how to look at portfolios critically. It contains a series of interviews with leaders in the field, provides inspiration and shows real world portfolio.

Graphic Design Portfolio Strategies for Print and Digital Media

Graphic Design Portfolio Strategies for Print and Digital Media discusses portfolio building for graphic design students. How do you take your student work and present it for employers, graduate schools and fellowships? This book tackles that question with illustrated examples of successful student portfolios.

The Graphic Designer’s Guide to Portfolio Design

The Graphic Designer’s Guide to Portfolio Design is another book helping students transition into becoming professionals. This puts the portfolio in the context of resumes, interviews, and cover letters

Articles

12 Steps to a Super Graphic Design Portfolio from Youthedesigner.com starts us off by telling us about the case. Choose carefully and consider how you want to present your work. My tip would be to think about yourself in an interview or with a client. Find a case that fits a style of presentation that works for you. My own portfolio is a leather case with sheets of thick photo paper printed pieces. Especially for interviews with multiple people, passing around the works in my portfolio and letting people handle them and really look at then has went over well. These were designs for magazine layouts so it mimicked the original experience.

AIGA has a great article on “Presenting your portfolio by Steff Geissbuhler of Chermayeff & Geismar Inc. It’s both from the point of view of someone who hires designers and from a design who has been there himself.

Brian Scott writes in “How to Create Your Freelance Graphic Design Portfolio” that you should include your best work and only your best work. I agree. It’s better to show five perfect pieces than to show eight that include work that you aren’t happy with. Your enthusiasm about every piece in your portfolio has to be there.

Tips to Create an Effective Graphic Design Portfolio from Twit Taboo emphasized the importance of variety. Show off different concepts and skills in your work. I’d add that you should make sure that each skill is somehow relevant to the specific position and company you’re applying to.

photo credit: Angélique ~

• CNET. 2009 Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

From the mouth of the tech news site CNET comes a great guide including articles on budget gadgets, luxuries and green stuff. Highlights: Canon PowerShot A480 10 MP Digital Camera. Klipsch IMAGE S4 In-Ear Headphones.

• Etsy Gift Guides

The editor’s of Etsy list their favorite handmade and unique gifts in a ton of categories. Highlight: Egg Carton Book

• ExtraBux Gift Guide: Grown-Up Stocking Stuffers

8 stocking stuffers for adults. Highlight: Burt’s Bees Mini Lip Gloss Collection

• Heeb Magazine’s Graphic Novel Gift Guide

I don’t talk about illustration and drawing quite enough anymore. If you’re here looking for a gift for the illustration enthusiast in your life, maybe these graphic novels will work for you. Highlights: The Book of Genesis Illustrated. All Star Superman.

• Gamertell’s 2009 Holiday Gift Guide

Gamers need love too. Look here for video games and gaming gear. Highlights: Dead Space Extraction for Wii

• Chicago Now: Our Favorite Green Gifts

For the environmentally conscious person. Or maybe a gift for the person you want to be more environmentally aware. Highlight: KOR BPA-Free Water Bottles

• GQ’s Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide

GQ Magazine’s gift guide filled with fashion conscious and stylish selections. For a laugh, also check out their Tiger Woods Gift Guide. (Sorry, Tiger!) Highlights: Ion USB Portable Turntable. Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S Camera.

• Entertainment Weekly’s Holiday Gift Guide

Shopping ideas for TV lovers, movie lovers and star watchers. See also: ‘Twilight’: 12 Great Gifts! Highlight: Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series Collection.

• Times Online’s Geek-free gadget guide for Christmas 2009

Enough said. Highlight: ASUS EEE Seashell netbook

• ANidea’s 2009 Holiday Gift Guide

This guide compiles ideas from social network sites such as twitter and Facebook. Highlights: Vibram Five Fingers

Gifts for Graphic Designers: A Wish List

My own guide selecting out items and ideas for the graphic designers of the world. Highlight: Pantone 100 Top Colors

The Lifehack Last-Minute Gift-Giving Guide

Last-Minute edit to the list to add Lifehacker’s guide. Highlight: The Men’s Underwear Repair Kit

In many cases, such as in the Momnesia photo, I helped further develop the photo concepts and art direct the shots to some small degree. The photographers are excellent to work with and really deserve all the credit. For the most part, I just try to tell the story with the design and hope the ideas comes across.

Howard Magazine Editorial Design: Kids Count

Maryland Family Magazine Editorial Layout: Preschool Listing

Maryland Family Magazine Editorial Layout: The Importance of Preschool Volunteers

Maryland Family Magazine Editorial Layout: Preschool Listing

Maryland Family Magazine Editorial Layout: Can your newborn hear?

Howard Magazine Editorial Layout: Best of Dining 2009

Howard Magazine Editorial Layout: Momnesia

Howard Magazine Editorial Layout: Who was Claudia Mayer?

Baby Steps Magazine Editorial Layout: What’s the difference between age 3 and 4? Plenty!

Maryland Family Magazine Editorial Layout: Private & Parochial Open House Guide

Maryland Family Magazine Editorial Layout: Family Favorites Ballot

Think about it. You can create furniture models easily and then design the new interior decor of your house. You can animate and share the videos. And many models are available for your use to play with for free. The program can access the net to get whatever it needs.

There is a free version and also a more powerful Pro version:

With the Google 3D Warehouse, everything you might need is already out there for you to quickly mock up your city, town, school project or that new bedroom set.

With the new version objects that are smarter and know how to react to you. drawing hints that are clearer and more consistent.

Google Sketchup [Google.com]

Comments

• October 29, 2009, akento writes: Brian: Thanks for the 3D info on Sketchup. Been a while since I reviewed the platform. Good job on your blog articles & content here. Planning a new blog for Storyboard Artist Services to ad agencies. Kent

Paint chips

Yellow Pages

Origami

Cassette Tapes

Food box

Felt

Magazine

Vinyl Records

Fabric

Comments

• March 12, 2010, piano sheets writes: Reading some of your post, seems quite interesting will be back to check it out some more later. Also I wanted to know if you would be interested in exchanging blogroll linkswith my piano sheets site

CD Jewel Cases as Photo Frames

Painting Urethane Ceiling Medallions

Framed Fabric

Recycling Window Shutters

Gutter Topper “Corkboard”

Wall clock out of old magazines and a vinyl record.

Cabinet Doors

Painted Leaves & Branches

Cupcake liners

Reused Calendar Art

Comments

• October 19, 2009, Kate at Centsational Girl writes: Thanks for the feature on the cabinet doors. Here is another autumn themed project with fall leaves: http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2009/09/diy-fall-leaves-on-canvas/ THanks Kate
• October 24, 2009, Brian E. Young writes: That's an amazing tutorial, Katie! Thanks for sharing it. The end product looks so expensive! .-= Brian E. Young´s last blog ..TwitterLink Comments Let’s Readers Add Their Twitter Name to Wordpress Posts =-.
• March 7, 2010, alhambra designs writes: If you’re looking to create a unique handmade feature wall or have a unique ceiling rose then take a peek at AlhambraDesigns.com

A Complete Graphic Pencil Set

Start off with a basic A Complete Graphic Pencil Set. The #2 pencils from school were great for filling out classroom exams, but an artists needs a soft 9B, a sharp 9H for details and all that in between.

Green Guide for Artists: Nontoxic Recipes, Green Art Ideas, & Resources for the Eco-Conscious Artist

Inspire your craftsman with this Green Guide for Artists. If you think he or she will be into creating non-toxic paints, glues and recycling paper then pass this one on.

Acrylic Paint & Easel Art Set Has Everything You Need To Start Painting! (1 Set)

This Acrylic Paint & Easel Art Set will get anyone who has lost their painting habit back into the game. Twelve colors of acrylic paint, six brushes, a wooden palette, a 11″ x 14″ Canvas Board, a plastic palette knife, a tabletop easel and a sturdy portable tote.

Paint Chip Wallet

If you’re feeling creative yourself, follow these directions to make a Paint Chip Wallet. It just takes a little sewing.

Prat Paris Start 2 Presentation Portfolio Case, Zippered Multi-ring Binder with Ten 8.5

Encourage your artist to get out their in showing prints (or photos) of their work with a Presentation Portfolio Case. The one pictured has ten slots for them to show off their very best work, although it is expandable.

Darice 97912 14-Inch Two-Tray Storage Box Petroleum Blue

For a more complete way to store all of those supplies, how about a Storage Box with lots of compartments for the big and small utensils.

Multicolor use Writing Table W / 1 Drawer

If bigger is better, then maybe you can help define your artist’s space with a Drafting Table.

Comments

• October 14, 2009, starblinkee writes: I love the acrylic and easel set! It looks so portable and complete that it is the perfect set to bring along during freehand painting sessions at the park or any other natural location. Even if no one gives something like this as a gift for me, I would be the one to give it to myself.
• July 18, 2010, Issac Petz writes: If you're still unfinished : grapple most weird gift idea, it will always be prolonged choice. These are some cool ideas. Pretty interesting stuff.

Rubber stamp

Scalloped scissors and typewriter

Reusing perfume samples

Tissue Boxes and Marker

Cereal Boxes

More Cereal Box Cards

Gift Tags

Comments

• September 29, 2009, Felisha Wheeler writes: Great innovative ideas.. Thank you for uploading pictures.. .-= Felisha Wheeler´s last blog ..Club Toys that always attract you =-.

How to listen? The most popular way to listen to podcasts is to use the iTunes software. The name “podcast” is misleading since you can access them without having any iPod related hardware or software.

For more information, read the Wikipedia article about podcasts.

Recommended Podcasts

Here are podcasts that I really listen to. Instead of just telling you what they’re about, I’ll highlight the latest episode at the time of writing this and give you .

Audio Podcasts

Daily Giz Wiz is a hilarious daily gadgets podcast featuring fun, wacky and sometimes even useful gadgets. The gadgets are really often just a premise and setup for tons of jokes. Each episode features several funny jingles and themes; for example, Gadget Warehouse Fridays pulls out dead gadgets from the past. The hosts are Dick DeBartolo of Mad Magazine and Leo Laporte, formerly of TechTV. The latest episode was a Turn the Table Tuesday episode which breaks the formula of Dick (the Giz Wiz himself) presenting the gadgets. My favorite thing is when they have the Mad Minute, presenting Mad Magazine type humor. Recommended if your interested in: Technology, Computers, Gadgets, Jingles

This Week in Tech. Tech news with Leo Laporte and a panel of top industry folk.

The Quick and Dirty Tips Network provides just what you’d expect with that name. The original is Grammar Girl

Munchcast. Hilarious podcast about foods we all know and love.

NPR. Concerts, tech news, financial advice and various other podcasts delivered straight from NPR radio.

Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American. Science news and discussion from the venerable magazine.

Rookie Designer. Graphic design postcast. Pretty well rounded.

Tech Talk Radio. Australia’s take on the technology world.

Tech Weekly. Tech news from The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom.

The InDesigner. Video tutorials about InDesign.

WebbAlert. A daily tech news roundup.

Battlestar Galactica Podcast

Buzz Out Loud. Tech news and opinions.

JobDig Career Advice. Tips for being a great part of the workforce.

GQ Radio

InDesign Secrets

HBO Comedy Stand Up Comedy

Summer Programs & Camp Guide Illustration

Last February, I finished designing the Summer Programs & Camp Guide 2009 edition (Patuxent Publishing/Baltimore Sun). It was just the year before that I had taken over the supplement/special sections design position and so this was my first time completing the Camp Guide from beginning to end. The interior pages are grayscale, so I had to come up with some texture. I decided on using a crumpled paper that was created in Photoshop. I don’t know if I’ve ever said, but most of these publications are designed using InDesign to put together the pieces.

The cover montage was decided on to cover the scope of the editorial pieces, but I did illustrate an original cover (see below). Both also use the crumpled texture effect. It’s all over the place. The sports and skating stories had new photos taken. (by Justin Kase)

This was the alternate cover for the Summer Camp Guide. (Original Illustration by Brian E. Young)

Comments

• July 21, 2009, moony soprano writes: Your cover illustration for the camp guide is very appealing. Reminiscent of the style and colors used for children's book illustration. Great work!

Wrap It up 2008 Cover

I’m a bit late posting last December’s edition of Wrap It Up (Patuxent Publishing/Baltimore Media Group) which I designed and coordinated. It’s basically a second edition of the Holiday Gift Guide and used most of the same design elements. For many items, we were able to get photos from manufacturers while others required me to schedule a photo shoot with our staff photographer.

The “Stocking Sized Gifts” story has a mix of staff photography and acquired product photos

For the design last month’s publication “To Your Health” (Patuxent Publishing/Baltimore Sun Media Group), we ended up using a stock photo for the cover. For the feature story inside, “Counting Sleep”, I created an original illustration:

“Counting Sleep”. Original Illustration by Brian E. Young.

Compare it to last year’s edition where I used very different design elements and colors (oranges and greens). I still decided to use a consistent color and font scheme throughout this edition.

Comments

• July 23, 2009, Fine Life Folk writes: Hi. It's my first time to see a blog about commercial art for publications. I used to art direct for a local magazine and you just reminded me to look back at my works. Thanks!

The 2009 edition of Spring Home & Garden 2009 came out a few weeks ago and I was the designer/layout coordinator for it. Take a look at the stories that ran. I went with some very clean looks compared with last year’s edition.

What’s Good: Very useful and utilitzarian effects. Nice “Tip” boxes scattered throughout

What’s Bad: Busy layout, some examples aren’t very inspiring

Verdict: While the book doesn’t show off the effects like you might expect, there are some really useful tips and tutorials

Full Text Review

While you can spend a ton of time looking online for the latest photoshop tutorial, sometimes it’s nice to have a few cool ones on hand. So something like the Photoshop CS3 Photo Effects Cookbook sounds like a good idea. The book starts with an introduction which covers many of the improvements added in CS3 as well as an overview of the Photoshop tools you’ll need to be familiar with throughout the book. It’s broken up into “Tonal and Color”, “Graphic Art Effects”, “Lighting Effects”, “Natural World Effects, “Traditional Photographic Effects”, “Distortion Effects”, “Texture Effections” “Presentation Effects” plus a Glossary

The book is a collection of tutuorials all of which are useful, even if some of the examples aren’t pretty to look at. Don’t you want to look at the final product and think, “I want to do THAT!” (like on abduzeedo.com which has some stunning tutorials, in my humble opinion) The halftone effect is often used to really cool effects, but the “psychedlic poster effect” tutorial has a pretty silly looking final result that is more like a powerpoint presentation. The books cover shows some of the mediocre examples. Still, the effects are useful and in the right hands would be pretty spectacular.

The tutorial for converting color into black and white is a pretty simple tutorial. The author stresses the importance of not losing the dynamic range. Many pages have a “tip” box related to the “recipe”. These are the kind of thoughtful ideas that make the book worth it. Overall, you have a collection of useful concepts and the examples are just ways of teaching the techniques. Your imagination will be required to make them actually useful. They are explained in a detailed step by step fashion. Most importantly, they tell you why you’re using these. So you can improve or change the idea presented with that understanding. These aren’t just techniques that you would have to always reproduce exactly as shown in the book to ever even use.

The graphic arts section has some really nice end products, some of the best in the book, including Warholing and watercolor. These are very convincing as are many of the lighting effects. The neon sign effect is one of the coolest ones. If you visit the Amazon link and look at the back cover and excerpts you can see more examples.

The nature and world effects will show you how to change the seasons: make leaves change to autumn, rainfall on a sunny day, rainbows, waterdroplets, lightning, snow in the summer. Many of these are really well executed and all are easy enough to follow.

The traditional photographic effects have very interesting introductory paragraphs for each “recipe” explaining how film grain, tinting or whatever it may be would have been done in traditional equipment. This really sets you up to understand what you are trying to reproduce.

The distortion effects will help you do things like clone with perspective, turn a photo into a caricature or add a tattoo. These aren’t tutorials that I would use too often, but there aren’t many of them anyway. The texture effects are a bit flat. I would have expected more distortion maps which are so easy to use and add a lot of depth and realism. I don’t think there were any used however. Flat layer effects seemed to be more favored. That’s kind of weird.

If many of these effects sound like ones you might use, then it isn’t a bad book to keep hand. I know that there are a lot of really great tutorials on the web, but sometimes it’s nice to have a book compiled with consistent quality. This book might fit that need for many readers.

You can visit the author’s website at TimShelbourne.co.uk.

This post is part of an ongoing series of book reviews. To suggest a book for review, send a message via twitter @sketchee

Comments

• August 17, 2009, visionzgfx.com writes: Thanks for sharing such awsome source guides

photo credit: jessicareeder

After watching The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard, I’m just beginning to understand the meaning of sustainability. Recycling works and buying recycled goods helps because there is only so much space on the earth to put all the trashed plastic so we might as well put it back in our stores. That principle might be applied to all kinds of things and on this page I’ve looked for an answer to how the graphic arts fits in. While I’m still not totally convinced that all of these methods are viable for everyone, but it’s still an interesting discussion.

If there is something you’re doing to be more efficient and less wasteful with your design, share a comment.

Books

Green Graphic Design

Green Graphic Design by Brian Dougherty and Celery Design Collaborative is a book explaining how to make every step of the design and production process a little greener: paper, printing, binding, shipping, packaging.

SustainAble: A Handbook of Materials and Applications for Graphic Designers and Their Clients (Design Field Guide)

SustainAble by Aaris Sherin aims to educate on sustainable applications and tackle sustainability in paper, printing, formats, materials, inks, and practice.

Packaging Sustainability: Tools, Systems and Strategies for Innovative Package Design

Packaging Sustainability by Wendy Jedlicka talks about making effective packaging that is minimal eco-impact.

Design for Sustainability: A Sourcebook of Integrated, Eco-logical Solutions

Design for Sustainability: A Sourcebook of Integrated, Eco-logical Solutions by Janis Birkeland takes design to every level covering specifics in industrial design, materials, housing design, urban planning and transport, landscape and agriculture, and energy and resource use.

Articles

Kirsti Scott talks about Sustainable Graphic Design on the Hot Design Blog. She argues for more efficient practices, working from home to reduce travel, using only recycled or bamboo papers and even using fonts that use less ink.

The Green Resource Guide tells us the story behind Green Signage in Produce. There are great photos showing how the reclaimed items factor into the farmer’s market look of a grocery store.

In “Making Sense Of It All: How to Promote Your Brand While Staying Sustainable“, Delia Bonfilio of Fast Company talks about the challenge of balancing environmental ideals with business realities.

Paragon Muse talks about implementing some green practices in their post Joining the BandWagon: Sustainable Design. They are promoting recycled papers to their clients. They have redesigned their business cards with tree free paper and use only soy-based inks. They make some great points: the need for actionable ideas, more education and spreading the word.

“Tips: Sustainable Graphic Design” by Metropolitan Group gives us a number of ways to ease our impact by requesting biodegradable elements from others in the chain, creating multi-use products, using designs that require less white space (less paper), targeted mailing (instead of blind mass market mailing) and other ideas.

In “Sustainable Graphic Design in Malawi” by Jesse Rankin, we’re asked “how can graphic design actually help Malawi in the development process to becoming a self sustaining country?” and given some very powerful answers.

“Sustainable Design” from Drawing on Experience gives us 10 Best Practices for Sustainable Design.

More Resources

Renourish is a sustainability toolkit. Great way to start getting things in motion in your production process.

Lovely as a Tree wants to tell you everything about environmentally aware graphic design with tips about paper choice, printing considerations, case studies and a database of printers and paper sources in the UK.

Design Can Change is a pretty website with a message: you as a designer can help.

AIGA Center for Sustainable Design has more case studies, interviews, and resources.

Comments

• March 10, 2009, Sketchee writes: Just want everyone to know you can expect full reviews of many of the books listed here soon.
• March 21, 2009, Drew writes: Hey Brian, thanks for the link luv. We're always glad to find other like-minded designers championing the cause.
• July 15, 2009, Wendy Jedlicka writes: I very much look forward to your review of our book: Packaging Sustainability. I'd love also to hear what you have to say about the companion book coming out in October as well: "Sustainable Graphic Design: Tools, Systems and Strategies for Innovative Print Design" (http://SustainableGraphicDesign.info) Like "Packaging Sustainability," though it is illustrated with beautiful pictures, "Sustainable Graphic Design" is not just another pretty picture book as so many design books end-up being -- but dives deeply into the heart of what makes great design on a variety of key input levels, and how to use that as an instrument for positive change. BTW: Personal tip -- when Amazon asks if you want to buy "Green Graphic Design" and "Sustainable Graphic Design," together (and "Packaging Sustainability" too if you're a PKG-pro), go for it. "Green Graphic Design" is a wonderful hands-on look at what eco-design pioneers Celery Design Collaborative have been doing all these years. We then pick-up and go deeper on topics "Green Graphic Design" touches on (you can only jam so much action into 212 pages after all). A great combo for graphic arts pros. Plus, I'm a big fan of Celery's work (they are represented in both of our books).
• January 14, 2010, Kirsti Scott writes: It's always great to keep thinking about how we can all do our part for sustainability. Thanks for linking to my post on sustainable graphic design in your article! For designers interested in sustainability, check out The Designers Accord (http://www.designersaccord.org/) and Design Can Change (http://designcanchange.org/#home), both dedicated to helping designers promote sustainability practices. And, check if any local organizations provide recognition and/or assistance to businesses that operate in an environmentally friendly manner. We were certified as a Monterey Bay Area Green Business and going through the process showed us tons of small ways we can make a difference every day in our office. Thanks for the list!
• January 14, 2010, Brian E. Young writes: Thank you for passing on more info, Kristi! Those sites are great. .-= Brian E. Young´s last blog ..Guide to Holiday Gift Guides =-.

Digi Scrap Station’s Calendar Templates.

If you’re feeling craft, check out Digi Scrap Station’s Calendar Templates by Inspiredbydominic Designs. This is a set of digital templates for each month in 2009 in PSD format.

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2009 Bubble Wrap Calendar from Perpetual Kid

For more wonderfully wierd but fun calendars take a look at Smashing Magazine’s Creative Calendar Designs including a magnets of the months to make your own calendar of the pieces, a color concept associating colors with days and a smart post it calendar.

Inspiration Bit plays up calendar typographic with stunning letterpress calendars.

10 Plus Creative Calendar Designs via Kreative Garden

10 Plus Creative Calendar Designs via Kreative Garden has some pretty calendar images that attempt to break the grid form of the usual calendar while still being functional.

DezineHQ’s 29 Creative Calendar Designs is just what it says. The amount of variety with these is great, although without sources comments or links it’s hard to tell what’s what. Some of it may be concepts and some might be available to read. I’m not sure.

For original art pieces, check out Etsy. Fifth Course has a few highlights

If you spot or made an interesting calendar, pass it on in the comments.

What’s Good: History and practical information weaved together seamlessly, nice design and layout, entertaining

What’s Bad: A bit short

Verdict: A great primer for learning how to look at type and how to choose and format typography. Not definitive, but a worthy handbook of the larger typographic discussion.

Full Text Review

Design isn’t just about how things look, the answer to a design challenge is more about discovering why certain things work. In steering projects toward visual solutions that deliver clear messages, we have to look at the very building blocks of design. Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students aims to get at the heart of this issue. If the cover seems familiar it might be because I mentioned this book before in my article Gifts for Graphic Designers: A Wish List, but it’s time for a more thorough review. The book’s aim is to be as practical as possible while providing a logical and historical foundation. It’s a field guide for professionals to deal with type. This book comes from Ellen Lupton, a professor at my home state’s Maryland Institute College of Art.

Choosing type isn’t just about whim or feeling. This book deconstructs type into basic elements helping you make informed design decisions. The book is divided into three sections: Letter, Text and Grid plus an appendix of definitions, hints and warnings. History is weaved between practical information in a way that is more narrative and entertaining than the typically dry text book lesson. In one moment you’re reading about the purpose of body text; the author switches abruptly into the history of written manuscripts. In a short few paragraphs we’re in the digital age of dynamic text. In talking about spacing, the history of written type translated onto evenly made printing blocks is transformed into the modern purpose of controlling visual space in body copy. The sections might be considered essays more than a longer narrative, which makes for an easy read.

The examples are as integral to the book’s narrative as the history itself. The design of the pages often split the text liberally with examples. The layout of the book has great play with type itself. When is justified text good or bad? The answers are stated with justified text. Makes sense. Many of the other examples are just fun type tricks and explainations on when and why they work or don’t.

Effectively conveyed is type styles’ effectiveness in different mediums. Helvetica is a font designed for print, Verdana works well for web. The writer doesn’t just force you to memorize this kind of information, but instead she explains why. So you can look at type with fresh eyes and see that Verdana’s large x-height and simple curves work well for the pixel display of the computer system. The layout grid is discussed like most things, with it’s origin with printing press. The focus is clearly intended to steer the reader into the uses of the modern grid in magazine, book and web design.

There are some negatives. Purposefully functional,the history isn’t fully explored. It’s the backdrop for basing modern uses of type. The essay format drives the points forward and then simply moves on. This is possibly ideal for the busy modern pros that the book must be aimed to, but for those looking for a long form and in-depth view you’ll have to go elsewhere. The modern model of dynamic typography that changes with context is in full effect and some readers might not like some of the more magazine styled layouts.

I suspect that the average reader will learn a lot from this text. It can serve as a good guide during the design process. The short page count of the book can be seen as a much appreciated conciseness. The format is almost web-like in it’s sections and pieces which appeals to a young and tech-savvy designer such as myself. Will the average writer or editor appreciate this information as much? Perhaps not. It may not be what everyone is looking for, but it will appeal to many design professionals who need a quick reference and crash course.

Excerpts of Thinking with Type are available online at thinkingwithtype.com

This post is part of an ongoing series of book reviews. To suggest a book for review, send a message via twitter @sketchee

Now on with the top 10 list, in reverse order for maximum suspense:

#10 12 Social Websites for Artists & Designers

Graphic designers, especially those who freelance, often rely on networking for information, growth and work. These 12 social sites provide great ways to meet other designers in either a professional and amateur context. And there are even more social sites recommended in the comments.

#9 Telefrancais

This post of the Telefrancais theme song five years ago isn’t just about the original post. The comments thread has spawned 80 posts of discussion. Telefrancais was a weird French language instructional video that North American classes were subjected to. The nostalgia of a talking pineapple that hasn’t made it very far in the digital age has driven people here on their quest to discover the truth of Ananas.

#8 Closed Versus Open Source DVD Burning Software

Burning a DVD in Windows is only as easy or hard as the software that you have. Luckily, there are free, open source solutions and people are really looking for them making it number eight on our list.

#7 Embedding Twitter in Your WordPress Blog

Twitter is a micro-blogging website that has become one of the most watched “Web 2.0″ sites in the recent year. Embedding a micro-blog in your WordPress blog can add an additional, more up-to-date feed of information in between your larger posts. This tip tells you how to do it pretty easily (You can friend me on Twitter at twitter.com/sketchee)

#6 How to listen to podcasts without iTunes or an iPod

Audio programming is great for a commute or at wor. With podcasts being a free medium, it seems like they’re taking off more and more. This compilation of tips is meant to make the concept behind podcasts easier so you can start listening to free customized radio-like programming even if you don’t have the latest gadgets. If you can read this, you probably have everything you need to enjoy podcasts.

#5 Gifts for Graphic Designers: A Wish List

Whether it’s about the holidays, a birthday, a promotion or a non-event, people are looking for all kinds of gifts for graphic designers. The latest picks quickly became one of this year’s hottest posts.

#4 David Bromstad

This old post still seems to strike a cord with David Bromstad fans. He’s an interior decorator on HGTV. While the post is old, the comments still buzz with conversation about the star. If you’re looking for a place to talk about David, join in the discussion.

#3 Graphic Design Meets Open Source Software

These free open source tools for graphic designers on a budget seems to have resonated with people. Open Source software has taken off in 2008. Open source fonts, web design, illustration software, page design and photo development tools are there for the freelancer, casual use or business. If you’re interested in any of these, check out this post.

#2 Designing Your Own Custom Shoe

Shoe design was once limited to athletes, celebrities, big name designers and whoever is designing shoes for the brands. Now some of that technology has gone to the masses and it sounds like people are loving the idea. Now someone tell Zazzle we want men’s shoes in 2009!

#1 Hemming Jeans Like A Pro

Crafty and resourceful designers really have responded to this tip on hemming jeans. It’s the most popular post on this site. As a shorter person myself, it really makes life easier to have the option of hemming pants. This tip takes a bit of practice, but it can be worth it. Practice on some cheap jeans from a consignment shop if you’re really worried about messing up those designer brands.