Customer Rating: 
Summary: More of an overview than a school ....
Comment: I really enjoyed this book, but I wouldn't say that it actually teaches you the 'how to's' of graphic design. On the other hand the book is fantastic at showing real-life examples as well as all of the many applications of graphic design which assists one to decide which path to focus on.
Customer Rating:
Summary: This was good 7 years ago
Comment: Graphic Design School has some useful tools for beginners, but more than half of the book is outdated. Graphic Design School has a few sections on design theory, and more than half the book are tutorials in photoshop, illustrator, etc.
The book boasts a bit how today you cannot talk about or teach graphic desing without addressing technology, This is where the book faulters. Technology tchanges so quickly now that this book's many tutorials end up being very obsolete (pre adobe CS). It would have been nice if this came with a CD that could get updates for tutorials, etc. A book like this needs to make a new edition atleast every 2 years to keep up.
Customer Rating:
Summary: New Graphic Design School
Comment: Loaded with illustrations, graphics and layouts, this intoduction to graphic design covers basics that will "charge" your creative batteries.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A must!? I don't think so.
Comment: Yes the book is visual. Yes it has examples of other student's work. Yes there is helpful information in it.HOWEVER, having worked in the field for more than 10 years, I find this book simplistic, and frankly the samples of work included are not very good.
Why would I want to emulate design I don't like?
I found the examples to be dated, and I found the book lacking in teaching skills that designers really need to know.
If this is a fair representation of what is being taught in design school, we are in a very sad place.
There are so many other GOOD books out there. Buy one of those.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Must for Web Designers
Comment: I have met many web designers who have never learned the basic skills of graphic design. "Graphic design School" is the best book out there today on learning the techniques and tools for basic graphic design practices. Swann covers the 'Language of Design,' 'Principles and Techniques' and 'Commercial Practice.' Short, concise and beautifully illustrated to relay the importance of knowing this craft for a solid design foundation.Web colors are not mentioned, nor do you see anything about browser selection nor any debate over screen size. What you do see are the brief introductions to corporate design, logos, editorial design and packaging. All basics to build on for a graphic design career, including web design.
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