I have been given the task to analyse a book that I randomly picked from a pre selection.
The book I have analysed is 'How to be a Graphic Designer Without Loosing Your Soul' Authored by Adrian Shaughessy, Edited by Eugenia Bell and Published by Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
After reading the preface and introduction to this book, in my own words, here are the notes and ideas that I personally took and gained from it:
The book 'How to be a Graphic Designer Without Loosing Your Soul', has been written by a self taught designer for new only just emerging designers. The main purpose of the book is about what a designer is to do when things go wrong in the design process in a graphic designers career and it helps independent designers deal with the less attractive side during working with a client.
It is a book to help people who think that graphic design has a more asthetic value beyond how it is portrayed and it is for people who want to go into this type of design because they are attracted to personal expression and creation. The book will also relate to people who have it in their minds that graphic design is seen as a somewhat glamorous role compared to past when graphic design was seen more an an artistic occupation with not that much status attached to it.
The book will also talk about how design is now very competitive, how designers are falling and are being forced into a compliance of design.
Linking to this the boom will then go on to talk about how that on one hand there are people who believe that graphic design is a problem solving tool should incorporate as little self expression as possible. Then on the other hand there are people who believe graphic design is a tool but is enhanced by personal expression.
How the idea of self expression through the work of a graphic designer being made for a client should not be used so strongly.. that this type of behavior is only acceptable for so special acclaimed designers, when actually this is not the case, that self expression is universal.
As self expression through a designers work is suppressed by society, clients and media. There is a sense of defiance which says (quoted from the introduction), 'a little bit of my soul went into this and it's not going to be removed without a fight'.
This book will not tell a designer information that they do not want to know, referring to how a designer is and individual and how every designer wants to self express, and will have little interest in following or complying with the strategies of other same level designers.
Instead the introduction of this book explains that it will help designers get answers to the questions that are most asked such as:
'How do you respond to crap briefs?'
'How do you stop clients demanding unreasonable changes to your work?'
'How do you find interesting work?'
'How do you make good work and make good money?'
'How to stop clients changing your work?'
And so on, as these question link back to the beginning point in that is mentioned in the introduction to this book about designers understanding the less attractive side of this career.
After going through these points i realized that the context of the book is to somehow inform the 'just emerging graphic designer' and to snap the average graphic designer back into reality.
The author of this book 'Adrian Shaughessy', after carrying out some research i found that the author has made a substantial amount of different books, all relating to graphic design.
Graphic Design: A users manual
"This book offers students, novice designers, and battle-toughened professionals alike an insider's guide to the complexities of current graphic design practice and thinking.
It contains all you need to know to survive and prosper in the complex, ever-shifting world of graphic design. Set out in A-Z style and written in a realistic, conversational, and insightful way, the book provides advice on the fundamental topics and issues that face designers in their daily lives. It looks at everything from kerning to presenting, from budgeting to dealing with rejection, from annual reports to interface design"
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3a8XAQAAMAAJ&q=graphic+design:+a+users+manual&dq=graphic+design:+a+users+manual
Cover art by: New Music Graphics
"The album cover is still a subject of perennial interest amongst graphic designers. Sleeve design remains a popular subject for college theses and many young working designers aspire to design for the music industry. Revealing the state of the art of contemporary music graphics, Cover Art By: is packed with over 400 examples of sleeve art. As well as CD and album covers, the insides of CD booklets and the backs of vinyl sleeves are shown. The book opens with an in-depth essay reviewing the current scene, then focuses on the work of 30 international designers/labels who are the most influential in the field. Also included is a list of important record labels with contact details, making this a must-have for designers and students, as well as music industry professionals and fans."
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=m4vqAAAAMAAJ&q=cover+art+by:+new+music+graphics&dq=cover+art+by:+new+music+graphics
Look at this: Contemporary Brochure, catalogues and documents
"Printed brochures, catalogs, and multi-page documents form the bedrock of many graphic designers' daily practice. Most printed literature is disposable: todays hot communication document is tomorrow's landfill. But the best brochures, catalogs and documents have a permanence and organic completeness that has become essential in this ephemeral, and increasingly electronic, world of instant communications. This book features the best of contemporary printed literature design. It offers a critical survey of current work by leading practitioners from the U.S., Europe and the Far East. Arranged in a designer-by-designer format and accompanied by interviews, this book offers a complete and informative picture of this popular subject."
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fkcwnjzH8qIC&dq=look+at+this:+contemporary+brochures,+catalogues+%26+documents
A sample of books from the selection i saw and decided to carry out a little research on, it is clear that this author covers a vast amount of different artisitic, designer, self expressive and media related subjects all relating to graphic design.
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