Visual Design

Visual Design speaks design, through design, to design students, 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, students will learn how to:
Direct the eye through their 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 design students 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