editors: robert klanten, mika mischler and silja bilz
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designboom rating:
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the boundaries of design are moving, blending and merging at a rapid rate. designers
today need to understand more than just the basics taught in school; new knowledge
is required on a daily basis. this concisely edited text provides an easy to use
reference source that is well-suited for graphic designers, from beginners to
established professionals.

presented in an unassuming little package, the 12 x16.5 cm book packs quite a punch.
perfect for toting around in your bag, the book is meant to serve as a quick reference
guide. the cover is designed to resemble a vintage text-book, playing with our
assumptions of the contents. inside, the book is meticulously designed to make the
information as clear and easy to use as possible. the editors have made the text simple
to understand and detailed enough to even be useful for an expert. the text is illustrated
with simple imagery and diagrams that concisely demonstrate the words.

divided into seven chapters design, typography, digital media, production,
marketing, law and organization, the book covers a wide range of traditional design
subjects as well as more emerging ones. each section provides useful information
on a variety of topics, discussing their history, context, tips and tricks, as well as
providing reference to other books and websites that focus more specifically on a
given subject. of particular utility are the sections on international law and printing
standards. these provide a great basis to begin working and designing in the
international market, helping ease the transition into this difficult area. the book's
strength is its organization and method of delivering the information. it doesn't try
to be the be-all-end-all of design books but provides a solid grounding in important
areas and points the reader to more detailed sources when necessary.