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| A Typographic Workbook: A Primer to History, Techniques, and Artistry
Paperback
Edition: 2
Author: Kate Clair, Cynthia Busic-Snyder
Publisher: Wiley
Release Date: 2005-08-15
ISBN-10: 0471696900
ISBN-13: 9780471696902
List Price: $40.00
Average Customer Rating:
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Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Lavishly illustrated with more than 450 images, A Typographic Workbook, Second Edition explains the process successful designers use to select, space, and creatively integrate fonts. This essential text demonstrates the use of type as a dynamic and expressive communication tool. This edition provides new and updated coverage of a broad range of topics–from a logical, clear historical overview of the craft to the latest digital technologies. Known for its highly interactive format, this Second Edition continues to include helpful review questions and multiple-choice quizzes, as well as many new projects and skill-building exercises that help readers immediately apply what they have learned. A Typographic Workbook, Second Edition is a valuable professional resource for working designers and an indispensable training tool for graphic design students.
A Typographic Workbook, by Kate Clair
| Customer Rating: | | Very nice book for the beginner to typography as a basic learning tool to supplement a class (which is how I am using it). Has basic information, exercises and resources for beginning graphic artists, but does not take the place of classroom instruction! |
Typo Workbook
| Customer Rating: | | Book received as advertised. Easy transaction and received in a minimum period of time. |
A Lovely History and Review of Type in all the Ages
| Customer Rating: | | This book provides just enough in-depth history of letters and type to keep it interesting and not become a history lesson. Wonderful layout, executing examples of the type talked about by using them. Favorite part is the back with hundreds of fonts displayed on a whole page in all forms. They actually tell the story of Alice in Wonderland from start to finish. |
The Wrong Edition is Reviewed Here!
| Customer Rating: | The reviews posted here reflect comments made regarding the 1st edition of this book. The second edition takes into account the many concerns indicated here as well as by other professionals, and provides a more streamlined approach in language that is easier to read.
Please take a look at this verion of "A Typographic Workbook" 2ed to reflect on the changes. Post a new review if you have had a chance to look at it as well! |
Not beyond all hope! Maybe another edition?
| Customer Rating: | I agree with many of the previous reviewers who have remarked on the poor writing style throughout this book! The historical sections are particularly awkward, as though the author did some research and simply tried to rephrase the content (usually unsuccessfully!). Though I was quite put-off by the writing style (or lack thereof), I did press on. What I found was a plethora of good information, useful side bar examples, and creative exercises. There is good content here, but it can be a lot of work to find and absorb it.
I would love to see a new edition of this book, where the author could work more closely with an editor to develop a clear, stronger voice, resulting in a useable teaching tool. If such an edition were to be written, I would suggest a few improvements:
1. Reorganize the sections. The book doesn't flow well from chapter to chapter, and the reader feels directionless while proceeding through the book. Although the history is fascinating, it opens the book and goes on for quite some time. I found myself wanting to skip ahead. Also, it would make more sense to me to discuss the Five Historic Families of Type immediately after the Parts of a Character, rather than throwing the topics of 20th c. Typography and Changes in Printing Technology in the middle.
2. Consider eliminating the technique of switching typefaces every few pages. Yes, the reader does get a sense of which typefaces are more easily read than others at that size/leading, but is it really a good idea to tire and frustrate the reader while attempting to instruct?
3. Eliminate or re-work the introductions. If it is neccesary to give an outline of upcoming topics, perhaps present it as a list rather than writing it out in as a paragraph? The current introductions are glaring examples of what I was taught NOT to do in English classes!
4. Keep a consistent tone. The author swaps rapidly between informal and formal tones, which is disconcerting.
5. Reduce redundancy. It would be better to reference various chapters and allow them to give a thorough explanation of a topic, rather than throwing in mini-definitions anywhere a term or concept is mentioned.
6. The list of popular typefaces at the end of the book is very useful to me, and I have returned to it time and time again. Perhaps after the typefaces are shown/described, a few lists/tables could follow that would group them by classification (old style, transitional, modern, etc.) and also by use (formal invitation, technical manual, classified advertising, logo, etc.)
So... this book is not beyond all hope. Even with all of its faults, I have still found it useful. I would, however, hesitate to recommend it to anyone in its current incarnation... maybe a future edition! |
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