The Design Book I Wish I Had 20 Years Ago

One of the best books on understanding design, in my humble opinion.

Warning: I’ve never taken a formal course in graphic design. Everything I’ve learned about the subject over the past 20+ years has been through self-study: reading books, articles, blog posts, and about 20 years of professional experience as a designer.

Why do I think “Design Basics Index” by Jim Krause, is worth a designer’s time? In short, because it covers practically everything I would have wanted to know as a designer 20 years ago. It’s eminently readable, for both designers and the lay person. Even if you’ve never considered yourself an artist, there is a lot of meat in this book. The thesis of the book is on the three C’s: composition, components, and concept. The book clocks in at a whopping 359 pages, all in a concise, carry-able format.

What I like about it is that it not only beautifully articulates design principles, it also contains examples of both effective AND ineffective designs, along with easy to understand explanations. The Composition section covers subjects including placement, grouping, alignment, harmony, emphasis, and flow. The Components section covers shapes, icons, supporting elements, color, and typography. The Concept section addresses conveyance, theme, and spends time going over the creative process and iterative based design.

Make no mistake, this is no tutorial book where you’ll master Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. This book is about the principles of design. It’s up to the designer to APPLY this knowledge using either analog or digital tools. (The book encourages both.) In addition to concepts, the book also provides a plethora of exercises for the interested reader to practice and apply what he/she has learned.

Examples of both effective and ineffective designs (with explanations) are what sets this book apart as a valuable learning tool.

As expected, a book on graphic design must be designed well itself. That holds true here. The book is easy on the eyes and demonstrates the principles within its own layout (also pointed out within the text, itself!).

Backstory: I picked this book up while visiting San Francisco last week (at Alexander Book Co. on 50 Second Street, if you must know.) I’ve worked my way through about 60% of the material with a huge smile on my face because the book is THAT good. I plan on finishing it this week. With no exaggeration, “Design Basics Index” is the book I wish I had 20 years ago. It crystalizes concepts and demystifies design for both practitioners and non-practitioners alike. It’s easily readable and filled to the brim with design examples to study and learn from. Without hesitation, I consider it a must-read for both novice and experienced designers alike.

-Krishna