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Prussia · 07-23-2006, 03:12 PM

There are loads of really good books about design theory - this might be one place to start. Everyone's methods will differ - a design with applied research & learning WILL make the end product better than one that doesn't - even if the route getting there is very different. I think that designers have a responsibility to learn about design history & theory. This gives them the best tool they can have - understanding. design is not so much if you can do something but more about why.
A designer with a standpoint, views and opinions based solely personal taste is, to me, extremely self centered and is sadly, the basis for many designers work. At one point I definitely fell into this category. But now I understand that you have to sit yourself down for every project with no preconceived ideas and allow the client do the educating.
Being open to your clients needs is paramount - failing to recognise what they want based on a preconceived notion will always produce a bad design, egos get dented and reputations suffer.
Once I'd taken a real interest in design theory and opened my eyes to the graphic world around me my perspective shifted. I no longer based my designs on pretty trends - I based them on research and client empathy.
As I grow older I see how important this is - no amount of skill in photoshop or illustrator is as valuable as being able to understand and answer a brief. Being able to understand why (good) designers do what they do made me a better designer - and made me realise that once you start, you will never stop learning.
So I guess what I am trying so say is that if you are interested in how design works then start reading. The theory behind it (particularly graphic design) will give you a solid grounding in web page design too, and will make opening a blank photoshop file a lot less daunting

A few reading recommendations:
Grid Systems in Graphic design
Less Is More: The New Simplicity in Graphic design
A Smile in the Mind: Witty Thinking in Graphic design
Stop Stealing Sheep & find out how type works
The Elements of Typographic Style
Although these might seem very print orientated I think they all make better reading than books about webdesign - there are more historical references/values to print while the web is still so young.

07-23-2006, 03:12 PM	#2
Prussia Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Frankfurt, Germany Posts: 45	There are loads of really good books about design theory - this might be one place to start. Everyone's methods will differ - a design with applied research & learning WILL make the end product better than one that doesn't - even if the route getting there is very different. I think that designers have a responsibility to learn about design history & theory. This gives them the best tool they can have - understanding. design is not so much if you can do something but more about why. A designer with a standpoint, views and opinions based solely personal taste is, to me, extremely self centered and is sadly, the basis for many designers work. At one point I definitely fell into this category. But now I understand that you have to sit yourself down for every project with no preconceived ideas and allow the client do the educating. Being open to your clients needs is paramount - failing to recognise what they want based on a preconceived notion will always produce a bad design, egos get dented and reputations suffer. Once I'd taken a real interest in design theory and opened my eyes to the graphic world around me my perspective shifted. I no longer based my designs on pretty trends - I based them on research and client empathy. As I grow older I see how important this is - no amount of skill in photoshop or illustrator is as valuable as being able to understand and answer a brief. Being able to understand why (good) designers do what they do made me a better designer - and made me realise that once you start, you will never stop learning. So I guess what I am trying so say is that if you are interested in how design works then start reading. The theory behind it (particularly graphic design) will give you a solid grounding in web page design too, and will make opening a blank photoshop file a lot less daunting A few reading recommendations: Grid Systems in Graphic design Less Is More: The New Simplicity in Graphic design A Smile in the Mind: Witty Thinking in Graphic design Stop Stealing Sheep & find out how type works The Elements of Typographic Style Although these might seem very print orientated I think they all make better reading than books about webdesign - there are more historical references/values to print while the web is still so young. __________________ "A hedge between keeps friendship green"