Product Description

The organization of letters on a blank sheet -- or screen -- is the most basic challenge facing anyone who practices design. What type of font to use? How big? How should those letters, words, and paragraphs be aligned, spaced, ordered, shaped, and otherwise manipulated? In this groundbreaking new primer, leading design educator and historian Ellen Lupton provides clear and concise guidance for anyone learning or brushing up on their typographic skills. Thinking with Type is divided into three sections: letter, text, and grid. Each section begins with an easy-to-grasp essay that reviews historical, technological, and theoretical concepts, and is then followed by a set of practical exercises that bring the material covered to life. Sections conclude with examples of work by leading practitioners that demonstrate creative possibilities (along with some classic no-no's to avoid).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6312 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Review
"...written with warmth and clarity...destined to become an essential part of many typographers' and designers' librairies." -- Print, April 2005

"If you've ever wondered why you 'instinctively' buy one cake mix over the other, find out here." -- Florida Inside Out, April 2005

"dense enough to cover all vital type subjects...condensed enough for easy referencing." -- Step Inside Design, Dec. 2004

...worthy of adding to your library; it's essential if you salivate when you look at well-designed and well-chosen type. -- Technical Communication, August 2005

About the Author
Ellen Lupton is one of America's preeminent design educators. Her books include Skin, Inside Design Now, and Mixing Messages, among others. She is currently director of the design program at Maryland Institute of Art and Design.

Customer Reviews

Solid concepts
This is one of only a few type books that I have read and was one of the most enjoyable. The concepts of typography are presented in an easy to follow flow and language that anyone can understand while not 'dumbing down' typography to a point that designers won't enjoy the book.

Fun and interesting
A fun book to read to learn about how types we're created (author and history).
Really like it.
I guess only people in the graphic design world will like this book.

entertaining
A nice book for bathroom reading, but hardly a desk reference or textbook caliber tome. Look for "Design form and Communication" by Rob Carter for a more thorough source on all things type related. Pick this one up for 10 min refresher reading while you're..killing time.