Product Description

Designers are quick to tell us about their sources of inspiration, but they are much less willing to reveal such critical matters as how to find work, how much they charge, and what to do when a client rejects three weeks of work and refuses to pay the bill. How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul addresses the concerns of young designers who want to earn a living by doing expressive and meaningful work, and who want to avoid becoming hired drones working on soulless projects. Written by a designer for designers, it combines practical advice with philosophical guidance to help young professionals embark on their careers. How should designers manage the creative process? What's the first step in the successful interpretation of a brief? How do you generate ideas when everything just seems blank? How to be a graphic designer offers clear, concise guidance for these questions, along with focused, no-nonsense strategies for setting up, running, and promoting a studio, finding work, and collaborating with clients. The book also includes inspiring interviews with ten leading designers, including Rudy VanderLans (Emigre), John Warwicker (Tomato), Neville Brody (Research Studios), and Andy Cruz (House Industries). All told, How to be a graphic designer covers just about every aspect of the profession, and stands as an indispensable guide for any young designer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8839 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Review
His likable and generous voice guides young designers toward civility and integrity in their approach to a life in design. -- Communication Arts, November 23, 2005

Review
Graphic designers love to talk about sources of inspiration, but less willing to discuss the basics on location work, pricing, and how to handle irate or non-paying clients - so it's essential that any graphic designer operating independently have this practical reference.

About the Author
Adrian Shaughnessy was co-founder of the leading London-based design company Intro and was the company's creative director for 15 years before leaving in 2003 to pursue a career as a design writer. He writes regularly for Print magazine and for UK design magazines Eye, Creative Review, Design Week, and Grafik, and is a contributor to The Wire magazine.

Customer Reviews

Good Book, needs a quiet spot for maximum absorption
This book has a lot of words.
It's a good kick in the pants for us (sometimes corner-cutting) freelancers.

A very good read for aspiring designers
This book is a must-read for recent design school graduates and aspiring designers. It provides useful insight into the world of graphic design--the ethics of being a designer, different ways designers can work, how to get a job, and the creative process. This book also features interviews with designers.

great buy
loved it. it included much information that i was not aware of, and not taught whilst studying graphic design.