White Space is Not Your Enemy

White Space is Not Your Enemy

by Rebecca Hagen, Kim Golombisky
Released May 2013
Publisher(s): Focal Press
ISBN: 9780240812816

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Book Description

Designing a brochure or web site without an art background? Step away from the computer and read this breezy introduction to visual communications first. Written for non-designers, White Space is Not Your Enemy is a practical graphic design and layout text introducing the concepts and practices necessary for producing effective visual communications across a variety of formats, from print to Web.

This beautifully illustrated, full-color book covers the basics to help you develop your eye and produce attractive work. Topics include:
* The basics of effective design that communicates its intended message
* Pre-design planning
* 13 Layout Sins to avoid
* Basic typography
* Working with color
* Storyboarding for video, Web, and presentions
* Information graphics
* Mini Art School--all the basics in one chapter
* Outputting your work

Table of Contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. contents
  7. acknowledgments
  8. preface
  9. chapter 1
    1. what is design?
    2. making visuals & type play nice in space
      1. ♦ form follows function in design
      2. ♦ design drives visual culture
      3. ♦ graphic design communicates
      4. ♦ computers democratized graphic design
      5. ♦ graphic design is planned
      6. ♦ make pictures & words work together in space
      7. ♦ know the rules. break the rules if you have a reason.
      8. ♦ try this
  10. chapter 2
    1. step away from the computer
    2. for research & brainstorming
      1. ♦ research
      2. ♦ brainstorming
      3. ♦ thumbnail sketches
      4. ♦ try this
  11. chapter 3
    1. i need to design this today
    2. the works-every-time layout
      1. ♦ why the works-every-time layout works
      2. ♦ parts of the works-every-time layout
      3. ♦ step 1: margins
      4. ♦ step 2: columns
      5. ♦ step 3: visual
      6. ♦ step 4: cutline
      7. ♦ step 5: headline
      8. ♦ step 6: copy
      9. ♦ step 7: tags
      10. ♦ final thoughts
      11. ♦ try this
  12. chapter 4
    1. layout sins
    2. 13 amateur errors
      1. ♦ sin no. 1: things that blink. incessantly.
      2. ♦ sin no. 2: warped photos
      3. ♦ sin no. 3: naked photos
      4. ♦ sin no. 4: bulky borders & boxes
      5. ♦ sin no. 5: cheated margins
      6. ♦ sin no. 6: centering everything
      7. ♦ sin no. 7: 4 corners & clutter
      8. ♦ sin no. 8: trapped negative space
      9. ♦ sin no 9: busy backgrounds
      10. ♦ sin no. 10: tacky type emphasis: reversing, stroking, using all caps & underlining
      11. ♦ sin no. 11: bad bullets
      12. ♦ sin no. 12: widows & orphans
      13. ♦ sin no. 13: justified rivers
      14. ♦ try this
  13. chapter 5
    1. mini art school
    2. the elements & principles of design
      1. ♦ element no. 1: space
      2. ♦ element no. 2: line
      3. ♦ element no. 3: shape
      4. ♦ element no. 4: size
      5. ♦ element no. 5: pattern
      6. ♦ element no. 6: texture
      7. ♦ element no. 7: value
      8. ♦ principle no. 1: focal point
      9. ♦ principle no. 2: contrast
      10. ♦ principle no. 3: balance
      11. ♦ principle no. 4: movement
      12. ♦ principle no. 5: rhythm
      13. ♦ principle no. 6: perspective
      14. ♦ principle no. 7: unity
      15. ♦ try this
  14. chapter 6
    1. what is a grid?
    2. & when do i need one?
      1. ♦ grid vocabulary
      2. ♦ creating & using a grid
      3. ♦ other approaches to designing a grid
      4. ♦ breaking the grid
      5. ♦ try this
  15. chapter 7
    1. layout
    2. where to put your type & visuals for impact
      1. ♦ how do i know where to put my stuff ?
      2. ♦ where do i put the rest of my stuff ?
      3. ♦ order & organization
      4. ♦ layouts with multiple topics on the same screen or page
      5. ♦ multiple-page layouts
      6. ♦ exit here
      7. ♦ try this
  16. chapter 8
    1. type
    2. what you don't know can hurt you
      1. ♦ font, typeface, font family, glyph
      2. ♦ font categories
      3. ♦ choosing & using fonts
      4. ♦ applying additional font styling
      5. ♦ typesetting for extended amounts of copy
      6. ♦ taking a page from newspaper design
      7. ♦ type: not just for reading anymore
      8. ♦ icing on the cake
      9. ♦ try this
      10. special section: what you need to know about logo design
  17. chapter 9
    1. color basics
    2. choosing & using color
      1. ♦ the power of color: impact, organization & emotion
      2. ♦ how to choose color: culture
      3. ♦ how to choose color: history
      4. ♦ how to choose color: nature
      5. ♦ how to choose color: color science & the color wheel
      6. ♦ color technology: that's not the color i chose, what happened?
      7. ♦ working in cmyk color space
      8. ♦ working in rgb space
      9. ♦ tips for designing with color
      10. ♦ color rules!
      11. ♦ try this
  18. chapter 10
    1. adding visual appeal
    2. working with photos & illustrations
      1. ♦ image content
      2. ♦ resolution, file format & size
      3. ♦ choosing more than one photo
      4. ♦ ethics of editing
      5. ♦ diversity as craft excellence
      6. ♦ where to get photos
      7. ♦ where not to get photos
      8. ♦ alternatives to photos
      9. ♦ try this
  19. chapter 11
    1. the scoop on infographics
    2. maximum information in minimum space
      1. ♦ a terse history of infographics
      2. ♦ you might need an infographic if…
      3. ♦ 21st century multimedia infographics
      4. ♦ graphics packages
      5. ♦ ethics
      6. ♦ designing infographics
      7. ♦ try this
  20. chapter 12
    1. storyboarding 101
    2. planning visual storytelling
      1. ♦ getting started
      2. ♦ framing the shot
      3. ♦ perspective
      4. ♦ pov
      5. ♦ camera angle
      6. ♦ movement
      7. ♦ continuity
      8. ♦ transitions
      9. ♦ lighting
      10. ♦ type
      11. ♦ audio
      12. ♦ after the storyboard
      13. ♦ try this
  21. chapter 13
    1. multimedia components
    2. sometimes more is more
      1. ♦ working with images
      2. ♦ video clips
      3. ♦ working with audio
      4. ♦ animation
      5. ♦ interactive multimedia
      6. ♦ try this
  22. chapter 14
    1. designing for the web
    2. starring on the small screen
      1. ♦ how the web works (the 5-second version)
      2. ♦ what to expect when working with web sites
      3. ♦ designing for the web
      4. ♦ preparing simple graphics for the web
      5. ♦ designing web pages & web sites
      6. ♦ other design considerations
      7. ♦ a web site isn’t always the best tool for the job
      8. ♦ multimedia web sites
      9. ♦ keep on your toes
      10. ♦ try this
  23. chapter 15
    1. fit to print
    2. an overview of papers & printing
      1. ♦ plan ahead for printing: choosing paper
      2. ♦ types of printing & printers
      3. ♦ get a printing estimate
      4. ♦ prepare your document for printing
      5. ♦ what to give the printer: a checklist
      6. ♦ now what?
      7. ♦ other things your printer can do
      8. ♦ try this
  24. chapter 16
    1. conclusion
    2. now that you know enough to be dangerous, thanks for stopping by
      1. ♦ everything is changing
      2. ♦ there’s nothing new under the sun
      3. ♦ sometimes you just need to hire a professional
      4. ♦ words of encouragement
  25. glossary
  26. index

Product Information

  • Title: White Space is Not Your Enemy
  • Author(s): Rebecca Hagen, Kim Golombisky
  • Release date: May 2013
  • Publisher(s): Focal Press
  • ISBN: 9780240812816