The Design Manual is a book that overviews everything you need to know about graphic design and visual communication in print and online. Not so much a ‘how-to’ but a how to do it better. This website tells you a bit about the book and, if you have bought a copy, provides you with some additional resources.
Do you wonder if your communications project solution is right? The Design Manual discusses options, alternatives and considerations. It also considers costs and environmental impact.
What did your client or teacher mean? The Design Manual introduces the terminology and techniques of design, printing, the web, marketing, research, animation and film-making.
For students
consider the brief behind the brief... the ‘real’ brief
check your project meets the brief
confidence that you’ve considered all the angles
some ways to practice particular techniques
For professionals
reminders of client assumptions
what clients might have forgotten to mention
clarifications and checklists to ensure you have met the full brief
confidence you’ve addressed the project thoroughly and added value
options for how you might run your graphic design business
For printers, editors, authors, typesetters, marketers, public servants, public relations and communications professionals
how to brief designers
why they’ll approach your project differently
how to assess the results on ‘real’ terms
how to put into words why something about a design worries you
For small business
how to get the visual presentation of your business together
what to consider before you contact a graphic designer
how to save money
What’s new in the second edition... and why you need it!
more web, multimedia and storyboarding
packaging
more branding
the design process, briefing, professionalism and presentation techniques
marketing
more environmental considerations
more paper sizes (including USA and Japan)
more references (‘read more’ lists)
more layout and typography techniques
more checklists
completely revised with more international references
