Category: Design

:: THE must have books list for Graphic Design Students [or aficionados] ::

June 12th, 2010 · admin · Advertising, Books, Design, Education, Illustration, Packaging, Photography, Publishing, Students, Tutorial 2 comments

Now, school’s out for summer (not ever, just till September) and I’m already looking forward to my final year’s projects, meeting the new ‘meat for the mincer’ (or first years as they’re affectionately known) and wondering what could be instore for my dissertation (theme still undecided) or what interesting lectures will be on offer.

Some of you may even be starting some form of graphic design course in September – and to those that are, I wish you the absolute best of luck. You’ve made a wise move.

If you are keen to get ahead of the game and want some summer bed-time reading to help inspire beautifully designed, and neatly type-set dreams, I’ve formulated a list of quintessentially indispensable graphic design and creative thinking books which I strongly recommend on a daily basis to anyone, willing to pretend to care. But even if you are not enrolled graphic design course, and just simply have a passion or keen interest in graphic design & print then you too, are warmly welcome to peruse my virtual bookshelf. Coincidentally, if you have a book recommendation which isn’t on the list, make it. Get in-touch I’d love to hear from you.

[please note, these books are in no particular order]

Choosing and Using Paper for Great Graphic Design

This book is the comprehensive resource for every designer work with paper and stock. Always at hand on my desk and constantly referred to. It showcases some beautiful examples of high quality paper-led designs. The production information from each project is very easy to access, such as type of stock, gsm, printing techniques such as four colour offset litho – any additional finishing techniques such as blind embossing etc. It’s all there. Also, in the back is a small envelope containing 18 sheets of sample stock from 36gsm Bible Paper through to 300gsm 2-sided Artboard. I love this book, definitely one of my favorites.

The Production Manual: A Graphic Design Handbook

You cannot go wrong with ANYTHING by the Ambrose/Harris combo. There is a whole range written by the duo but this one in terms of production has to be the best, fully illustrated, bursting with information this a definite must have. This gives all the information to take projects from the conceptual into beautiful manifestations of envy. Including basic measurements, paper sizes, half-tones, print quality, die-cutting, laser cutting, UV varnish, process and spot colours, types of binding and folding and so so so much more.

The New Designer’s Handbook

The New Designer's Handbook

This new version of a old classic (originally published in 1984) is small enough to keep around with you. Similar to the Production Manual in terms of content and theme, with technical print information. The industry jargon and terminology is thoroughly explained in this section also and acts like a designers dictionary. This book genuinely feels like a lifetimes worth of industry experience in a handy book, abit like having a print expert to consult whenever needed. The only slight drawback is some illustrations of the examples are distinctively mid-90’s and dare I say it, alittle naff. But it’s about the information being explained rather than the actual style of the example. This is the sort of book your tutor grew up with. And we all know how smart they are.

Design Basics Index

This one is available on it’s own, or as part of a set series which I strongly recommend. This teaches the three C’s of design; Composition, Components and Concept. Learn how to get the most out of photos, illustrations, icons, typography, linework, borders, backgrounds. Composition practices combining the components of a design in a visually appealing way with classic design principles, such as placement, grouping, alignment, flow and spacing. Concept utilizes “intangible elements of theme, conotation and style to present and deliver your message in a way that will wow your clients everytime.” – I had this in my bag permanently in the first year.

Basics Design: Typography

Ambrose and Harris! – you’ve done it again. Another classic gem, perfect for the typography beginner or just brushing up on skills, all the basics are clearly explained with decent examples. One of the core fundamentals of graphic design is a firm understanding of Typography and this book certainly sets the standard. Learn about type classification, Kerning, Tracking, Justification, Orphans and Widows. This book also teaches you how to look at type, learn to express emotion with type and convey the message in a succinct and coherent manner. I cannot recommend this book enough.

The Art of Looking Sideways

This is a very heavy, large compendium of Alan Fletcher’s unique and personal collection of visual imagery, design articles, factual and cultural curiosities, ideas, and sketchpads doodles. The scope of this book is a broad is as it is heavy, 72 ‘chapters’ of anecdotes, quotes, images, curious facts and useless information, oddities and serious science…and anything and everything else you can think of. This book teaches visual awareness with very very very many examples. Extremely creative, always engaging.

A Smile in the Mind: Witty Thinking in Graphic Design

The title says it all, A Smile in the Mind guarantees mental happiness – it explores witty thinking in the most delightful areas of graphic design. It takes the familiar into the surprising and is all about ‘clever thinking not funny drawing’ – If your crap at drawing [I raised my hand just then] it’s doesn’t matter, just as long as you have an idea. A witty idea. Smile in the Mind offers examples of great, simple ideas – This book re-phrases the cliche ‘think outside the box‘ with ‘there is no box to think out of‘.

Problem Solved: A Primer in Design and Communication

Problem Solved: A Primer in Design and Communication (Paperback)

Anyone can follow a tutorial from PSDtuts (no offense, they’re great!) but it doesn’t mean anything unless it communicates a message – [ART and DESIGN are related, but NOT the same. Art is expressive and at times selfish, where as Design is a service, in existence to communicate a message, but the secret is to do it beautifully] Problem Solved is a collection of varying design Problems offered by very real clients – with the Solutions by the designers. An absolute joy to read time and again, this book great if your feeling unsure how to answer a particular brief. Don’t mistake this isn’t the ‘answer book’ but an encouraging way to think laterally to briefs.

Grids: Creative Solutions for Graphic Designers (Design)

Grids - Creative Solutions for Graphic Designers

Sometimes you just don’t know why a poster or web layout is so appealing, well this book reveals all and shows what lies beneath. The examples offer a ‘before and after’ or ‘compare and contrast’ approach so you can see the magic behind the layouts. Magazines, Newspapers, Catalogs, Books, Brochures, Posters, Fliers and Websites are all covered. The book comes with a CD with the grids for you to play about and get creative with but you must have InDesign or QuarkXPress. This is also a good way to learn InDesign, a truly indispensable reference book for all interested in clean and beautiful design.

Keep Brown and Carry On

April 8th, 2010 · admin · Advertising, Design, Illustration, Uncategorized One comment - Tags: "Keep Calm and Carry On", Advertisment, General Election 2010, Gordon Brown, Labour, Political, Poster, UK Politics

I couldn’t resist designing this…

Tie The Knot – Wedding Photobook

April 8th, 2010 · admin · Books, Design, Photography, Publishing, Uncategorized 2 comments

I cannot believe it’s (almost) been a whole year since I done my first wedding photography assignment. I remember that day so well, I was incredibly nervous and I couldn’t stop checking and re-checking I had everything, lenses?…yes. Spare batteries?…yes…camera?…ok, one more time…

It was a great day none-the less. So, last month I finalized the design photobook of the occasion and made my order at blurb.com – I thought it would make a nice 1st anniversary gift, plus it features lots of pictures they didn’t select for print last year. Last week it arrived through the post, and oh my gosh. The print quality is absolutely amazing! The images have a real punch about them and even though they are all black and whites, they have a great tonal range. I’ve heard good things about Blurb – seeing is a completely different matter. It wasn’t the cheapest gift I’ve given, at £50 for 12inch square, 36 pages and dust jacket. But that’s all soon forgotten, when you flick through.

I want to give Jonathan and Emma their copy now! – I hope they will be pleased. Below is the book design featuring some {not all} images from the day…

tie the knot by Philip Harper | BOOK INFO

I’m thinking about wrapping and packing options, maybe screenprint the cover on a nice box? hmm….

So, if you’ve got some really nice images on your hard-drive or Flickr then I strongly urge you to get involved in making your own photobook either for yourself or portfolio – photographs deserve to be printed!

Blurb.com prices start at UK £6.95 for the smallest size of square 7×7 inches (18×18 centimeters) and around £50 ish for the 12×12 inch for the largest size (like mine). And delivery is just over a week. Not bad.

How to make a Burgopak CD-Slide Pack

March 10th, 2010 · admin · Design, Packaging, Tutorial 12 comments - Tags: Burgopak, CD-Slide Pack, Design, How to make a Burgopak CD-Slide Pack, How-to, Illustrator Templates, Templates, Tutorial

Recently, I designed a CD cover/packaging for a project and was really keen on using the ’slide’ mechanism which isn’t totally original I must admit, but does look cool and impressive. Plus, for the particular genre in question ‘Russian Ballet Classics’ I thought would be a gracious and elegant solution in which the packaging would be part of.

After much searching, I couldn’t find any templates online at all, only a copy of the patent on Google which despite all the complicated diagrams and charts – I was none the wiser. So, I figured it out myself, so now you don’t have to! Wahhoooo!! It took a few attempts to get right as the CD tray (borrowed from a Albert Hammond, Jr album) kept getting stuck or was a few millimeters out and then wouldn’t quite drive flush. But it was well worth it in the end.

I used Adobe Illustrator CS4 although I don’t know if it will work on a earlier version, I’ve not tested it. If your having problems, contact me and I will try and help. The dimensions I used where to accommodate a standard 12cm CD. The file provided can easily be modified to fit your project, just be accurate with folds and your choice of stock will make a big difference – example for thick card stock such as 400gsm will need a deeper/heavier/wider fold than say 100gsm paper stock. As this is demonstration is just a tutorial on the concept and workings of the BurgoPak, I haven’t included a actual CD-tray. You can pick these up at most decent music stores usually quite cheap. Or they come free with some albums…

Pull Right, Push Left

Essentially, the Burgopak is made up of ‘Belt Drive‘ that is wrapped around a ‘Integral Wall‘, which is contained within a ‘Slip Case‘ – the artwork on the outside of the CD pack for example. As you pull the tab in a draw like fashion on the right side, the CD tray will reveal itself on the left side. This is the fundamental and intrinsic idea of the BurgoPak design, yet uses the rudimentary concept of circular motion as the engine. It’s an absolute stroke of genius in my opinion, and very inspirational. Burgo Wharton – I could kiss you.

You will need:

Sharp Scalpel
Cutting Mat
Mac or PC
Illustrator cs4 -( program that will read and edit ai. files.)
Ruler (x2 is better for a decent fold)
Double Sided Tape – (or glue)
A4+ Printer
250gsm+ Stock/Paper/Card
Thin plastic bag (I used a keep fresh seal bag, A4 size, I dunno what they’re officially called – see picture)
Delicious Tea and/or Coffee.

{1} Download the AI. File BurgoPak_CD_Templates.ai

Download the file and apply your artwork as per your requirements. I have purposely kept my artwork on/in the file to help you understand the artwork locations on the front and back sides of the CD SLIP Case.

{2} Print, Cut and Fold

Print and cut out your artwork. Fold along the red dashed lines with the rounded blunt end of your scalpel – apply a good, decent amount of pressure. If you have two thin metal rulers, tape them together with a 1mm gap. This will make a decent groove and registration line for your folds – align the red dashed line over the two rulers and run the scalpel between the two rulers and apply great pressure. Flip the artwork over and do the same on the reverse. You’ll have a perfectly straight fold, with a good bend to integrity ratio. You don’t have to, but it’s easier and quicker – but it’s not absolutely essential.

Fold/Score with Scapel handle and two rulers

Repeat for all cut outs and folds accordingly, remembering to sip your tea and/or coffee as when required – perhaps changing CD’s in between etc…

{3} Build the Mechanism

So, you’ve cut n folded the parts now it’s time to move onto the making the mechanics of the pack. This bit is the genius of the invention, once you’ve sussed the general workings, you can scale and modify till your heart (or client) is content. Tape with the double sided tape the tab and stick the two sides to form ‘the mechanical wall’…

In the file I’ve included a container for the booklet to go inside the CD pack, often containing the thank you’s, copyright info etc. This was needed for my project, but maybe not yours. BUT If you choose not to include a booklet, you must replace it with a blank tab, or card or even another CD tray otherwise the pack wont function, as there will be nothing to use as a pull-tab!

This will act as booklet + pull-tab and will be pulled from the right side and therefor will go in the housing like so…

Booklet pull-tab lives the inside mechanical wall

Lovely. Now lets get some action going and get the Belt Drive involved. Cut your plastic ‘forensic’ bag or something similar in consistency, to 30cm//11.8inch in length and 10cm//3.9inch in width. [These measurements are for this project remember. If your altering in dimensions just double the length and plus 2cm//0.7inches, this is more than actually needed but it's much easier to have to much and trim accordingly.] Thread through the ‘tunnel’ and then back over the top, like so…

Thread the belt through the tunnel...

...all the way, then back ontop

Seal with our friend Double Sided tape again, but make sure it’s not too tight on grip or the movement will be far too restricted or stiff and the belt may even rip and fall apart. You should have abit extra like in the picture, use this to test the functionality and smoothness of the motion. The belt should stop at the end.

Belt stops at the end.

Excellent team, we’re making progress – the hardest part is pretty much over now. Add the Double Sided tape to the LEFT Booklet Pull-tab. Important! – where to place the tape is the point of final destination of travel. i.e will not go any further. So, if you place the tape right in the middle that’s where it’ll stop. With experimentation, this can work to achieve a semi-concealed effect which maybe a suited to your project but for the purpose of this tutorial it’s vital to be positioned on the left.

Tape Double Sided tape on the left on the booklet holder/pull tab...

Remove the white part of the tape so it’s ready to stick to something. Really carefully and from the right feed inside the housing to the left side.

From the Right, underneath to the Left

'Save as houses' inside and ready...

Great, getting there. Tape the right side of the Belt on the top surface as the picture above indicates. Now, simply remove the white tape and align the CD-tray layer on top centrally.

CD-tray placed ontop

Now is a good time to test, pull the tab on the right. The CD-tray should be moving left.

Pull right, it moves left!

Well done team! that’s it. Lets wrap this up. Literally.

{4} Wrap up and seal with CD Artwork

Cut and fold the sides as the file describes. Test you have got your sides the correct way round – the tapable tab should be at the top. Add the Double Sideded tape, but don’t finalize just yet..

Tab is at the top

Align and make sure your happy with the registration – test that the ends meet well with and snug. If your design is a few millimeters out don’t and the ends don’t quite join, adjust your design on the computer and add the difference of mm on your design (or) check your folds/crops and reprint. It took a few attempts to get right to begin with, sometimes accidentally cutting too much or not enough et cetra… After all, this is what proofing and prototyping is all about – discovering problems and solving them. If your the ends don’t join don’t force them, by doing this the grip will be too tight and the pull system just wont work.

Make sure your 100% happy and peal off the white tabs and complete.

Finshed

Congratulations! show this to your clients and they’ll love you for it.

FREE! BurgoPak Illustrator CS4 Templates for you to use in your projects. But remember this design is patented and may not be used by any company or sell any packaging with this works inside, if they have not bought the rights from the company BurgoPak.

.: Philip's Blog :. to the point.