Graphic Design and Print Production Fundamentals - Open Textbook Library (2024)

(19 reviews)

Wayne Collins, British Columbia Institute of Technology

Alex Haas, Emily Carr University

Ken Jeffery, British Columbia Institute of Technology

Alan Martin, British Columbia Institute of Technology

Roberto Medeiros, Ricoh Canada

Steven Tomljanovic, British Columbia Institute of Technology

Copyright Year:2015

Publisher:BCcampus

Language:English

Reviewed by Sam Hayes-Hicks, Associate Professor, Southern Oregon University on 10/31/22

This book as a great overview of graphic design history in the first half of the book. The other topics are well explained but don't give clarity on the platforms in which the topics build up from. This is a beginner book but the color management,...read more

Reviewed by Cate Simmons, Instructor, Huntington University on 12/31/21

Overall, the text is straightforward, following a pattern in each chapter of introducing a concept before diving a little deeper in the next section. This is especially true for the first half of the book. While the language of this book uses...read more

Reviewed by Candace Butler, Lecturer of Writing & Design, Emory and Henry College on 4/12/21

Glossary and contents are both comprehensive in that they cover all main terminology and chapters of the text.read more

Reviewed by Tao Huang, Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale on 2/26/21

I reviewed this book as a potential textbook for my sophom*ore Graphic Design courses. This book provides comprehensive introductory to the practice of graphic design, especially in the print production sector of the profession.read more

Reviewed by Elisabeth Kvernen, Assistant Professor, School of Media Arts & Design, James Madison University on 11/23/20

I approached this text as a possible option for my introduction to print production class in an undergraduate BA program focused on creative advertising. I found that the content varies widely in technical level - from very introductory topics...read more

Reviewed by Melanie Mowinski, Professor of Art, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on 6/30/20

To represent graphic design comprehensively would require countless books, but for an entry-level book or as a book to review design concepts while really focusing on print production fundamentals, this book provides an adequate introduction. It...read more

Reviewed by Jerrie Hildebrand, Adjunct Faculty/Graphic Design & Integrated Media, North Shore Community College on 6/23/20

There are areas missing that designers must know. Things like copyright, permissions, trademarks, and the legal issues of being a designer. This is especially important in regards to so much imagery on the web these days.read more

Reviewed by Adam Strantz, Assistant Professor of Emerging Technology in Business and Design, Miami University on 2/28/20

Overall the textbook covers a variety of important topics related to graphic design including history, process, and basic principles. This is followed by a few chapters on print specifically that focus on technologies, software, and the printing...read more

Reviewed by Sarah Zimmer, Lecturer, Department of Humanities and Communication, Trine University on 5/31/19

The first half of this textbook is a comprehensive overview of basic design history, introduces visual elements and design principles, typography, layouts, and addresses research and concept generation. This section can be used for both beginning...read more

Reviewed by Deborah Cibelli, Professor, Nicholls State University on 4/8/19

Comprehensiveness: The textbook information on design history, design elements, typography, and design principles, found in the first third of the book, contains useful knowledge for all designers. It has introductory material relevant for...read more

Reviewed by Patricia Childers, adjunct professor, New York City College of Technology on 4/2/19

The book's contents detail what to expect in a logical order. The first chapter, history provides a cursory Eurocentric overview of a 130 year period from 1860s Arts and Crafts Movement to 1980s Post Modern. April Greiman is the only women...read more

Reviewed by Rick Lostutter, Associate Professor of Art and Design, Hanover College on 3/6/19

I feel that the text covers the key topics in design from the standpoint of defining the basic principles and concepts. Visual examples are limited and require more concentration on the theories and instructional verbiage rather than illustrating...read more

Reviewed by Alma Hale, Professor, Southwest Minnesota State University on 1/9/19

The book covers so much of the process that it's tough to cover any aspect with much detail. Some chapters are better than others, but this is a very broad range of topics to be covered thoroughly in less than 200 pages.read more

Reviewed by Sasa Miljevich, Adjunct Instructor (Fine Art), Portland Community College on 8/2/18

The Text is comprehensive in coverage of key ideas and concepts related to graphic design. First Chapters give a solid introduction to history of graphic design and design process. Latter chapters are intended for more advanced students and are...read more

Reviewed by Colleen Reilly, Professor, University of North Carolina Wilmington on 5/21/18

Approaching design as a problem-solving process is useful and relevant for a range of disciplines and knowledge levels. The coverage of visual elements, compositional principles, and organizational principles is very thorough and provides a...read more

Reviewed by Lisa Waananen Jones, Clinical Assistant Professor of Communication, Washington State University on 5/21/18

The topics covered in this book are comprehensive, but vary in the level of detail and intended audience. It it more of a theoretical guide for the design process, and a technical guide for the printing process. The early chapters about graphic...read more

Reviewed by Eileen Walsh, Learning Technologist, National University or Ireland, Galway on 2/1/18

This book has some great chapters on the process of concept development and design, that give a great introduction to the design process. The section on design seems to speak to beginners and gives them a good introduction to design and I feel...read more

Reviewed by Elizabeth Viall, Assistant Professor, Colorado State University-Pueblo on 2/1/18

This textbook covers a wide variety of subjects within it's stated purpose. In some areas, it is comprehensive - color management systems - while in others somewhat more cursory - typefaces. The book does have a glossary at the end . There is no...read more

Reviewed by Melinda Benton, Associate Professor, Umpqua Community College on 12/5/16

This book gives an introduction to some key principles in graphic design, in printing, and in design business management. It gives an introduction, not a comprehensive study of any of those three fields. Some sections are written to a beginning...read more