House Industries: The Process Is the Inspiration


Book Description

A standard-bearer of American design since 1993, House Industries answers the burning question, “Where do you find inspiration?” with this illustrative collection of helpful lessons, stories, and case studies that demonstrate how to transform obsessive curiosity into personally satisfying and successful work. Presented in House’s honest, authentic, and often irreverent style, and covering topics ranging from fonts and fashion to ceramics and space technology, this beautifully useful 400–page volume offers a personal perspective on the origin of ideas for creative people in any field. Most important, this book shows that there’s no sense in waiting for inspiration because inspiration is already waiting for you.




House Industries


Book Description

CD-ROM contains: "five original fonts ... created exclusively for this book plus a few ... sound bites."




House Industries Lettering Manual


Book Description

Learn the history and techniques of hand lettering from a renowned design studio. This practical and visual guide features exercises, case studies, and typographic models for letter styles such as serif, sans serif, brush, and script. Known throughout the world for its eclectic typeface collections and far-reaching creative exploits, from fonts and fashion to ceramics and space technology, House Industries has been a standard bearer for American graphic design for more than twenty-five years. The House Industries Lettering Manual is an accessible hands-on guide to drawing letters from Ken Barber, House's head letterer and type design director. Modeled after a series of sold-out lettering workshops that Ken has conducted around the world, this highly illustrated handbook outlines the history of lettering, various methods and techniques, common letter styles, and best practices for getting paid for your work. This handy how-to guide also provides lettering models to help sharpen your drawing skills and offer departure points for further experimentation. Designed by House Industries and including copious examples, exercises, and opportunities to practice what you've learned, plus photographs of works-in-progress and finished projects, this instructive and visually engaging book will help you master the dynamic art of lettering, whether you're a budding artist or an experienced designer.




Brand by Hand


Book Description

The legendary graphic designer shares a retrospective of his most influential and unforgettable work in this career-spanning memoir. Brand by Hand documents the work, career, and artistic inspiration of graphic designer extraordinaire Jon Contino. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Jon’s upbringing comes through in the way he talks—and, most importantly, in the way he designs. He is the founder and creative director of Jon Contino Studio, and for more than two decades, he has built a massive collection of award-winning graphic-design work for high-profile clients such as Nike, 20th Century Fox, and Sports Illustrated. Over the course of his career, Jon has gone to design hell and back, facing obstacles like fear, self-doubt, and bad luck. Brand by Hand documents the evolution of his work, exploring his lifelong devotion to the guts and grime of New York and cementing his biggest artistic inspirations, from hardcore music to America’s favorite pastime. Brand by Hand showcases Jon’s minimalist illustrations and unmistakable hand-lettering. It also shares how he took a passion for pen and ink and turned it into an expanding empire of clients, merchandise, and artwork.




Sign Painters


Book Description

There was a time, as recently as the 1980s, when storefronts, murals, banners, barn signs, billboards, and even street signs were all hand-lettered with brush and paint. But, like many skilled trades, the sign industry has been overrun by the techno-fueled promise of quicker and cheaper. The resulting proliferation of computer-designed, die-cut vinyl lettering and inkjet printers has ushered a creeping sameness into our visual landscape. Fortunately, there is a growing trend to seek out traditional sign painters and a renaissance in the trade. In 2010 filmmakers Faythe Levine, coauthor of Handmade Nation, and Sam Macon began documenting these dedicated practitioners, their time-honored methods, and their appreciation for quality and craftsmanship. Sign Painters, the first anecdotal history of the craft, features stories and photographs of more than two dozen sign painters working in cities throughout the United States. With a foreword by legendary artist (and former sign painter) Ed Ruscha, this vibrant book profiles sign painters young and old, from the new vanguard working solo to collaborative shops such as San Francisco s New Bohemia Signs and New York s Colossal Media s Sky High Murals.




The Lettering Workshops


Book Description

In The Lettering Workshops, you’ll learn all about the art and practice of drawing letters using hands-on techniques in 30 lessons across five workshops. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional graphic designer, you'll quickly learn how to develop and advance your lettering skills.

In this richly illustrated book of lessons and exercises, you’ll find:

    5 Workshops to learn the art of drawing letters—from an introduction to brush lettering and lettering script to the decoration of letters; from the secrets of good composition to the process of digitization and vectorization of your type
    30 Exercises that gradually develop from beginner through intermediate and advanced levels
    16 Analyses of lettering samples to understand what makes good lettering
    52 Inspirational contributions in featured galleries from international letterers and brands
    160 Pages for all skill levels
    26 Letters to learn and explore

TABLE OF CONTENTS

    What Is Lettering?
    Why This Book?
    First Lesson
    Lettering, Calligraphy, or Typography?
    Basics and Technical Vocabulary

WORKSHOP 1: DISCOVERING BRUSH LETTERING

    Exercise 1: Finding the Right Position
    Exercise 2: Setting Up a Grid
    Exercise 3: Carrying Out the First Motions
    Exercise 4: Drawing the Letters
    Exercise 5: Connecting the Letters
    Exercise 6: Reworking Your Drafts
    Analysis of Lettering Samples
    Gallery

WORKSHOP 2: INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPT LETTERING

    Exercise 1: Discovering the Skeleton Technique
    Exercise 2: Drawing an Alphabet
    Exercise 3: Drawing a Complete Word
    Exercise 4: Lettering in a Classic Script
    Exercise 5: Leaving Your Comfort Zone!
    Analysis of Lettering Samples
    Gallery

WORKSHOP 3: USING TYPOGRAPHIC CHARACTERS

    Exercise 1: Embellishing a Letter
    Exercise 2: Practicing on a Complete Word
    Exercise 3: Going Further with Vintage Style
    Exercise 4: Discovering Interlock
    Exercise 5: Practicing Interlock with Serifs
    Exercise 6: Producing a Complete Interlock Lettering Project
    Analysis of Lettering Samples
    Gallery

WORKSHOP 4: THE SECRETS OF GOOD COMPOSITION

    Exercise 1: Thinking in Terms of the Block
    Exercise 2: Completing the First Sketches
    Exercise 3: Choosing the Styles for Each Word
    Exercise 4: Drawing the Skeleton
    Exercise 5: Developing and Finalizing Your Path
    Analysis of Lettering Samples
    Gallery

WORKSHOP 5: DIGITIZATION AND VECTORIZATION

    Exercise 1: Digitizing and Preparing Your Lettering
    Exercise 2: First Steps in Vectorization
    Exercise 3: Testing the Vertex Theory
    Exercise 4: Vectorizing the Entire Lettering Project
    Exercise 5: Critiquing Your Vectorized Lettering Project
    Exercise 6: Preparing Your Lettering Project without Vectorization
    Exercise 7: Isolating the Lettering
    Exercise 8: Adding Texture to the Lettering Project
    Exercise 9: Finalizing the Composition
    Gallery
    Artists Represented in this Book
    Resources
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Graphic Design Essentials


Book Description

Learning by doing is the best way to get to grips with new ideas, and graphic design is no different. Weaving together creative strategies and design principles with step-by-step Adobe software guidance, this unique book helps you to immediately put into practice the concepts as you're learning them so they become second nature. Covering all the introductory topics a designer needs to know – from working with colour and layout, to editing images and designing apps – this fully updated edition of the hugely popular Graphic Design Essentials includes plenty of hands-on instruction and real-life examples to give you a thorough grounding in the fundamentals. This new edition includes: - Coverage of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign - Examples of designs from the UK, US, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, China, the Middle East and Australia - Smaller supporting activities alongside major project exercises - New design formats, including apps and infographics - Downloadable resources to use within the software instruction




Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, 16th Edition


Book Description

The industry bible for communication design and illustration professionals, with updated information, listings, and pricing guidelines. Graphic Artists Guild Handbook is the industry bible for communication design and illustration professionals. A comprehensive reference guide, the Handbook helps graphic artists navigate the world of pricing, collecting payment, and protecting their creative work, with essential advice for growing a freelance business to create a sustainable and rewarding livelihood. This sixteenth edition provides excellent, up-to-date guidance, incorporating new information, listings, and pricing guidelines. It offers graphic artists practical tips on how to negotiate the best deals, price their services accurately, and create contracts that protect their rights. Sample contracts and other documents are included. For the sixteenth edition, the content has been reorganized, topics have been expanded, and new chapters have been added to create a resource that is more relevant to how graphic artists work today. Features include: More in-depth information for the self-employed on how to price work to make a sustainable living and plan for times of economic uncertainty. A new chapter on using skills and talents to maximize income with multiple revenue streams—workshops, videos, niche markets, passion projects, selling art, and much more. Current U.S. salary information and freelance rates by discipline. Pricing guidelines for buyers and sellers. Up-to-date copyright registration information. Model contracts and forms to adapt to your specific needs. Interviews with eleven self-employed graphic artists who have created successful careers,using many of the practices found in this Handbook.




1,000 Type Treatments


Book Description

New miniature version! The ability to wield typography is one of those things that is a clear indication of a talented designer. Being able to craft type well and thoughtfully takes a deep understanding of the inherent complexities and a keen eye for the minute and subtle details. This book contains a collection of 1,000 instances of thoughtful type usage along with credits that note what fonts were used in the design. Like its predecessor, 1,000 Graphic Elements, the photography in this book focuses in on the typography so readers can get an up-close look at the work. 1,000 Type Treatments showcases an array of fonts in a catalog-like format, making it easy for the working designer to practically shop for ideas. The book is organized by style so if a designer has a traditional, elegant, or edgy piece, they can go directly to that section of the book, where they will find a wide collection of fresh ideas in the style they are seeking. Also included is a directory of font foundries and suppliers, providing busy designers with a quick reference guide to where they can find the fonts that pique their interest.