3 comments about Becoming a Graphic Designer: A Guide to Careers in Design.

1. If you're learning design, this is a great way to start. It lays out the basics and has numerous interviews with current designers. It will help lead you toward a career in design if you pay attention to all their clues. It has many different examples of different design fields, so you can decide which one interests you most. The only thing I wasn't impressed with was the color layout. For a design book, it should be more aesthetically pleasing, but it had only black, white, and green. I'm sure that's to keep cost down though.



2. I do agree with the previous reviewer that this book does not have practical advice in terms of performing graphic design related duties. There are plenty of books out there that you can acquire that will outline the process of designing, design elements etc... such as "The Elements of Graphic Design" by Alex. W. White.
   
   However, this book as its sub-title clearly states is "A Guide to Careers in Design", and in that regards performs very well in outlining the myriad of different fields and industries that Graphic Designers are involved in. Also, they interview many key figures involved in these fields and pick their brain regarding the state of design, dynamics of their respective industry and also how one should best approach beginning a career as a designer.
   
   I found the book invaluable in that it was like having wise uncles in dozens of different design industries and having a talk with you about, "How things really work." Somewhat light reading but still quite informative.



3. This might be a good book for someone who don't have any design experience. I was looking for direction in how to begin as a novice with some training rather than starting from scratch. This book is for those who would say, "Hmm should I get into graphic design? Where do I start I no absoultely nothing?". The description just wasn't very helpful to me.

2 comments about Mastering AutoCAD 2008 and AutoCAD LT 2008 (Mastering).

1. this is a great Book I learned Autocad 2008 by using this book , great examples , detailed steps. after you buy the book , you have to go to the publisher website to download the example drawings .



2. MASTERING AUTOCAD is a very popular reference for any engineer using Autocad, and its complete update for 2008 keeps it high on the list of 'must have' references on the topic, packing in tutorials to build new skills for beginners while offering veterans explanations of the program's latest, advanced features. From developing AutoCad drawings and using dynamic blocks to presenting 3D models and making spiral forms with new tools, MASTERING AUTOCAD 2008 AND AUTOCAD LT 2008 is quite simply a 'must' for any comprehensive collection.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

2 comments about The Architect's Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design.

1. As an architecture student, I was required to purchase this text book to accompany my studio course. I have quite often reached for this book from my expansive library of required texts to find answers to rules of thumb for preliminary design. I found that this book is very good at explaining the basics that one needs to accommodate early in the design process. If you are looking for something dealing more with code regulations, this is not really the book to purchase. It includes a wide range of topics which can help answer many student questions. I have been happy with my purchase!



2. This book is designed to help architects in their design of new buildings. Spedifically, the book is organized about the common building codes in place around the United States. The intent of the book is to minimize the time that an architect need spend on checking building codes themselves so that he can proceed to working on the design of the building.
   The book establishes a simple system of seven steps to help the architect in his initial design effort.
   
   The first step is to determine the Building Code and occupancy, then check as to what types of construction are permitted by the code, move on to a preliminary structural design, consider using daylighting, plan for mechanical and electrical systems, determine building code requirements for egress and accessibility, and finally parking.
   
   By having all this informaion at your fingertips a great deal of time can be saved.

5 comments about Shelter.

1. I saw this book at my brother's house and immediately knew I had to buy it for my husband. It is a high quality reprint of an older book and has that "60's" feel. Much excellent info and lots of great pictures. Very eclectic. We got it specifically for the info on Geodesic Dome houses but there's plenty more for shelter freaks.



2. I bought this book when I was fourteen years old and it blew my tiny little mind! Now that I've lived a bunch of years in the design field, and I take it off the shelf, tattered from three decades of intense study, it still blows my (now even tinier) mind. Mr. Kahn has done us all a great service with this book that goes beyond architecture to higher values and has a spirit that leads by example. Sure it's got some crazy hippy parts, do with that what you will. But a deep devotion to what you make and why; it's all here. I'm thankful for this inspiring work.



3. Throughout the 1960s and `70s, hundreds of unwashed, longhaired youth from around the world descended on the open foothills around Placitas, New Mexico, and established multiple communal hippie settlements. These youth had read of the Placitas scene in national magazines and counterculture books, or heard about it from other hippies; they were idealistic types from all around the world, and they came to the area to try to raise their own food, escape The Man, indulge in free love and mind-altering drugs, and live communally in tents, geodesic domes, adobe shacks, and experimental homes they built themselves out of plastic and scrap metal.
   This book, "Shelter" documents their bizarre housing experiments in wild detail. It also documents curvaceous mud homes in Africa, riverside huts in Yugoslavia, thatched huts in Ireland, homes in busses, homes in caves, dome homes, homes made of car parts, homes carved into mountainsides, homes made of hay, tipis, barns, gypsy tents, and more.
   If there's a strange kind of housing, you'll probably find it in here, and you'll probably be inspired by it.
   "Building this house was more of like feeling where you went as you started working with it, you know, the material and just playing it from there," said one Placitas hippie interviewed in this book. "...It's like three dimensional sculpturing, you know, we just got into building a house out here that's like jewelry. ...OK, let me put it this way, the inspiration like as we move along through it, like I found it in [Stanley Kubrick's film] 2001, where the dude had finally split out of the satellite and was heading towards Jupiter, just as he was coming in, what they had done was they had used different types of film, infrared for one, and just taken a plane and flown over Grand Canyon at a high speed, low, what is created you know, is in some respects synonymous to what the house is, you know, and certainly our cell structure in our body is synonymous with that...."
   As you can probably tell, this is not "Better Homes and Gardens" or even "MTV Cribs." It's "Shelter," and it's a trip.



4. I studied architecture in Australia and dragged my feet through the course. That is until a mate suggested I check out this book.
   It liberated me.
   
   Here was a bunch of common folk who met one of the most basic needs of all humanity - shelter.
   
   So much of what we encounter in our 'western' enlightened age is alien and regulated. The materials that we commonly use in buildings & infrastruture is devoid of any life or connection with the earth. They are not in or close to their natural state. And even if they are, there is so much regulation and stipulation on how we are to use them.
   
   But this book gives you hope, a chance to dream. It shows buildings as art forms, useful & practical but completely expressive of the owners they serve. They are not bound by regulations and conventions. This is craftsmanship not industrialisation. They are made from from natural unrefined materials which in essence connects us to the earth, which we all belong to. From dust we came, to dust we will all return. The beauty of nature is your own home.
   
   This book is filled with ideas and ways in which people have often 'escaped' from the life draining cities to a more peacuful and harmonious way of life. It's superb photo's, hand illustrations and even the way the book is laid out are a freedom in itself. This is one book you will not regret owning and will always find pleasure returning again and again to.



5. Now I don't know if I want to live in a tree, a yurt, or on a converted vehicle. This makes my 'normal' house seem quite ordinary. Drat!

5 comments about Autodesk Inventor 2008 Essentials Plus.

1. i bought this book for my school course. i barely use this book. teacher use to give his own notes. lots of info if interested in inventor



2. I am completely new to Mechanical engineering. As a matter of fact, I am a computer engineer. I guess you can understand where I am coming from. This book helped me understand how to conceptualize and visualize parts and assemblies quickly. I can design simple machines now!
   
   I wanted to learn Inventor and bought this book after reading all the other reviews of this book. I should admit that all those reviews are completely correct. This is THE book that you should buy if you want to learn Inventor.



3. I worked with Autodesk Inventor Professional 10 for 1 year, and 2 month ago began with Inventor Professional 2008 to use the new tools. So I decided to buy this book based in the good reviews above. First I bought the Autodesk Inventor 8 Essentials Plus for 1 dollar, yes 1 dollar, and it was perfect with the tutorials included in the software to learn all about Inventor 10.
   Inventor 2008 has a lot of new features, but the menus, and 95% of tools are still the same, you just have to learn the new features. So if you have some previous version of Inventor 2008 or have bought some old version book of the serie "essentials" don`t make a mistake to buy the last one, because it`s the same book with a few new topics, and you will find with the same exercises and the same text explained just a little bit better, but they are the same after all, and for $58 dollars more ( $1dollar the essential 8 plus)
   
   If you want to learn deep about
   
   -Dynamic Simulation
   -Stress analysis
   -Design accelerator
   -Tube and pipe
   
   
   Don`t buy this book, you won`t find nothing about.



4. A BIT TOO COMPLICATED FOR ME. THE LESSONS TOOK TO MUCH FOR GRANITE. SOME OF THE EASY PARTS WERE MADE COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF A SMALL KEYSTROKE THAT I DID NOT KNOW. THERE ARE BETTER BOOKS.



5. I've read many technical books in my day from computer programming to computer design. I bought this book based on the review before mine, and the reviewer is absolutely right. This is a great book!
   
   The verbiage is concise, the information is broad and in-depth, and the tutorials help reinforce the material. Great for beginners through medium-advanced users.
   
   A+ Book

2 comments about Visio 2007 Bible.

1. I'm a Visio kinda guy. I learn and communicate visually. This book contains text instructions for all the stuff you want to understand, but very few diagrams or print screens. Why? If you're so good at Visio - then use it. I want to understand how to incorporate shape data and data graphics. To be perfectly honest, I'd have preferred to purchase 'Teach yourself Visually Visio 2007 Professional' - yes I like color pictures. I'll let you judge for yourself. I've read 12 chapters and I'm still not clear on how and when to best add data graphics to my diagram. I wish someone would come out with a book who's chapter #1 tells you where to get all the master shapes YOU find pertinent. Anybody, please send me links to your favorite Visio communities - where people go to share Visio master shapes (etc.). I've got another 20 chapters or so to go in Biafore's Bible. Yes, I intend to finish his book, but it wouldn't have killed them to diagram step-by-step procedures for the more complex tasks.



2. Visio is one of those software packages I use just often enough to get by, but end up frustrated as I know I could have done things differently (and easier). That's why I keep close tabs on my copy of Visio 2007 Bible by Bonnie Biafore. It makes all the difference between struggling along and actually producing useful documentation...
   
   Contents:
   Part 1 - Understanding Visio Fundamentals: Getting Started with Visio; Getting Started with Drawings; Working with Visio Files; Working with Shapes; Connecting Shapes; Working with Text; Enhancing Diagram Appearance with Formatting
   Part 2 - Integrating Visio Drawings: Inserting, Linking, and Embedding Objects; Importing, Exporting, and Publishing to the Web; Linking Shapes with Data
   Part 3 - Using Visio for Office Productivity: Collaborating with Others; Building Block Diagrams; Constructing Charts and Graphs; Working with Organization Charts; Building Visio Flowcharts; Documenting Processes, Workflows, and Data Flows; Scheduling Projects with Visio; Documenting Brainstorming Sessions; Analyzing Results with PivotDiagrams
   Part 4 - Using Visio in Information Technology: Modeling and Documenting Databases; Building UML Models; Building Software Development Diagrams; Mapping Web Sites; Creating Network Diagrams
   Part 5 - Using Visio for Architecture and Engineering: Working with Scaled Drawings; Creating and Managing Scaled Drawings; Laying Out Architectural and Engineering Plans; Planning Space and Managing Facilities; Integrating CAD and Visio; Working with Engineering Drawings
   Part 6 - Customizing Stencils, Templates, and Shapes: Creating and Customizing Templates; Creating and Customizing Stencils; Creating and Customizing Shapes; Customizing Shapes Using ShapeSheets; Formatting with Styles; Customizing Toolbars and Menus; Automating Visio
   Part 7 - Quick Reference: Installing Visio 2007; Visio Help Resources; Additional Resources for Templates and Stencils; Keyboard Shortcuts; Template and Stencil Reference
   Index
   
   For me, this book serves a couple of purposes. First off, Bonnie does a great job documenting the software. It's easy to find the subject or information you want, and her style of writing is clear and concise. I've not yet found an instance where I was unable to follow along and learn what it was I was after. Second, and most important, is that I pick up a number of ideas that I hadn't even considered. For instance, I learned about mapping web sites in her Visio 2003 Bible title a couple of years ago. I had no clue that was possible, and it allowed me to offer some very cool solutions to my customers. This year, I learned about creating customized templates and stencils for my own use. Again, a very timely feature as I'm spending more time producing certain types of documentation that require the use of Visio. I usually spend far too much time hunting through templates trying to find just the right shape or symbol I need. Now I can produce my own custom UML and Flowchart templates, and save all kinds of time. It's a question I never thought to ask, but I definitely grasped the application of the idea once she spelled it out. It's rare that I find such a good combination of reference and idea material in a single title...
   
   Unless you're already a Visio guru, you'll benefit greatly from going through this book. And even if you *are* the resident Visio guru, I'd be willing to bet you'll find something in here that will make you think "I didn't know I could do that..."

3 comments about Enhancing CAD Drawings with Photoshop.

1. First of all, if your life involves CAD and Photoshop, you should probably buy this book: It's very useful. Part of the reason it's useful is because there are not a lot books on this subject.
   
   One of the greatest features about this book is its greatest flaw: the enclosed LISP program that turns AutoCad layers into Photoshop layers. What promise that has! It works great with the tiny 8.5 x11 drawings on the enclosed disc. But when you try to use that with a real drawing, say in 36" by 24" format, the drawing crashes.



2. I thought I knew Photoshop but I was wrong. I borrowed this book from the library but it was so good I decided to buy it.



3. I am very very pleased with this book. It is exactly what I have been looking for. I first purchased a DVD by the same author called *Photoshop for Architects* which I felt was so well done that I decided to buy the book. Having both is a real asset for they work in unison. Buying the book and the DVD, in my opinion, is a necessity. Each stands alone but they compliment each other. The DVD provides comprehensive coverage without going into every small detail. The book parallels the same information on the DVD but goes into greater detail. I am Architecturally educated but with limited computer experience and I have only recently purchased a first ADOBE product which is ADOBE CS. I imagine this book would be an excellent tool for anyone new to PS no matter what the intended use of PS will eventually be. The book starts with some general, but relevant, tech info without scientific overload. It step by step moves one through a real project from beginning to end so you learn most of the tools, how to set things up, various ways of accomplishing the same things and what to do in finishing out a project. I consider the presentation style to be superb for learning.
   
   I am currently working my way through a real project and learning a lot which has not easily come together for me, in total, when reading other books which explain how to do this or that little thing but seem unrelated, in a comprehensive way, to a total project of substance. Working from and by referencing back to the CD that comes with the book and the separately available DVD, I feel that I have more quickly learned and also taken an interest in certain important basics. I have learned many tools very quickly, discovered alternate ways of doing things (plus reason why) which causes me to realize the value of investigating multiple PS capabilities, reasons for things needing to be done in specific ways and the limitations of doing things in cetain ways etc. I like the fact that I can use the book and DVD to step through a real project from beginning to completion.
   
   This book and DVD is the best and most enjoyable learning tool I have found for learning PS and I have looked at many and purchased all from Adobe that relate to each part of Adobe CS. What this author offers is exactly what we have been looking for and I am hoping he will be creating similar documents for Adobe Illustrator and other Adobe products (for Architects) as our interest and abilities develop. If anything better exist I sure would like to know what it is.

2 comments about Modern Cabin.

1. This pictorial review is very well done. The pictures are clear. In combination with architectural floor plan drawings and explanatory text they give one an excellent understanding of the space, circulation, features and finishes. Included is an extensive variety of contemporary styles from the small to grand, retreats to dwellings, eco friendly to luxurious, thought provoking to simply variations on a theme. If the reader is keen on more than just an out building this is a good read, a coffee table must to stimulate conversation or simply a way to spend vicarious time in another place.



2. Each of the 23 "modern cabins" included in this book is unique, beautifully designed and crafted for the specific site upon which it is built.
   The photography is spectacular and turning pages elicited many "ohs" and "ahs"!
   Kudos to Ms. Kodis!

5 comments about Portfolio Design, Third Edition.

1. It's curious that this book is touted as "the bible of portfolio design." Although it passes as an intro, it's value drops off the face of the Earth afterwards.
   
   What "Portfolio Design" is, is a reproduction of outdated portfolios and examples of templates you can find in any page making tool. It lacks any meaty, substantial analysis you'd expect to find in a "bible" of portfolio design:
   
   -nothing on the theories behind print design.
   -no explanation on the "whys" and "hows" of presenting your work.
   -little analysis on proper organization of a portfolio.
   -insufficient info on photography, cropping, margins, etc.
   
   If you've never put a portfolio together, you might get some use out of it in the initial stages of your portfolio. Once you iterate to a certain level, however, "Portfolio Design" makes a better coaster than a guide. Advice: buy it used, if you buy it.



2. lo recomiendo ...es el mejor libro de portfolios a la venta y esta muy bien dirigido al campo d ela arquitectura,,..sus fotos e ilustracion son magnificas..claras y explicitas...comprenlo....vale la pena increiblemente



3. First off, this is a great reference for people/architecture students who are starting up or refining their portfolios. It is packed with some excellent, helpful written guidelines and decent imagery of a wide variety of portfolios. The professional commentary/critiques of the case-study portfolios are worth the price of the book alone. I received the 2nd edition of the book 5 years ago as a gift as I was applying to architecture school (after I'd submitted my portfolio however!) and, after leafing through the book in detail at Borders, I picked up this 3rd edition today as I am preparing to graduate and enter the work force.
   
   Now, with that out of the way...
   
   Several of the negative complaints I've read on here have focused on the "poor presentation" of the portfolios and the quality of the images of them, etc. While those comments are not without merit or completely off-base, they are in fact quite silly with regard to the subject matter of this book. Linton is providing samples of portfolios that were created by various students who volunteered to have their work featured and the fact is that many of the portfolios are quite elaborate fold-outs, spiral bound books, or printed plates...there is really no way for the author to present the images of the portfolios themselves (not their content!) other than photographing them.
   
   You can easily understand the IDEAS that are on display and how they are being graphically represented. That is the essence of what you need for composing your OWN portfolio featuring your OWN work. If you're looking for step-by-step instructions on how to create a slick portfolio, look elsewhere. I will say that the book would strongly benefit from more color imagery, but as for the reviewer who said they simply gave the book away because it was so disappointing and worthless, well, we don't see eye-to-eye on this one.



4. This book is so often mentioned and recommended that I bought it. I have produced some hand-built portfolios of my own, and was looking for more inspiration and practical advice. Instead, I found poor images, much of it in black and white, and the work in the portfolios is more interesting than the portfolios themselves.
   
   This is heavily geared to architects and also to those with the means to have professional printing and a huge cash outlay for materials, cases, etc. I think some of the advice is good, but really for the un-initiated student, not professionals. A professional already knows that if the portfolio is sloppy, that it will not speak well of the designer and that a well-designed portfolio is an extra endorsement for the designer above and beyod the contents. There is little better advice/information in this book than that.
   
   The portfolios showcased are very similar to each other, and there is little that can be produced by someone at home with a computer and a printer. I can tell you from my own experience that there is a lot you can do with a little elbow grease and less reliance on professionally assembled pieces.
   
   A little advice of my own: A portfolio must showcase the work, must not detract from the quality of the work, and must be either changeable or expendable. Your portfolio should not be stagnant, but evolving with the new wonderful things you're doing and adding! Too few of the examples in this book provide for leave-behnids, inclusion of resumes, and the evolution of the contents.



5. "Whether you work in architecture, urban planning, landscape design/architecture, or interior design, a finely tailored portfolio is the most important element to include in your application for graduate school, a design grant or competition, or bring to a job interview. In addition to showing you how to assemble a portfolio that will display your talents and qualifications to the best advantage, the third edition of Portfolio Design adds a chapter on digital strategies, discussing all the elements necessary to bring your work together in a digital format. Also new in this edition is commentary and analysis of selected student portfolios by three experienced professionals who offers unique insights to help you develop your own portfolio.
   
   From formats, bindings, and cases to reproduction techniques, content, style, sequencing, multimedia, and the latest in promoting yourself on the internet, Portfolio Design addresses every aspect of portfolio plannin gand production."
   
   ~Excerpt from inside cover of Portfolio Design, Third Edition

5 comments about Good Green Homes.

1. This is an excellent book for those seeking an introduction to environmentally sound home building. There are many good general points and examples of green homes. It is short on details for actual designers but good for home builders who need to read this information desperately and stop building mega-mansions with 5 bedrooms for families with one kid.



2. Doesn't give a detailed analysis of anything, but is a great tool for people wanting a basic understanding of green building, energy efficient techniques, etc.



3. This book no doubt makes a lovely addition to my coffee table. I feel so inspired and now.. how do I do it?? I was looking for more practical advice that addressed all my reasons for wanting to remodel green - protecting my family's health and our planet's natural resources and my financial savings. If the intention was to create a stunning, inspiring book - great job. If it was to really explain what green is and exactly how to do it, I think I'd look to books like "Green Remodeling" by Johnston and Master or read Environmental Building News....



4. "A recent poll revealed that an astounding 96% of consumers are willing to pay more for green features in a home, and 91% feel that energy-efficient features in a new home were extremely or very important."
   
   If you are planning to redecorate or remodel, Good Green Homes offers ideas, real-world advice and lots of inspiration. Jennifer Roberts is a freelance writer who specializes in sustainable building, energy efficiency and corporate social responsibility. She helps people make choices that encourage positive change in their living environments. She answers the following questions:
   
   How does having a "green" home actually save money?
   How can someone who rents their home make significant changes?
   What are some ways to protect and improve the quality of air inside our homes?
   What are "rapidly renewable sources?"
   How can you afford a green home on a limited budget?
   
   Jennifer is also a merchandising manager for the Marina Green stores and joys introducing consumers to the joys of stylish clothes made from organically grown cotton, healthy paints, energy-efficient light bulbs, tableware made from recycled materials and environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday household products.
   
   Featured Homes Include:
   
   A Delightful Cottage
   An Ecofriendly addition to a historic home
   A Trio of Healthy and Green City Homes
   An Artist's studio on a Wooded Island
   A Vacation Retreat in the Wine Country
   A Neighborhood of Homes
   A Remodeled Victorian Flat
   
   It is rather shocking to learn that the air inside our homes can be five times more polluted than the air outside. One look at your energy bill might convince you to read this book.
   
   These homes don't really look all that different, but there are features like skylights to save electricity or there is a home that is naturally cooled, heated and lit. Some homes have solar water-heating systems for the summer and a unique solar power system blended right in with a backyard trellis to generate electricity from the sun.
   
   The section on air quality was of interest to me because I am always moving my Austin air filter about the house.
   
   The "Wine Country Retreat" looked like a house I could live in because it even has a tower. Well, the pools also looked rather inviting.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



5. This book is a gift to the Earth and to so many of the people who inhabit it! Good Green Homes is educational and practical in an amazingly palatable way...that is to say, it is most enjoyable reading; and at the end one is so much wiser than when one began. It is a visual feast. The concept of environmentally sensitive choices in every aspect of the home is brought to the whole spectrum of the population, from new construction to renters to "what can I do with what I've got." This book is beautiful, user friendly and, above all, inspirational. I kept saying, "I can do that! I can take that action. I can make a difference, and I want to!" Bravo!