5 comments about Identity Crisis: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands.

1. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1THYMHHMVC74E In this book are 50 case studies on redesigning the corporate identity.
   
   Each makeover is compared with the old image. The text explains the story behind the need for design and the concept of the design. It goes through things like what the logos are suppose to mean to the public, what the design elements signify and things like that. Pictures included examples of how the new design is applied over the company's promotional material, e.g. brochures, namecards, letterheads, websites, products, etc.
   
   At the end of each case study is a quick tip from the designer on the project.
   
   This book is useful for graphic designers and brand marketers.
   
   There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.



2. i never leave reviews for books i buy - but i had to for this one - i was so excited to get this & read it - the publisher being a well known source in the design community - "HOW" (company name) - so i thought it would be like all their other stuff - phenom - & the author has incredible credentials - but the selections he chose to review are just awful - he has horrible taste - a waste of money if i must be honest - i read about half of it so far & it is sitting in a pile for when i extremely bored - if i even finish it at all - i wish i could get my money back



3. This book is not only an impeccable resource for brand redesigns, but also a helpful tool for knowing exactly what to do when designing an identity for the first time. Shifting the focus from merely a showcase of the tangibles that were produced from the various campaigns, this title emphasizes the market research and overall branding strategy for the rebranding of the businesses. From considering public image and perception, to company structure, to company history, Identity Crisis! covers the full range of thought processes involved with identity design and rollout. A must-read for any identity designer, Identity Crisis! is a highly approachable title that appropriately covers the vastly important and, unfortunately, oft-ignored mental aspects and processes of logo and identity design.



4. This is a great resource book for those designers who like to see how other designers think. (And how many renditions it takes to get to the end product.) Love the before and after examples. Sample work is shown large. Explanations are informative and interesting. Overall, a well-designed, designer resource.



5. This book did not at all live up to my expectations. The examples, in the form of case studies, were with few exceptions not interesting whatsoever: the graphic identities were weak. Also, the case studies were very shallow: there was nothing to be learned for someone who is in the business.
   
   This book pales in comparison with, for example, Per Mollerup's "Marks of Excellence", which unfortunately is a bit dated.

2 comments about From Gutenberg to OpenType: An Illustrated History of Type from the Earliest Letterforms to the Latest Digital Fonts.

1. What every person needs to know anout the major fonts: their inventors, unique qualities their history, and their historical family of fonts.



2. From Gutenberg To Open Type: An Illustrated History Of Type From The Earliest Letterforms To The Latest Digital Fonts by Robin Dodd (Associate Lecturer, London College of Communications) is a seminal and detailed historical survey of the printed letter from the era of the Gutenberg press moveable fonts down to today's desktop publishing software typefaces. Profusely illustrated throughout, From Gutenberg To Open Type is especially recommended to the attention of academicians, authors, publishers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the history of printing as well as professionals, artists and designers who work with type design and print. Of special note are the side panels to the regular text that explains how to use individual typefaces, notes common pitfalls, and showcases specifically related benefits to a given font. Informed and informative, From Gutenberg To Open Type is a welcome addition to personal, professional, and academic library reference collections.

4 comments about Art, Skateboarding and Life (Book & 2 DVDs).

1. Raw art striaght from the sk8 life. This is a collection of what many skateboarders [who are actually artists] think about. Well worth exploring. Nicely wrapped.



2. One of the most creative individuals in Skateboarding. This book is a MUST HAVE for anybody who have ridden a skateboard. And there are 2 dvds as well, with classics from New Deal. (The only thing missingis the music)
   
   Thanx Andy!
   
   Øyvind K. Svendsen
   Norway



3. this book will take you hours and hours to get through. between the texts from Howell and guests such as dave kinsey, tony hawk and shepard fairey and the thousands of images there's just an amazing amount of skate culture crammed into one book.



4. This guy started out pretty cool, but then proceeded to market a cool culture that he was a part of to corporations so they could exploit kids with heart, exploit our skate culture, in turn he could make some dough. the definition of a sellout.

5 comments about J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator.

1. This important book reveals another dimension to Tolkien that remains obscured by his monumental storytelling. Tolkien was gifted with a many-sided creativity, as most artists are, and his visual creativity casts as vivid a vision of re-enchantment as his written work.



2. This book is much better than I thought it would be. Mostly I was curious to see more of Tolkien's art, but the text that goes along with it is wonderful. Christopher Tolkien asked the authors to write this book to showcase his father's art, and they do a wonderful job of describing the pictures, pointing out details that I missed, and putting them in context of when and where and why Tolkien drew them. Several versions of the same pictures are shown so you can see how Tolkien worked through a problem until he found the best final product. Plus the inspirations for some of the pictures are also shown, to show that Tolkien copied others sometimes, but in the end put his own mark on it. By copied, I don't mean plagarized. He drew his eagle from a book of birds to make sure he got it right, or was inspired by other artists particular works. Highly recommended if you are a Tolkien fan. If you are just into art and not a Tolkien fan, then I don't think this will interest you.



3. This book is a great way to collect some of Tolkien's best works of art and to get a glimpse behind the scenes of one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century. Highly recommended.



4. Lleno de ilustraciones color, y algunas en blanco y negro. Me gusta porque es lo que Tolkien imaginó para sus obras... eso es lo que lo hace más hermoso. Además demuestra que Tolkien era un alma muy sensible, amante de la naturaleza, y esto se refleja no solo en sus libros sino también en sus dibujos. Me gustaría que estos dibujos estén incluidos en sus obras, no solo los dibujos de otros artistas. Hermoso, hermoso, para todos los admiradores de Tolkien.



5. This book features many of Tolkien's ink, watercolor, pencil, and colored pencil works. The detailed descriptions of each drawing include history, explanations, and dates. Quite a few maps are included, as well as illustrations for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It is wonderful to see how Tolkien imagined Middle Earth and its inhabitants. The colors he used are very earthy and lovely.
   
   My favorite drawing in this book is "End of the World" done in pencil and colored pencil on a sheet of notebook paper - you can actually see the lines of the paper. It is so simple; yet, the story it tells includes subtle intricacies and complexities similar to those in his writings. I also love the pencil and colored pencil drawing, "The Tree of Amalion," which obviously blooms with the flowers of Tolkien's imagination since they do not resemble traditional flowers. Finally, the hand drawn Christmas cards are beautiful mini-stories with dancing bears and penguins, and Father Christmas making deliveries.
   
   This book is truly exquisite, full of details and surprises for those of us who didn't know Tolkien was an extremely talented artist. It is a worthwhile purchase in my opinion.
   
   J.H. Sweet, author of The Fairy Chronicles

3 comments about Summer Moved on.

1. This collection of erotic male art by Michael Breyette is simply beautiful and a must have for your coffee table! He is truly a uniquely gifted artist and this comes to life in every page of "Summer Moved On.



2. I discovered Michael Breyettes work a few years ago. He quickly has become one of my favorite American artists. What is it about Michaels work that is so great. One word. Realism. Michael's art speaks volumes. Whether it's a glance or a stare, a day at the beach, a memorable encounter or a fantasy, Breyettes work stirs many emotions within you. I should say that those emotions are always pleasurable. What also comes through Michael's art is the man himself. I have yet to meet him, but have had many online dealings with him. He is a very personable, easy going guy. He answers his own emails. His "realism" shines through.
   Buy this book. You won't be disappointed.



3. This is an amazing collection of high quality male erotic art work. Michael's eye dor detail comes through in each of his pictures along with his deep appreciation for the male form.
   
   Each piece in the book is unique and shows the bredth of his imagination and talent.

1 comments about Art Directors Annual 86 (Art Directors Annual).

1. it is a very good book about graphic design and advertising. I love looking at it but as for the dvd, it is very poor quality. The contents in the dvd is no problem, but the quality of vision is not good.

5 comments about The Art of Rock: Posters from Presley to Punk.

1. I saw this book in a book store and couldn't wait to use my amazon voucher on it. However I didn't read all the specs nor the reviews and was very disappointed when my 4x4 book turned up. 1/4 of the original size. Oh well good for bookshelf space I guess.



2. Maybe I didn't read the fine print, but I most certainly am now. This is a mini book of what I think is a full sized one.



3. 
   The First time i saw this book i fell in love with it- but that was the big size version that i have been unable to find on anywhere! It is a wonderful collection of images but because of it's small size a great deal of the details are lost. This small size in this book is not worth purchasing unless it is just for a table topper.



4. being something of a '60's poster collector, this book is a classic of it's kind. I've seen none other as good. Excellent reproduction plates and very inclusive.



5. I bought this book when it was first published in the late eighties. At that time I had been collecting posters for about ten years. I was familiar with most of the Fillmoe and Avalon series, but this book opened my eyes to posters from many other venues I hadn't seen before. It's true what the other reviewers are saying about the concentration on 60's west coast posters, but that's where the best psychedelic artists were working. If you are a collector or are just thinking about buying a poster or two to dress up your walls, this is the first book to buy.(Make sure it's the full size version.) My only complaint is they don't show the whole Avalon series. But I think that's because of some copyright issues. All in all anyone interested in posters, the sixties or art in general will appreciate this book.

5 comments about Fantasy Workshop: A Practical Guide.

1. Truly helpful and a Great Help with learning textures and techniques from professional artists. Certain pictures of Boris Vallejo's and Julie Bell's work are shown in a step by step process that you can follow in your own works. If you are not interested in learning how to paint this book is also a great collection to admire, either way you will not be disappointed. It's truly helped me with my digital painting I cannot wait until I have the free time to practice the techniques shown in the book.



2. The claim that step by step the artists reveal their secrets is a sham, they reveal nothing, and their text is just airy rap about nothing. The artwork must be their left overs, including several pages devoted to a tedious ad campain for a fruit juice. In addition there are several ridiculous repeated images just for fill out. A shoddy and hastily book put together for self promotion. It's amazing how two such capable fantasy artists dont have the IMAGINATION to put together the genuine article. Buy this only if you are a die hard fan with no sense of discrimination!



3. painting technics and a lot of work, and coposition tips. Its not for beginners , but essential!



4. I'm hungry for Boris's painting technique. The first book of his was enlightening but skipped the critical part of his process, rendering the final product. This book gets closer to revealing his and Judy's magic but still left me wondering how many things are accomplished. It is an essential book for anyone fascinated by Boris and Judy's painting technique just don't expect to be shown how they do everything.



5. This book could help any artist; no need to have an interest in Fantasy. Lots of good tips and the art is great. I found it inspiring and anxious to try out all the good advice.

No comments about The Essence of Perfume.

5 comments about Halloween: Vintage Holiday Graphics (Icons).

1. Page after page of excellent and nostalgic Halloween images. Good quality images, if you love Halloween, you will love this little book.



2. Great product for those who need excellent graphics for their art work. Highly recommend it.



3. I was expecting this book to not only show vintage graphics but also a description of each graphic, but to my dissappoitment it does not include any text. Also, the binding cuts off a lot of the pictures and makes it difficult to open completely flat.
   That being said, this is a wonderful book with interesting photos. I would definetly recommend this to someone looking for a picture book, but definetly not to someone who is looking for descriptions and origins of these fascinating graphics.
   This book includes pictures of children on halloween, postcards, and old advertisements from the 1900's-1960's.



4. This book is packed with great vintage illustrations from Halloweens past. As an artist who is heavily inspired buy Halloween imagery this book has been invaluable. I actually ended up wearing mine to pieces. But for the price it's really hard to complain. A little book glue and it's as good as new. This book is one of my favorite in my collection. Definitely worth the cheap price tag for anyone who is into this kind of thing.



5. I really enjoyed this book of vintage Halloween goodies and images - some I still have from the time I was a small child (I won't tell how long ago that was!!). A true enjoyment for the favorite party-time ever! Makes me want to say "Merry Halloween" to everyone - a commonly used title on the really old cards/images.