5 comments about New Women's Dress for Success.

1. This probably is one of my worst purchases on Amazon.com ... it is all text, a few illustrations and just about the most impractical book on women's style ... God help anyone wanting to learn from this book.
   
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2. Older versions had more illustrations. What happened to them? They were so much more informative. I was disappointed as I got this for my daughter. Otherwise, the advice presented is very accurate and up-to-date.



3. I think this book is great. I am a young (under 30), short girl. Do you know how hard it is to be taken seriously in an all-male manufacturing environment? These are classy ways to still be a woman and taken like the professional I am. I notice the difference in obeying the rules and then sometimes just wearing whatever I want. This book is valid to my career. I am a Finance Manager, the financial consultant to the business.



4. Good overall message about dressing professional but, the clothing styles he writes about are from the 1980's.



5. I appreciate John Molloy's research into business clothing; however, this book is only helpful if you work in a company where clothing is not too casual, or if you need to figure out what to wear for job interviews. If every day is "business casual" at your job, this book will help you figure out the best colors and quality, but it won't help you understand what to wear. John advocates always wearing a business-like skirt when possible, and always having a jacket on hand. In my job as a computer programmer, where most men where slacks and polo shirts, this would be too formal.
   
   The book is somewhat repetitive, but it helps to drill the right attitude into your mind - clothes are important, quality is very important, and navy blue is always a good choice. There are a few black-and-white illustrations, but they seem outdated to me.
   
   [...]

5 comments about A History of Illuminated Manuscript.

1. Christopher De Hamel's "A History of Illuminated Manuscripts" (now in its second edition) is certainly the definitive history for lay readers, but it is probably the best starting place for aspiring professionals as well. It is well-written, faultlessly researched, and copiously illustrated. I happily use it in my university course on illuminated manuscripts together with Ingo Walther's "Masterpieces of Illumination" (published by Taschen)--in my opinion, the perfect companion piece.
   
   The second edition of De Hamel's book is structured as was the first: an informative introduction is followed by chapters which divide and discuss the manuscripts according to their intended users (missionaries, emperors, monks, students, aristocrats, everybody, priests, and collectors); an extended bibliography precedes several useful indexes. This Phaidon paperback edition is a beautiful book, with a white paper cover adorned with a full-color dust-jacket. Many new illustrations have been added, and there are many more color illustrations than there were in the first edition. More importantly, the text has been updated to reflect ongoing research in the field.
   
   My only complaint about this edition is that many of the important full-color and full-page illustrations in the first edition (to which I often referred in my classes) have either been reduced in size or eliminated entirely in the new edition. There are also significant (and inexplicable) differences in the color reproduction of illuminations between the first (David R. Godine, Publisher) edition and this second (Phaidon Press) edition--sometimes the differences are so radical that only a close inspection (or a familiarity with the actual documents) reveals they are photographs of the same manuscript. And since many of these manuscripts are from private collections (to which Mr. De Hamel apparently gained access by reputation or through associations established during his tenure at Sotheby's), it would be impossible for most readers to know which of the differing reproductions are the more accurate. My own experience would suggest that not all the changes in the new Phaidon edition are indeed improvements.
   
   Publishing faults aside, this is a fine book by a scholar with impeccable credentials and a gift for clarity and sensibility in his writing. I highly recommend it.



2. The title explains exactly what is in the book. It is very infomative and has tons of color illustrations of illuminated manuscripts.



3. I am thoroughly impressed with this book. Its scholarship is impressive and helpful in my preparations to study medieval history at Oxford. And the thoughtfully written bibliography and through indexing of the manuscripts illustrated assist further studies. Even though it's not on my official reading list and is certainly not a light nor compact book, I'm packing it and taking it with me.
   
   But, as scholarly as this work is, if one simply wants an attractive coffee table book on the subject, this can certainly be one. If one wants a very readable, engagingly written, well illustrated introduction to illuminated manuscripts, this is for you as well.
   
   There is even some helpful guidance on collecting the more available manuscripts such as Books of Hours. And as the Fellow Librarian of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and with his 25 years experience in evaluating manuscripts for Sotheby's, Dr. De Hamel's knowledge is not just theoretical.
   
   Yet the price is extremely reasonable for a book of this quality.



4. Simply a treasure in print, Christopher De Hamel's work on medieval manuscripts is an enjoyable and fact-filled romp through the Middle Ages as if no "darkness" in the period ever existed. Focusing on a descriptive narrative that is as delightful as it is informative, the text leads the reader from one interesting setting to another, belying the breadth and scope of its coverage. One meets the educational reformers in Charlemagne's court, the scribes of the cathedral schools of Laon and Chartres, the workers in English scriptoriums, and many others in this highly researched, but clearly and engagingly written book. The reader feels as if he is simply touring the European countryside from one location to another and watching the patient and unrelenting work of scribes, copyists, and illustrators as they seek to develop the most enduring artifact of the period. Underpinning the entire work is a series - no, a PLETHORA - of beautifully reproduced and highly detailed medieval manuscript reproductions, many of them full-page, to the extent that one finds himself questioning why the text doesn't cost three times the price. A rarity in that it contains both outstanding prose as well as stunningly reproduced photographs, this text should be in every medievalist's (and art lover's) own scriptorium.



5. I loved this book! I used it for a graduate course on Illuminated Manuscripts, and it was one of the main textbooks we used, but I used it often after the course as well. I really enjoyed reading it, and found that it was unlike most of the typical text books I had formerly used. For any art history student, it is an outstanding resource. For anyone who loves illuminated manuscripts, book arts, or the Medieval period in general, this is a wonderful resource. It is a book that I consider an indispensable resource in my personal library. It is very well written and easily accessible for anyone. Although some of the terminology may be unfamiliar, it isn't so esoteric that it is beyond the scope of general understanding. It is clearly one of the best resources on the subject that I have ever come across!

5 comments about Decorative Flower and Leaf Designs (Dover Design Library).

1. I really like this book. There are interesting shapes of flowers of various design and size. It is exactly what I expected it to be.



2. I found that that designd in the book were all very similiar and not much in the way of sparking any creativity. Don't bother with this one since there are much better ones out there. Go with "4000 Flower and Plant Motifs"



3. This book has a lot of designs of more or less the same style (like that you see on the cover.) If you're into leather tooling, embroidery, or rugmaking, you might like this book, as that's what these images remind me of. The book does mention that they're all from the same antique source, so while there are a lot of very nice designs, there isn't a lot of variety. If the style of the images on the book's cover don't appeal to you, then I wouldn't recommend buying this book, because that's the one and only style of image this book contains.



4. I am a freelance artist and was looking for a good source of stylized florals/paisleys for some drawings that I wanted to do...this book fits the bill perfectly! The designs are full of detail and the book carries enough variety to supply my needs for a very long time.
   With the added use of my own imagination, I can see myself happily referring to it for when ever my needs cross over into this type of theme. The only way to make it better would be to make it hold even more than it already does...
   Well done!



5. Another excellent book from Dover. Unlike many design books, this book has many variations on stylized flower designs.

3 comments about What is Exhibition Design? (Essential Design Handbooks).

1. I haven't received my book yet. Can you please inform me, it is really very urgent! Regards, Cigdem DEMIR
   
   My address is: Ata Bilge Sitesi Baku Apt, No: 38/25-06530- Cayyolu-Ankara
   
   The book I ordered was:
   What is Exhibition Design? (Essential Design Handbooks) (purchased on
   07/27/2008)
   by Lee Skolnick



2. As a graduate student studying Exhibition Design and totally new to the field, this book gives a fantastic overview of what the practice really is. I find myself going back to the book a lot to find inspiration for projects. The best part of the book is the list of companies and and examples of work they have created. It gives you an idea of who you may want to work with in the future. I also met all 3 authors and Mr. Berger and Mr. Skolnick frequently visit my classes and they are great down to earth guys. They have a genuine interest in meeting with students and helping us to develop our ideas since we are the future designers in this industry. Whether you are a designer or not this book is great read, and has lots of pretty pictures. It provides a foundation of what the practice is about; past, present and future.



3. This is a great introductory book to exhibition design. I keep it at work and my co-workers always want to borrow the "pink book". I was primarily intersted in seeing the way that other firms produce design documents. Since only 6 pages of the book are dedicated to this, it gets 4 out of 5 stars. The book is divided into three sections: Issues (such as "What is exhibition design?", "Who do we design for?", "But is it art?"), Anatomy (types of exhibition design from museums to trade shows to visitor centers), and Portfolios (16 leading firms are covered). The photographs of existing exhibition design are what make this book a must buy if you are interested in the subject. You'll come back to it over and over again when brainstorming to generate ideas for your projects. Happy reading!

3 comments about Type and Image: The Language of Graphic Design.

1. I got this for school, I thought it would be a good read. I was wrong. I could have passed the class without buying the book.



2. Although this text is a vital first step in design education, it falls short for an experienced designer; basic juxtaposition, etc. Get it out of a library and spend your money on any of the Looking Closer series by Michael Beirut... they will infinitely expand your perceptions of what design is and explores contemporary issues facing designers today.



3. I have always found Philip Meggs worthy of reading and have tremendously benefitted from these readings. This book excellent and anyone who is serious about design should definitly have this book.

3 comments about From Page to Stage: How Theatre Designers Make Connections Between Scripts and Images.

1. I use this book as the text for Principles of Design for the Performing Arts--an intro to design course I teach. It's really the only book of its kind (with a design emphasis) available. While I could load up my students with four or five other books that would be far better in each respective area, From Page to Stage is the only text that brings them together in a compact and digestible form. The book is an easy read--important for a class top-heavy with studio work, and an adequate introduction to script analysis for design. That said, I think the book is long overdue for a serious second edition. Professor Ingham should consider dropping the odd, theater history chapter toward the end of the book, in favor of a massively expanded chapter on the actual execution of the design/collaboration process. The final chapter briefly touches on the actual "to stage" process. By far most of the book is devoted to the "from page" half. This is surprising as Ingham is herself a noted costume designer and would obviously have much to share in that area. There is next to nothing describing the production meeting process, communication with colleagues and directors, and the final steps in the production process. It's as if two or three chapters are missing from the end of the book.
   Don't get me wrong, I use this book, I recommend this book, and it isn't as if there is some better alternative--I'm simply eager to buy the greatly expanded second edition--should it ever appear.



2. Rosemary Ingham really captured the fundamentals of what it takes in creating and collaberating a design. Her book is full of examples of sources of inspiration, forms of play analysis, commentary on the NEA, and transcripts of directors and designers communicating ideals. This is a wonderful book and it belongs on every designers shelf.



3. This book is a great help for me since this is my 1st year at theater stage design

No comments about Design Entrepreneur: Turning Graphic Design Into Goods That Sell (Design Field Guide).

2 comments about Best of Business Card Design 8 (Best of Business Card Design).

1. The book is a great resource! As a graphic artist, I've panned through the pages for ideas. It's even better when my daughter has her business card design published in this issue! It's no wonder I purchased 5 of them!



2. This is a wonderful, hardback book with hundreds of inspirational designs. Unique, attractive business cards presented in an artful layout with plenty of white space. An excellent reference and idea source.

No comments about Idea Industry: How to Crack the Advertising Career Code.

3 comments about Modern Dog: 20 Years of Poster Art.

1. As a graphic designer and fine artist I found this collective of poster design to be both inspiring and extremely funny. It's refreshing to see such a creative design studio not taking itself too seriously while at the same time doing work that is both timely and powerful. The joy of loving what you do shines through on each page. Bravo Modern Dog.



2. I am a professional freelance artist who specializes in poster design, and I found this book to be a wonderfully inspiring collection.
   
   No two posters look alike; each have their own distinctive feel and approach and the stories behind them are equally interesting. I had never heard of Modern Dog before, and now I wonder where they've been all my life.
   
   A throughly solid art book, I wish it had been twice as long!



3. This is a very entertaining book from a group of very talented designers at Modern Dog. I heard the founders of Modern Dog being interviewed by Debbie Millman= and thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Modern Dog story. I highly recommend this book to all fans of the protest poster, and hilarious graphic communication.