5 comments about Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change.

1. Papanek, like his mentor Fuller, took on a guru like status where rhetoric became more important than the reality. He bends facts and contradicts himself several places in this book.
   
   Here are a few that jumped out at me
   
   Misrepresentation of the facts -
   
   Page 89 - The Hyatt collapse wasn't bad design rather the builder changed the construction and inspectors weren't doing their job.
   
   281 - He talks about farm implement companies' negative reaction to his walking tractor proposal. Troy-Bilt Rototiller has around since 1937, was and is building a 10 HP tiller very similar to the one pictured.
   
   Contradicts himself -
   
   Page 6 he says, "Design must be meaningful. And meaningful replaces such semantically loaded expressions as ... "ugly"... "cute"...
   
   Page 93 - he describes gum as "tawdry
   
   Page 246 - He asserts that humidifiers are bad because they are "costly, ugly, and ... wasteful of water"
   
   Granted there are a lot of dangerous, overpriced, impractical, and generally unnecessary products on the market, but except for ranting about what he considers to be wrong, he doesn't offer much in terms of direction to others who want to be socially responsible.



2. I first heard a lecture by Victor Papanek about 20 years ago, shortly before this revised edition was released. He was a very impressive speaker, drawing from a seemingly bottomless well of ecological design ideas. His work has taken him far and wide and in the process allowed him to revamp many of his views on environmental design. This book is an extensively updated version of his seminal book on the subject. It has become a bit dated in the 20 years since its release, especially in regard to computer software design. But, most of the material he covers is still relavent to the present, as we have only begun to scratch the surface of sound ecological ideas.

   Having read the more recent books on ecological design by Sim Van Der Ryn and William McDonough, I was surprised to see that neither mentioned Papanek, who prefigured many of the ideas they present in their current books. Papanek long ago advocated the lease/use principle, which makes much more sense in a rapidly changing technological world than does the buy/own principle that continues to dominate our social thinking. Papanek notes the many cultural and psychological blocks we have created for ourselves when it comes to ecological design, but also illustrates how we can overcome these blocks with methods such as bisociation, first proposed by Arthur Koestler. But, what really makes this book stand out are the great number of illustrations that Papanek uses to demonstrate his ideas. This is one of the most practical books written on environmental design.

   While Papanek was an industrial designer, his ideas are equally germaine to the field of architecture and biology. He advocated a multi-disciplinary approach, feeling that our universities had become too compartimentalized and were stifling creativity, which needs cross-pollination in order to thrive. The book is as inpiring as his lectures. Papanek challenges the reader to explore new avenues, not continue to follow the status quo, which only results in creative dead-ends.




3. I first spotted this book while studying in Denmark last year, where my host parents had studied under Victor Papanek. I would have studied under him at the University of Kansas, if not for his untimely and unfortunate passing. This book is one of the best books on the principles and ethics of design. It illustrates both the designer's responsibility and the potential to affect real change in the world through design. This most renowned of works by Papanek focuses on industrial design in two parts: How It Is, and How It Could Be. Papanek encourages radical thinking in design, and most of the topics in the book are easily translated to architecture. To my knowledge, reading this book has never been a required part of the core curriculum at the School of Architecture and Urban Design here at KU, but in my opinion, it should be.



4. one of the best books on design ethics till date!



5. It has been many years since I read this important book. I hope this book will be made a compulsory read for all design students. If only more designers would adopt Mr Papanek's approach to socially-responsible design, the world will be a much better place to live in.

5 comments about Manga For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)).

1. I purchased this book based on experiance of using the " For Dummies Series" in the past. The book does a good job on creating heads, bodies, and the differences in male/female. I had great results with those lessons. It does get brief in the areas for eyes, noses (especially front view), and mouths. Overall this book is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning the Manga style of drawing or to expand their current drawing abilities.



2. You may not be the greatest manga artist, but you WILL have the confidence to start.



3. I bought this book for my 17-year old stepson who always loves manga. He is very excited to have this book that can teach him Manga from very basic stuff to the leve he can draw himself.
   Ths shipping is very fast although I chose free-shipping for order 25$, it arrived in a week.
   
   I love Amazon!



4. I'm learning all sorts of things I never knew about manga - the history, the drawing techniques, the characters, and even the storylines. Very impressive! I've never seen a manga drawing book this clear and informative. The simple, conversational writing is easy to follow and funny. It's organized well, so flipping through for pertinent information is a breeze. And, of course, the drawing is amazing. This is a must-read for anyone who loves manga and/or wants to draw it. I'm developing a new appreciation for this art.



5. I was, at best, ignorant in regards to manga and mediocre in regards to drawing. This book improved both these deficiencies with its friendly and informative text, and its clear and step-by-step drawings. I definitely recommend this book as an accessible introduction to the genre and art of manga.

3 comments about The Fabulous Women of Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell.

1. This book is a must see! The artist really have an eye for detail. I love it!



2. Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell are the best fantasy artists in the planet! This collection of their works depicting fantasy women is by far one of the best fantasy art collections you will find in the bookshops! The art is wonderfully reproduced in the printed form with text that explain their aims, experience and motivations regarding each of the paintings. I highly recommend this book and all of the other Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell books!



3. 100 great paintings without buying 100 books. Simply a great book. I am a big fan of fantasy books and I am very familiar with many of the works from this artistic pair. They have done books, magazines, calendars, posters, and even movie posters and I believe even a music cd cover. Their artwork is fantastic and this book displays the best of their best. But there are a couple of things that make this book stand out from the average compilation of art work.
   It isn't just about gorgeous women with swords. It is a tribute to the mercurial spirit of the female form. You can see this spirit in its full spectrum throughout the book. It is sensitive, passionate, battle-enraged, fiery, determined, innocent,or just plain sensual. Each work has a defined theme.
   Another thing I really like about this book is the comments and notes by Julie and Boris. They tell you a little bit about the works, explaining the symbology of each work, or what they were trying to achieve. It is a great bonus to be able to take a peek into the mind of the artist and it helps you see the paintings in a new way.
   And then there are the models; many of whom are real women like the scorchingly gorgeous Julie Strain or the brainy/beautiful queen of the B Horror Movie Brinke Stevens.
   If you are a fan of fantasy art or a fan of fantasy novels this is a great book for your coffee table but this is not your fathers coffee table book! Of all the range of expression the models portray in this book modesty is not one of them!

1 comments about Exploring The Basics of Drawing (Design Exploration Series).

1. I teach drawing at the college level and have seen a multitude of drawing books. All though many of them are very nice this is the first one I have ever been compelled to recommend. It may not have all the bells and whistles of costlier books but it explains the basics of observational drawing in a concise way that could be understood by beginning drawing students. The illustrations explain in a visual way what the author explains verbally and are easy to view and understand. This book would be the one to pick if you do not have an instructor and need to teach yourself. If you read the book and work from observation you will improve your drawing skills. I like the book so much I am selecting it for my students as the class text for Basic Drawing I.
   
   If you are advanced drawing student and have the rudimentaries of drawing down then this may not be the book for you.

No comments about Launching the Imagination 2D + CC CD-ROM v3.0.

5 comments about Texture Effects for Rubber Stamping.

1. 
   A beautiful book on using texture in paper crafts (not just in card making).
   
   This book goes beyond being a "basic rubber stamping book",which is why I bought this book. I have been taking paper crafting classes for a few years and it's good to have a book like this one on hand because many of the techniques shown in this book are used in the "upper-level stamping classes" I've taken.
   
   So often I have taken a paper craft class and then after a few years I've forgotten how to create a certain texture. Well, this book is great because it will often jog my memory of those upper-level classes that require skill and detail---BEYOND just inking a rubber stamp and slapping the design on paper.
   
   In order to create a card or picture with color and texture, it's good to know the techniques shown by Ms. Curry in this book. Then, after practicing these "texturizing techniques", an artist can apply his or her own style to their art product.



2. New approch for rubber stamping with great usages and provides every step for doing them. I love it.



3. This book has fun ideas shown in steps and in color! There are 40 projects with material lists and great texture effects that most anyone can accomplish. Very easy to follow the directions and some projects even have variations for additional ideas!



4. This is not merely a picture book, nor is it a long-winded teaching book. The teaching is there, done via a series of projects which involve the reader in using the techniques. I love the clear way the content is provided. And I like it that Ms Curry gives her preferences, and reasons, for specific products. Altogether a great book.



5. This is a must-have book for serious stamper's. Nancy's techniques are very detailed and creative. You'll be surprised how many supplies you have on hand and around the house when trying her techniques. I've read the book twice and I've tried all her techniques. Believe me you will not be able to put this book down. Definitely a stamper's bible!!

5 comments about Stencil Graffiti (Street Graphics / Street Art).

1. it's a cheap book, and it's got cheap information. nothing much to it. i would probably spend a bit more and buy a book that's more in depth with the culture and such of graffiti art. but if you must, like me buy this book to be a part of your growing art book collection, then by all means, no one is stopping you.



2. I like this book. It's a thin book. It's not too much stuff in the book but I think it's a nice book to have in your collection just to have something different. Since I'm not too much into stencil graffiti, this book is just right to have it in my collection. I like it. It has great work of art in it.



3. Its a great book, but Stencil Pirates is better.



4. This book is being reviewed quite heavily these days and after reviewing it myself, I can only conclude that this is because of the Publishers' credentials in publishing books on street art. I found that this book fell short on my expectations, even though much of the material was interesting. While it was enlightening to read the brief articles on the history of stencil graffiti, and how stenciling started back to 22,000 in cave paintings, the book quickly lost steam. Many of the artists featured here are well known, however there are many photos featuring industrial uses of stencils which neither are graffiti art, stencil graffiti or art in any type of form. This really detracted form what I assumed the book was featuring. Most of the interesting features were on European artists such as the "bananensprayer" in Cologne, Germany, or Bansky who mixed political satire with his various works. Although many stencil artists are features from all over Europe, and the United States as well as a whole page spread of works from Morocco, I really missed the interviews which should have accompanied these images. While I would not purchase the book for my personal collection, many of the photos showcased the dizzying array of effects which were possible to achieve with something as simple as a stencil.



5. I have my own website dealing with Sticker Art/Stencils. I found this bbok through a friends website and it wanted me to make moore awesome stencil. I can't believe how detailed some of these stencils are with 5 or more colors on one stencil. Our favorite stencil artist is Bansky....

3 comments about Tiffany Colored Gems.

1. As always, John Loring does a smash-up job with his new book on the colored gems of Tiffany. Gorgeous photos,great history and a perfect accompanment to "Tiffany Pearls".
   Highly recommended for the jeweler or jewelry fanatic.
   Aurea Jewels



2. Very good book, but not as great as Loring's other book "Tiffany Diamonds."
   A little heavy on Paloma Picasso's jewelry, but she did do some great stuff for Tiffany.



3. This is an excellent book for people who love gemstone jewelery. The introduction provides a great historical recap of some notable gemstones. Then there are sections arranged by the color of the gemstones (ie. Purple: Amethyst & Kunzite and Blue: Saphires, Aquamarine,etc.). Each section provides some of the most beautiful photographs and drawings of modern and antique gemstone jewelry. All photos and drawings are in brilliant color and clear, crisp detail. There is also a glossary with the definitions and description of the gemstones. The Gem Index provides the Moh's harness scale of each gem. I highly recommend this book if you love jewelry. It is a great coffee table book / eye candy book / wish book / jewelry reference book.

5 comments about Cinema 4D: The Artist's Project Sourcebook, 2nd Edition.

1. This book is clearly for anyone who is in need of a quick read with brilliant illustrations that will motivate you to great motion ghaphics.



2. Everything about this book is amateurish. You can tell from the models that she uses as examples that she doesn't really know how to use the program, really what is a "Starlight Receiver"? The example movies on the DVD are in black and white with no sound. Unbelievable. Don't believe the hype this book is garbage.



3. I'm really disapointed by this book. Was expecting a lot more after reading all those good reviews... This is only a step by step tutorials book. The author doesnt explain that much anything related to cinema 4D... I don't understand exactly what I am doing. The book is starting with those tutorials without at least explaining the basic of this software and the interface... I need first to understand the interface before being able to do anything else with this software and this is not the book that will help me out for sure... It's not by telling me to put a value somewhere in the attributes that I will actually understand WHY to put this value there...
   
   :(



4. This is the book I wish I had when starting out in 3D. It doesnt barage you with technical descriptions of 3D app features but teaches by going in and making stuff. The quality of the models made and the layout of the book is beautiful, you would not mind having this book on the coffee table for friends to look at. And kudos go to the publisher for printing this book on durable high quality paper, strong binding and with full color photos. So many graphics books nowadays will rip you off with B&W pics on cheap paper. Why is it you can by a $7 magazine (ie National Geographic) with high quality color pics, good paper and strong binding, but not a $30 graphics book?



5. This is a funny book, written with the newcomer to C4D in mind, full of tutorials about practically every aspect of the vast 3D weaponry wich C4D puts at your disposition. All the examples and tutorials are accompanied with files (contained in a DVD) to put the lessons in practice. The artistic soul of the book is very important, it asks to the reader/practitioner to be creative with the program, but it covers the technical aspects of this complex piece of software also.
   Anne Powers, the author, is an artist above all, and the book, printed in full color, has tons of examples of her talented work. I have to make a special mention to the chapter dedicated to the complex task of human head modelling, wich Powers accomplish well and with artistic style.
   Not a book about photoreal modelling/rendering, nevertheless. But Powers claims that enough 3D literature is about that these days, and I agree. So is the artistic creative proccess the aspect wich prevails in this book.
   The book is based upon the C4D 10 release, and has one chapter dedicated to the MoGraph module. It also covers BodyPaint.
   Very fun to read/practice and highly recommended!

1 comments about Songs of Experience: Facsimile Reproduction with 26 Plates in Full Color.

1. Finally, a crisp, clean reproduction of Songs of Innocense and Songs of Experience for all the Blake fans with high school incomes! These books are small--the size of the originals, easy to manage (although a magnifying glass may come in handy for some of the finer figures like the man in the "I" of Innocense!). They consist of reproductions of the original plates and normal typeset lyrics for each poem in the back.

   While the facsimiles for Innocense are taken from an earlier copy and are fairly pale, with limited coloring, those for Experience are bold and vivid. It's nice to have both books simply to compare, in the poems that Blake moved to Experience, how his style evolved. This reproduction of "A Poison Tree" is my favorite of any I've seen.

   At this price, these two books are a Blakey's dream come true.