10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A different perspective to books on stationery., Aug 12 2002
By Dennis A. Amith (kndy) - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Designers' Stationery (Hardcover)
As a designer that purchases more design books than what he needs (or has time to read), it is suffice to say that I have purchased many books on letterheads, business cards, etc. In these books, you see how design companies created letterheads and business cards for their clients.
And there are good books out there but have you ever wondered what the letterheads and business cards for design agencies/firms look like?
What "Designers' Stationery: How designers and design companies present themselves to the world" does is just that.
When I first saw this book, I just had to purchase it because there is nothing like it out in the market. Every book is again about the designer's clients and this book shows you the innovative letterheads, envelopes and business cards created by these companies.
I would have given this a five star rating but one thing that I didn't see that is important to me when buying books on stationary is the paper stock these design companies used to print their stationery on. Sure, it's nice to see special features listed but for most books on stationery, it's useful and nice to know the paperstock used.
If you don't mind spending [money] to checking out how international design companies putting some flare into their stationery, check this book out. You really see some innovative ways they are able to attract attention. It might even make you want to redo your own stationery. Check it out!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good idea, poorly executed, Aug 22 2006
By D. Kelley - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Designers' Stationery (Hardcover)
This book should have been a useful and interesting resource, but its function is seriously undermined by the hideous visual design. Instead of presenting the designers' stationery on a neutral background so that it can be clearly seen and appreciated, the book's designer(s) fill the space around and behind the examples with bright colors and shapes, blown up logos, and other distracting clutter. No shadows, borders, or other delineating marks are used to distinguish the stationery from the background, making it difficult at times to even pick out what parts of the page are examples and what are just background "flourishes."
I recommend that instead of this book, people interested in designers' stationery and other self-promotional work look to design magazines like Step, Print, and Communication Arts for their annual reviews of the best in this and other design areas.