Universal Principles of Design: Amazon.ca: William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler: Books

Product Description

Book Description

Whether a marketing campaign or a museum exhibit, a video game or a complex control system, the design we see is the culmination of many concepts and practices brought together from a variety of disciplines. Because no one can be an expert on everything, designers have always had to scramble to find the information and know-how required to make a design workùuntil now.

Universal Principles of Design is the first cross-disciplinary reference of design. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, this book pairs clear explanations of the design concepts featured with visual examples of those concepts applied in practice. From the 80/20 rule to chunking, from baby-face bias to Ockham's razor, and from self-similarity to storytelling, 100 design concepts are defined and illustrated for readers to expand their knowledge.

This landmark reference will become the standard for designers, engineers, architects, and students who seek to broaden and improve their design expertise.

About the Author

William Lidwell is a partner and chief research and development officer at the Applied Management Sciences Institute. He writes, speaks, and consults on topics of design and engineering and is the author of multiple books including the best-selling design book Universal Principles of Design, which has been translated into 16 languages. He lives in Houston, TX.

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Better for the Coffee Table than the Design Desk, Jan 16 2004

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John Beeler "John Beeler" (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Universal Principles of Design (Hardcover)

Much of Universal Principles of Design lacks depth. The reason for this is that the text needed more colloboration than it appears to have asorbed. For something that aspires to be a sort of objective compendium, the topics (and particularly the examples used) are grounded firmly within the author's sphere of knowledge. I correctly guessed both where the authors lived as well as their occupations long before I had finished reading merely because they use so many examples from Houston and software. Unfortunately, this lack of research and colloboration outside of the two authors and their own knowledge creates a shallow, uninformed book.

Universal Principles of Design is far less academic and objective than it proports. For example, if I had based one of my principles on an example I would have researched it beyond merely using internet heresay (DVORAK v. QWERTY, for example). That's not to say it isn't enjoyable, as the text itself is neat, modernist, clean and is, at times, interesting and informative. However, Universal Principles of Design lacks the academic depth needed for usability and never extends beyond introductions and formalities. The book is something that aspires to belong more on the coffee table as a chic relic of interest in design than as a usable, practical text to earmark, underline in, and really utilize as a day to day guidebook.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction book to the principles of design, Mar 19 2012

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Vincent Falardeau (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Universal Principles of Design (Hardcover)

It might lacks the depth of some academic books, but it is one of the best a to z guide on the subject; it is enjoyable and easy to read, interesting and informative at the same time. Really a good starting point for someone who wants to learn the basis of design; 100 design principles simply explained with clear examples. This is a reference book, if you are looking for a source of inspiration, you will be desapointed, but as a source of direction it is a very good book, or to someone that wants references on specific rules to follow or one that wants to get introduced to the laws or the design world.

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5.0 out of 5 stars great practical guide to user experience design, Nov 24 2003

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Jisoo Kim "jiskim2" (san francisco, ca United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Universal Principles of Design (Hardcover)

First, I wasn't sure if I should buy this book, but after reading half the book at the bookstore, I am convinced this is one of the best a-z guide on user experience/desireability/usability......

very well written and easy to read....with great examples!

I recommend this book to people in design or design related field.....

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Student Reference
This is the first time I've been compelled to write I review. I received this book yesterday and though I've only read through a small portion of the book, I find it to be very... Read more

Published on Jan 2 2008 by Danielle