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design

graphic space

Philip B. Meggs, Type and image: The language of graphic design, John Wiley & Sons, 1992, 69-73, 80-89, 92.
In this reading you will learn about grid structures. While sometimes grids are explicit, in almost all other cases of good visual design, they operate implicitly, lurking beneath the surface. The examples, as well as the principles, can serve as a basis for your own ideas.
Allen Hurlburt, The grid, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1978, 9-26, 69-79.

information design

Clement Mok, Designing business: Multiple media, multiple disciplines, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1996, 102-106, 114-123.
Jon Kolko, Information architecture and design strategy: The importance of synthesis during the process of design, Industrial Designers Society of America Conference, 2007.
Provides practical perspectives on how to engage in processes of design synthesis. Incorporates visual and semantic aspects in conceptualization, based on iteratively collecting, organizing, and annotating material, in the context of a design task.

layering and separation

Edward Tufte, Envisioning Information, Cheshire, CT: Graphics Press, 1990, 37, 46-47, 52-65, 101-106.
Layering is a means for structuring the presentation of large amounts of information, in order to promote readability. It is a means for grouping elements into levels, and facilitating coherent readings of the levels. Tufte's book contains beautiful examples and clear analysis.

color

Johannes Itten, The Elements of Color, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1970, 14-15, 19-22, 29-31, 32-63, 66-67, 72-74.
Color theory involves physics, cognition, and aesthetics. It is a science and an art. In Itten's words, he writes about "the subjective experience and objective rationale of color." Color theory is a key to visual and interactive communication. This book unlocks mysteries of color harmony.

type

Rob Carter, Philip B. Meggs, and Ben Day, Typographic design: Form and communication, John Wiley & Sons, 2011, 27, 30, 32-42, 50-55, 60-61, 72-74.
Richard Hollis, Swiss graphic design, Laurence King Publishing, 2006, 197-201, 64-67, 70-71, 222-223.

affordances

Don Norman, The Design of Everyday Things, 2nd Edition, NY: Basic Books, 1988, Ch. 1, 47, 56-58, 75-80.

design thinking

Jon Kolko, Thoughts on Interaction Design, Morgan Kaufmann, 2010, 20-22.
Rheinfrank and Evenson, Design Languages, Bringing Design to software, Ed. Terry Winograd, Vol. 86, NY: ACM Press, 1996.
Jon Kolko, Information architecture and design strategy: The importance of synthesis during the process of design, Industrial Designers Society of America Conference, 2007.
Provides practical perspectives on how to engage in processes of design synthesis. Incorporates visual and semantic aspects in conceptualization, based on iteratively collecting, organizing, and annotating material, in the context of a design task.