Reddit reviews Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop

Making and Breaking the Grid was really helpful to me when I started to really analyze the work of professionals.

Two things that is very helpful is to know type and grids.


On typography my favorite is: The Elements of Typographic Style

Another good one is Stop Stealing Sheep


For grids, I like this one: Grid Systems in Graphic Design

Making and Breaking the Grid
is not too bad either.

I feel like you've been hammered here because of the amateurish nature of your work. Honestly though, I'm pretty sure that's why you came here, knowing that it wasn't up to par, and wanting to know how to change that. Here are some things that I would focus on if I were you:

Typography: By this, I don't mean using different typefaces, but rather the study of how to structure information in a legible manner. I work as a wireframer right now, and everything that I do is Arial. Because of that, I have a maniacal focus on size, leading, value, and block shapes to create a hierarchical system on a grid. A lot of it comes from practice, but I can also recommend some books, Thinking with Type, Designing with Type, Making and Breaking the Grid, and The Mac is Not a Typewriter. Typography is one of the most requested skills by design directors because it is hard and can be very bland, but it is absolutely vital for successful work.

Balance and Rhythm: When you are designing pieces, one of the important things to consider is the structure of negative and positive space. This structure influences the way that the piece is read, and the way that people move through the information. You seem to rely on center aligning things a lot, which is dangerous because it creates no action or movement. This topic isn't as advanced as typography so it's harder to give specific resources, but you can find information on this in any basic design text. I enjoyed Alex White's fundamentals book.

Style and Illustration: The type is amateurish, but what makes the work feel dated is the illustration style. When digital illustration was younger and the tools were rougher, the sort of illustration that I see in your portfolio was very common. The most recent trend has been "Flat", but honestly, anything that can complement or hide the digital nature of its creation can work. If you really would like illustration to be a continued part of your work, I would find some tutorials to really strengthen your Illustrator and Photoshop skills, perhaps stuff from Skillshare or Lynda, or even just internet tutorials.

In General: So to be blunt, you do have a long way to go, I'm not going to sugar coat that. That being said, you do have 2 things extremely in your favor right now.

1. You produce a lot of work. You're getting practice.
   
   
2. You know something is wrong. You're looking for a way to improve.
   
   Ira Glass has a really incredible short piece about creative work that describes the place where you are caught right now. Your taste is not aligning with your skills. You have taken the first step in the right direction, so now you need to go study more and keep seeking critique (Not criticism). Whether that is on design_critiques, or from a colleague or friend doesn't matter. Find a place where someone who is better than you can tell you what isn't working and challenge your status quo.
   
   Good luck, and keep at it!

Here's a few I like:

• Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works
  
• The Elements of Typographic Style
  
• Designing Brand Identity
  
• Draplin Design: Pretty Much everything
  
• Making and Breaking the Grid
  
• Graphic Artists Guild Handbook
  
• 30 Essential Typefaces for a Lifetime

• The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst
  
  
• Stop Stealing Sheep & find our how type works 3rd Edition by Erik Spiekermann, this one is a super easy read but a great book.
  
  
• Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton, I have the 2nd Edition
  
  
• Making and Breaking the Grid by Timothy Samara
  
  
• Typographic Design: Form and Communication by Rob Carter, Ben Day, Philip Meggs. I have the 4th edition but I think most are okay. This is a good general typography textbook.
  
  
• Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks by Keith Houston
  
  I can't give suggestions on hand-lettering books yet as the few I have read weren't good...so I'm trying to find better ones. But check out Louise Fili and Jessica Hische for inspiration and of course Paula Scher and Sagmeister.
  
  There are many other books so I welcome others to chime in and add their suggestions.

Timothy Samara books are good for beginners - Making and Breaking the Grid was the book that finally helped me understand grid systems, while Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual was my Freshman year design textbook. The Story of Graphic Design by Patrick Cramsie is also a great GD History book.

In terms of things that are less textbook and more actual books about graphic design, I enjoyed Just My Type a lot. Design Is A Job gives some great advice on the business side of being a designer - pitching to clients, dealing with contracts, etc. How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer has some really interesting interviews with some of the best designers in our field.

And I would be terribly remiss if I didn't mention two of my absolute favorite novels, which happen to be about graphic design. The Cheese Monkeys and its sequel The Learners are fantastic stories about a design student and his experiences both in school and in his first job. Plus, they're written by Chip Kidd, who is an absolutely amazing designer (imho).

But, in case that wasn't enough, I'll also leave you with this link to a previous thread on this subreddit about great GD books.

Good luck and happy reading!

At the very least

Remove the clipart, you're better off with oversized web fonts displaying the $value

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_theory

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253

and include a FAQ for user reassurance as to the relative quality, timing, purpose etc.

Your code also seems excessive for the output

Books that helped me get started with design:
Designing with Type

Making and Breaking the Grid

Most of these books discuss working with printed materials, but the principles are the same in the web.

I own Making and Breaking the Grid and Thinking with Type. Both came highly recommended.

• Item which would most make me seem like an old posh Englishman maybe a little bit, or not at all. They shower, right? - Home WL
  
  
• Most "oh god, I would never be seen with this in public" looking item - Woof WL
  
  
• Most phallic looking item - Woof WL
  
  
• Most geeky item - Silly Fun WL
  
  
• Item which would most help me achieve a goal - Books WL
  
  
• Best item to bring to a deserted island? Food. - Holiday WL

Making and Breaking The Grid

I will post some of my favorite books in a second for you as soon as my computer gets turned on. :)

Here are a couple of my favorites from my school "Hey, I actually like these.. I'm going to purchase them!" collection.

General Graphic Design:

Graphic Design: The New Basics

This publication does a great job of showing "relationships between formal elements of two-dimensional design such as point, line, plane, scale, hierarchy, layers, and transparency." If you are looking for a general overview on a lot of subjects within graphic design I think this is a great way to upgrade your vocabulary and general knowledge about graphic design.


Graphic Design Theory: Readings from the Field

I feel like this book really can help you improve your vocabulary and general knowledge of the graphic design world offering "primary texts from the most important historical and contemporary designthinkers." It's also nice that it offers a bit of history too, analyzing the early 1900s through today.


Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop

Great. Absolutely great publication for all designers showing effective use of the grid system and how to layout your compositions. "Effective layout is essential to communication and enables the end user to not only be drawn in with an innovative design but to digest information easily."


Typography: <3

30 Essential Typefaces for a Lifetime

I loooooove this book. It gives a bit of history and usage examples of 30 amazing typefaces you should know and love.


Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, and Students

Another great typography book. This publication was one of my favorites because, at the end of the day, I'm a visual person and this book has SO many visual examples to compliment it's copy it's beautiful. "This revised edition includes ... the latest information on style sheets for print and the web, the use of ornaments and captions, lining and non-lining numerals, the use of small caps and enlarged capitals, as well as information on captions, font licensing, mixing typefaces, and hand lettering."


Typographic Systems of Design

This is a very good resource for learning, as the title states, typographic systems. It "explores eight major structural frameworks beyond the gridincluding random, radial, modular, and bilateralsystems." Overall, I feel like this book helped me to improve my positioning and creative use of type in designs.

I have this book and found it interesting and helpful. https://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253

On typography:

• The Elements of Typographic Style, the Bible of Typography.
  
• Thinking with Type, a nice overview of how type works.
  
• Detail in Typography, on the finer points of type.
  
  On grids:
  
  
• Raster Systeme, by the eminent expert of the Swiss School.
  
• Making and Breaking the Grid, a modern update on the timeless grid.
  
  On colour:
  
  
• The Art of Color, a classic on color.
  
• Interaction of Color, another classic text on color (theory).
  
  On usability:
  
  
• Don't Make Me Think, a classic on web usability.
  
• The Design of Everyday Things, a general usability Urtext.
  
• Understanding Comics, a great primer from an unlikely field.
  
  On information design:
  
  
• The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, the master at work.
  
  On inspiration:
  
  
• How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer, inspiration from the field.
  
• How to Be a Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul
  
  On theory:
  
  
• What is a designer, philosophical musings, existential questions.
  
• Graphic Design Theory: Readings from the Field, theoretical backgrounds on the craft.
  
  On history:
  
  
• Meggs' History of Graphic Design, a canonical classic.
  
• Graphic Design: A New History, an alternative narrative.
  
  Monographs:
  
  
• From Lascaux to Brooklyn, the inimitable Paul Rand.
  
• Saul Bass: A Life in Film & Design, the art of Saul Bass.
  
• Tibor Kalman, Perverse Optimist, the exceptional work of Mr Kalman.

Making and Breaking the Grid is good. The reviews can tell you better than I can.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1592531253

Well, the most important books that I read when learning design were:

• Grid Systems
  
• The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
  
• The Elements of Typographic Style
  
• Making and Breaking the Grid
  
  All of those would be a good start.

I always really loved this book; Making and breaking the Grid. It was essential when I was in Design School.

Making and Breaking the Grid: http://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_(page_layout)

A grid is setting up a layout on the page that creates hierarchy and order to the content in a consistent way.

Good books:


http://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300584269&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Grid-Systems-Principles-Organizing-Design/dp/1568984650/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300584269&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Systems-Graphic-Systeme-Visuele-Gestaltung/dp/3721201450/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300584269&sr=1-6

Making and breaking the grid is more general in its approach - it focuses on what a good layout is. It's all about how layout can convey your message in the best way possible - whatever your medium is.

It's not specifically about magazines but it has good hints and pointers on how to make your layout right for the message you are conveying.

For me it has been a like a bible in my studies.

Agreed, you have center alignment and left align used throughout, then the "s" and "t" aren't aligned to the baseline which is a huge no no in Swiss (International) Style.

Edit: Here are some books I highly suggest you read. Study them, learn from them and then practice it. Typography is a very intricate practice, trust me I know, but you'll get there if you're persistent enough. :)

https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Stealing-Sheep-Find-Works/dp/0201703394

https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Typographic-Style-Robert-Bringhurst/dp/0881791326

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253

https://www.amazon.com/Typography-Workbook-Real-World-Graphic-Design/dp/1592533019/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469950238&sr=8-1&keywords=typography+workbook++samara

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253/ref=pd_sim_14_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=41s-rwL0vqL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR133%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=70C7ZVY3AN5STQ6KD21T

Grab yourself a copy of one (or all) of the following:

• http://www.amazon.com/Design-Elements-2nd-Understanding-Expanded/dp/1592539270/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425356032&sr=1-1&keywords=samara
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
  
  And just practice, practice, practice. Keep making revisions and keep critically looking at your work. Don't give up!

La design nu pot sa zic ca ma pricep prea tare, dar domeniul ma preocupa din ce in ce mai mult. Thinking with type si The Elements of Typographic Style, The Design of Everyday Things, Grid Systems in Graphic Design, Making and Breaking the Grid: A Graphic Design Layout Workshop si Don't Make Me Think sunt cartile care mi-au placut/din care am invatat cel mai mult, dar sunt clasice asa ca banuiesc ca stii de ele.

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253

https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Type-2nd-revised-expanded/dp/1568989695/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480520404&sr=1-3&keywords=ellen+lupton

I always recommend these two. They aren't going to tell you how to design a newpaper, but it will explain structure and how grids, hierarchy, content and information work together in composition.

Sorry for the late reply.

Here is a short list of books I keep around for reference (some better than others).

http://www.amazon.com/Forms-Folds-Sizes-Details-Designers/dp/1592530540

http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Type-2nd-revised-expanded/dp/1568989695/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418263515&sr=1-1&keywords=ellen+lupton+thinking+with+type

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418263563&sr=1-1&keywords=breaking+the+grid

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Workshop-Challenges-Sharpen-Design/dp/1600617972/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418263563&sr=1-2&keywords=breaking+the+grid

http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Creative-Design-Second/dp/2940411611/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418263761&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Fundamentals+of+Creative+Design

For HTML, CSS, and Javascript, the O'Reilly series of books is a good teacher / skill sharpener.

See if your boss will spring for a subscription to Lynda.com. There are just bazillions of things in there that can not only teach you, but provide exercises and practical lessons. I can't commend this highly enough.

Basics Design: Layout


Basics Design: Typography


Basics Design: Design Thinking


Basics Design: Image


Basics Design: Colour


Basics Design: Grids


Thinking With Type


Making and Breaking the Grid


Grid Systems Principles


The next few aren't so much technique books but are good reads.

Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design

Damn Good Advice: For People With Talent

The Vignelli Canon

It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be

There were a few books that were reccomended as staples in my Design degree.

History of Design

How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul

Making and Breaking the Grid

...and there was one caled 'Type' that I can't seem to remember the author of.

If you have "a large amount of time and experience under [your] belt with graphic design," I'm curious as to how you've never learned about bleeds, color spaces, and typography? They're fairly fundamental. You're also going to need to learn more than Photoshop. If you want to seriously do print design, you're going to need to know indesign and illustrator as well.

The Elements of Typographic Style

Thinking with Type

Making and Breaking the Grid


Stuff like color spaces and bleeds I learned in design school. I'm not sure if there would be books that cover it because it's so basic. You're probably better off finding out about that kind of stuff online...or going to school to study graphic design.

Here's a basic explanation:

Bleeds: When you print a document commercially, if you want images to go all the way up to the edge of the page (bleed), you need to set up your files properly. If you're printing a document with "bleed," you're printing a size that's actually larger than the final product will be, then trimming off the excess. This ensures that you don't end up with little white edges on your paper where the trim wasn't exactly precise. The industry standard for bleed is .125 inches, though if you're using a lower quality printer, you may want to use more.

Color spaces: Light has three primary colors: Red, Green, and Blue. Therefore, devices which process light (such as digital cameras, smart-phone displays, computer monitors, etc) do so in RGB. If you are creating a file that is going to be consumed digitally, you're going to want to set it up in RGB.

Printers interpret color in CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key [Black]). They do this by breaking images down into halftone screens, which are in essence a configuration of dots of CMYK. From a distance, our eyes perceive these dots as a wide range of colors. If you are setting up a file that you intend on printing, it should be in CMYK.

Here are some general book recommendations:

https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Typographic-Style-Robert-Bringhurst/dp/0881791326?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

AND

https://www.amazon.com/Grid-Systems-Graphic-Design-Communication/dp/3721201450?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

OR

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=NTZ6D5W49YDT8ABS9XXH

Making and Breaking the Grid

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Breaking-Grid-Graphic-Workshop/dp/1592531253/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c

a lot a sometimes intense layouts. the breaking section has some artschool stuff that would never pass a client review, but interesting non the less. some of the web stuff looks kind of dated, but the underlying frameworks still hold.