Book Review: Graphic: Inside the Sketchbooks of the World's Great Graphic Designers
You'll never know what's in a sketchbook. That's one of the surprises for opening them.
In this thick 352-page paperback, 110 artists and designers are featured. A lot of graphic designers are unfamiliar to me but I do spot a few illustrators like Gary Baseman, James Jean (he seems to be in a lot of sketchbook collections), infographics maestro Nigel Holmes, John Cuneo.
The illustrative style is incredibly varied and the drawing subjects random. The work featured range from scrappy sketches to photographic collages. Each is a snapshot of the artist's mind. However the sketches are nothing like the commercial work the artists do, with the exception of a few. Compared to other sketchbook collections, this book is less illustrative in the sense that the drawings are more doodle-like.
The commentary is concise, sure, but could have been longer for more reading pleasure. The websites of all the artists are included at the back of the book.
If you're not into any specific subjects and like doodles, you might like this book.
There are two publishers for this book namely The Monacelli Press and Thames & Hudson. The editions are priced differently, but should contain the same content. On Amazon UK, Thames & Hudson's edition is much cheaper.
Visit Amazon to check out more reviews.
If you buy from the links, I get a little commission that helps me get more books to feature.
The Monacelli Press edition:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.co.jp
This Thames & Hudson edition:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.co.jp
Comments
Just finished two days of
Just finished two days of intense studying of the Thaes and Hudson edition of this book. Makes for fascinating viewing and really feel split over the whole book. About 75% of it had me thinking, "I'll never be that good" and 25% thinking "how do these people make a living as designers?" Obviously the sketchbooks don't necessarily reflect the design work so now I'm sat at the computer looking people up to answer my own question.
Hmmm... don't mean to be a
Hmmm... don't mean to be a downer, but a lot of work looked liked highschool/ mediocre art student level work to me.
I personally really enjoy taking a look through sketchbooks, but if you label your book as :
"Inside the Sketchbooks of the World's Great Graphic Designers"
you better come up with some banging material.
Re last comment, isn't the
Re last comment, isn't the entire point of this book that it demonstrates that A) there's a great diversity in ways of getting your visual ideas down before they disappear, and that B) because of this some people's sketchbooks look like a mess & the work within them hastily realised even though the work that made their reputation is very accomplished?!
Can someone tell me what
Can someone tell me what proportion of this book is devoted to illustrators and what proportion to graphic designers? Is it pretty balanced or does it emphasize one over the other?
@Anonymous It's pretty
In reply to Can someone tell me what by Anonymous (not verified)
@Anonymous
It's pretty balanced but the sketches featured aren't representative of the artists/designers' commercial works.
A most excellent collection.
A most excellent collection. Thanks for the recommendation.
Add new comment