Chapter 1. Getting Started

Figure 1.1. 

 

 

 

“THE COMPUTER CAN’T TELL YOU THE EMOTIONAL STORY. IT CAN GIVE YOU THE EXACT MATHEMATICAL DESIGN, BUT WHAT’S MISSING IS THE EYEBROWS.”

 
 --Frank Zappa

To be graphic designers, we must think like musicians. This means we must understand the harmony of balance, the rhythm of shape, the staccato of tension, and the grace notes of type. Plus, as if this weren’t enough, we have to know which keys to press and which commands to choose to make our computers play the right notes to produce our visual symphony.

Yet when most designers sit down to create a layout, I doubt many think about these principles. I know I don’t, ...

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