RotoVision's Mapping book is pretty nice. So is Jan Tschichold's The New Typography.

BEST book i have for graphical inspiration i have to say its ATTIK's book NOISE FOUR check also their website...one of the best graphic offices around.

Also a nice book to check: graphic/analytical organization of information has to be Mapping: An Illustrated Guide To Graphic Navigational Systems very nice book also.....and...

also try TASCHEN's JAPANESE GRAPHICS NOW its a good mainstream graphic design book

The last Morphsis books is a great graphic book, and architecture, of course.

The Attik are good, too, although their time in the lime light has past.


What kinds of graphics are you looking for? Artistic or more practical stuff (like is great practical stuff, like corporate logos, but not that inspirational)? I've got tons and tons of links, just let us know and I'll post.


I would go pick up a copy of Computer Arts and Computer Arts Special. Usually, each issue is better than 99% of the graphic books out there. They are worth the $15+ per copy.

www.computerarts.co.uk

If you are looking for a book that shows great graphical/analytical information, I havent seen any better than L.A. Now. It is something worth picking up and taking a look at. Very good graphical book all the way around.

How about graphic design-intensive/mapping books to avoid:
1. X-Urbanism by Mario Gandelsonas
2. 010's Metropolitan World Atlas

As for magazines, I second Computer Arts ... I also recommend picking up an issue of Print magazine ... there may be some stuff there that you could find inspirational.

Print is awesome...one of the first mags I go for when I have to kill time in borders.

FYI, that site that trace mentioned (www.computerarts.co.uk) has a tutorial on how to print portfolios. You can download for free off the frontpage. I'm going to go through it in a second.

the tutorial is very informative, and can also serve as a check list before you start your portfolio process.

TRACE,

Right now i'm compiling research before I start laying out my portfolio. I'm interested in graphics that inform (data based) rather than trendy/glossy/slick design.

I'm also going to be creating a collage which merges the boundaries of drawing, film, and modeling.

Maybe i'm still being to vague but any suggestions would help.

Well, imho, data base driven design is as trendy as 45 degree arrows, if not more so, but I don't think that's a problem, simply a different strategy.

I could go on and on about the validity....but I believe that design is more about having skill and talent, then creating a process that encourages discovery. I don't believe one approach, whether it be intuition or a database, is any more valid than the other, it's just different parameters setup. Both are 'controlled', regardless of what someone tells you (I've heard many argue that creating a data driven design removes the creators hand, which is total bs).


Anyway, early pioneers in web design:

Joshua Davis:
http://z4byjd.com/index.php
http://www.joshuadavis.com/

http://www.yugop.com/

Many others...

"Architecture" (although I'd disagree with that):
Karl Chu
http://www.arch.columbia.edu/gsap/28630

Marcos Novak (loved his class, but not architecture):
http://www.centrifuge.org/marcos/

Varied, but fairly conservative:

http://www.pentagram.com/



...just occurred to me that you may not have meant 'database' driven but simply 'data' driven?

Ouch MC Smoke. No love for the Gandelsonas.

TRACE

I completely agree with you on the issue of the artist's/architect's "control." I am interested in 'data' inspired but not 'data' controlled. I've moved away from seeing the data/analysis as the golden rule/mantra of design (which i believe is valuable as a strictly academic practice), and am searching for a more fluid, intuitive process as well.

In other words, I want to be able to do it all.

And I dont want to be a one-trick-pony.

A great graphic design book for page layout:

Grid Systems

Graphic Design, in a sense, is grounded in german and swiss practices in the late 20th century. The works of

Josef Brockman (Grid systems)
Jan Tschichold (The new typography)
Armin Hofmann (Exercises at Basel School of design)
Wolfgang Weingart (Breaking swiss rules)
Emil Ruder (Swiss typography)
Johannes Ittens (color studies)
Josef Albers (color studies)
Paul Rand (yep)

These designers all have books you can get alot out.

If your looking for some great work out there now I would suggest going through the yale graphic design 2006 MFA show online. http://www.yalegraphicdesign.com/

A couple people have already mentioned "Print", which I think is excellent. Try to get a hold of a copy of the Regional Design Annual. Also check out "HOW" magazine. They have a self promotional issue which is collection of personal and professional portfolios and advertising.
Go to the American Institute of Graphic Artist's website at www.aiga.org and look at portfolios online. They have both student and professional work. While everything is in digital format, you can still get a lot of ideas for navigational devices or page layouts.
The book "Typography 23 - The Annual of the Type Directors Club" is very nicely laid out as a large portfolio and has some inspiring work.
"Phylogenesis - FOA's Ark" is a really nicely laid out little book. There is obviously way more text than you would want to include in your portfolio, but it is good balance of research, process, and technical information.

there's a nice interview in this month's dwell with irma boom, a nederlandisch designer of exquisite books.

for purely proffesional layout or color combo ideas, in addition to some "innovative" packaging ideas (careful with that)

check out the latest "Best of brochure design" edited by wilson harvey
i've got number 7, i'm not sure if 8 is out. It helped tremendously when putting the finishing touches of cop size/type/placement, and could be a good reference for binding types as well

misterTT- I also love the 'best of brochure design' series- I've got 1 through 6, I believe. I'll have to run out and find 7 after next paycheck. The great thing about these is that brochures are ALL about communication, so there are lots of ideas that can cross platforms really well. Plus the books themselves are pretty nicely done.

area by phaidon press is a great collection of contemporary graphic designers... some really amazing work.

link

TRACE 

HI,

I am new to the forum, and I accidentally flagged you! So sorry about that. Was a beginners mistake!

I wanted to ask you for some links on some, creative graphics inspiration, In the style of Attik, I'm not sure if their style goes under arty, perhaps. Very slick, easy to read, organized, yet something with a creative edge is the kind of style I'm after.

Thanks!