This book is the most compact and lucid handbook available outlining the basic principles of layout, typography, colour usage and space. Being a creative designer is often about coming up with unique design solutions. Unfortunately, when the basic rules of design are ignored in an effort to be distinctive, design becomes useless. In language, a departure from the rules is only appreciated as great literature if recognition of the rules underlies the text. Graphic design is a 'visual language' and brilliance is recognised in designers whose work seems to break all the rules, yet communicates its messages clearly. This is a fun and accessible handbook that presents the fundamentals of design in lists, tips, brief text and examples. The chapters include Graphic Design: What It Is; What Are They and What Do They Do?, Choosing and Using Type and Breaking the Rules: When and Why to Challenge all the Rules of this Book.

薩馬拉，為活躍於美國紐約的平麵設計師。他藉助STIM視覺傳播公司（STIM Visual Communication），忙碌於授課、寫作、谘詢和開講座等事務。15年的品牌設計與信息設計，使他經受到印刷設計、包裝設計、環境設計、用戶界麵設計、動畫設計等多種項目的熏陶。薩馬拉先生目前是紐約大學視覺藝術學院、紐約州立大學伯斯學院和帕森設計學院的教師。他撰寫瞭《平麵設計網格的製作與突破》、《印刷工作手冊》、《齣版物設計完全手冊》和《字體風格搜索手冊》等著作。