This thought-provoking and practical book for graphic designers and students explores creative practice in graphic design. The book looks at the essential elements of the creative process through a series of in-depth studies of a range of real-life graphic design projectsfrom the art direction of a magazine issue and the development of a logo, to the design of a poster, a font and a signage system. In each case, the designers are interviewed and their working process documented in detail.

The author considers the analysis of diaries as a distinctive research technique in its own right. He recognises the increased interest in and relevance of diary methodology within social research teaching.

In Big Apple Diaries, a heartfelt diary-style graphic memoir by Alyssa Bermudez, a young New Yorker doodles her way through middle school—until the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack leaves her wondering if she can ever be a kid again. It’s the year 2000 in New York City. For 12-year old Alyssa, a biracial Puerto Rican girl, this means all kinds of new challenges: splitting time between her dad's apartment in Manhattan and her mom's new place in Queens, navigating the ups and downs of middle school, harboring an epic crush on a new classmate, and figuring out how to be a "real" Puerto Rican. The only way to make sense of it all is to write and draw her thoughts and worries into her diary. Then life abruptly changes on September 11, 2001. After the Twin Towers fall and so many lives are lost, her concerns about gossip, crushes, and fashion feel distant and insignificant. Alyssa must find a new sense of self and purpose amidst all of the chaos, and find strength to move forward with hope. This moving graphic memoir is based on Alyssa Bermudez's own middle school diaries.

This comprehensive reference provides a thorough and critical presentation of 100 research methods, synthesis/analysis techniques, and research deliverables for human centered design, delivered in a concise and accessible format perfect for designers, educators, and students. Universal Methods of Design serves as an invaluable compendium of methods that can be easily referenced and used by cross-disciplinary teams in nearly any design project. Methods and techniques are organized alphabetically for ongoing, quick reference. Each method is presented in a two-page format. The left-hand page contains a concise description of the method, accompanied by references for further reading. On the right-hand page, images and cases studies for each method are presented visually. The relevant phases for design application are highlighted as numbered icons along the right side of the page, from phases 1 (planning) through 5 (launch and monitor). Build more meaningful products with these methods and more: A/B Testing, Affinity Diagramming, Behavioral Mapping, Bodystorming, Contextual Design, Critical Incident Technique, Directed Storytelling, Flexible Modeling, Image Boards, Graffiti Walls, Heuristic Evaluation, Parallel Prototyping, Simulation Exercises, Touchstone Tours, and Weighted Matrix. This essential guide: Dismantles the myth that user research methods are complicated, expensive, and time-consuming Creates a shared meaning for cross-disciplinary design teams Illustrates methods with compelling visualizations and case studies Characterizes each method at a glance Indicates when methods are best employed to help prioritize appropriate design research strategies Universal Methods of Design is an essential resource for designers of all levels and specializations.

Drawing on the groundbreaking U.S. Financial Diaries project (http://www.usfinancialdiaries.org/), which follows the lives of 235 low- and middle-income families as they navigate through a year, the authors challenge popular assumptions about how Americans earn, spend, borrow, and save-- and they identify the true causes of distress and inequality for many working Americans.

This stylish home journal, complete with practical tips, checklists, and list prompts, is an indispensable resource for running the home and a keepsake from a life well lived there. This unique journal will be shipped to customers in one of three different colors at random. The most beloved homes create some joyful chaos—lively game nights or art projects in progress—as well as plenty of relaxation and comfort. Having one place to record all of your home’s details, from essential phone numbers to perennial to-dos, makes it easier to keep organized so you’ll have more time to enjoy the day-to-day. It is also a sanity saver, helping you preserve information that would otherwise get lost over the years, such as the exact paint color on your living room walls or the year your roof was installed. A practical organizer and guided journal in one, Diary of Your Home offers prompts and lined pages for noting essential information, from your handyperson’s phone number to your bedroom’s dimensions. Covering topics as diverse as furnishings, repairs, landscaping, and entertaining, this book also encourages you to preserve your family’s memories and traditions, such as heirloom recipes and favorite activities. Diary of Your Home includes space for decor wish lists and mood boards, project pages with to-dos, schedules, and budgets. Full of prompts, charts, and diagrams for list-making, record-keeping, and brainstorming; space for jotting notes, sketches, and memories or pasting in images; and a pocket for gathering business cards and swatches, Diary of Your Home is an indispensable resource and keepsake.