Editing by Design: The Classic Guide to Word-And-Picture Communication for Art Directors, Editors, Designers, and Students

By Jan V. White, Jan White, Alex W. White

Book Overview

An Industry Classic, Revised for the Modern Age This classic guide to winning readers for designers, art directors, and editors, has been completely updated to be applicable to both online and print publication design. Because it has truths about effective visual communication that transcend ever-changing technology, this book has been in continuous publication since 1974. Revised with the careful attention of widely respected author and professor of graphic design Alex W. White, Editing by Design , Fourth Edition, describes how both word people and design people have the same task: to reveal the true core of each message as plainly and compellingly as possible. It is a book vital to creators of today's online and print media. Readers will find ways to marry content and form, helping story and design to reinforce each other, and create pages that are irresistible. Brimming with three hundred illustrations, chapters cover a wealth of design and editing matters, including: How to think about "editing" and "design" as a word person and a design person Teamwork and collaboration for story clarity Originality and inducement for the reader Columns and grids for organization and consistency Covers and content listings as tools for deeper reader involvement How to use type hierarchy to catch and lure readers Representational and non-representational imagery Using color as a branding device Readers will learn how editor-designer collaboration can achieve maximum creative impact through the effective use of words, images, and space. Full of practical examples, this book is equally for designers looking for a deeper understanding of how to design better and for writers and editors wanting to communicate more vividly with the utmost impact, as well as for editorial directors and publishers seeking a competitive advantage.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1621537609
• ISBN13: 9781621537601
• Release Date: January 2021
• Publisher: Allworth
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.0" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Thank you, Mr White.

I have probably never learned more about any subject than I have with this book. Being the eternal student, I can be critical if a book doesn't teach me anything new, or pads itself out with extraneous rot. This book does neither of these things. It is concise, incredibly comprehensive, clear, honest and delivers much much MUCH. How I would love to get inside this man's brain and/or have him partner my business! The attention to detail and range of example is exhilarating. An exemplary work that could very well have delivered the bones of my entrepreneurial idea, or at the very least, given me the vim and knowledge to execute it. Thank you, Mr White.

Definately underpriced, this book is serious value.

Thanks to Robin Williams (The Non-Designer's Design Book) for her bibliography, which recommended that I carefully considered Editing by Design, among others. This book proved to be everything I hoped for. A serious value at a great price! I also purchased Allen Hurlberts book "the grid" for which I forked over an outlandish $60.00. This price does not reflect the real value in constrast to White's book. Although I expected more, Hulbert's book is grid specific by intent, that is why I purhcased it. However, I just don't see $60.00 value when I also compare it to Kimberly Elam's "Grid Systems" which for $11.53 outshines Hurlberts. Editing by Design offers full spectrum coverage for design. It's a cool book. Reading it takes me back to class where I get to sit at the feet of a master. Buy this book, you will not be dissapointed! With this one you definately get what you pay for and much, much more. Deepak Chopra is right! "The eye refuses to see what the mind does not know."

A definite must-have!

This book should be on the must-read list of every designer, editor and art director. It presents all the do's and don'ts of page layout in a clear and easy to grasp way with wonderful illustrations of all the topics discussed. If I may suggest something to the publisher - please translate it to other languages so even more people can enjoy this book. Don't hesitate for a second - if you want to know how to win satisfied readers just buy this book!

The Reader-Friendly Revolution Continues

No one has done more to rationalize the design process than Jan V. White. For over twenty-five years, previous editions of Editing by Design has mentored a generation of designers, editors, advertising managers, and business owners in the ways of rational, results-oriented, reader-friendly design.As an enthusiastic reader from the early days, I was initially somewhat apprehensive when Jan White first announced a new edition of his classic book. But, I needn't have worried. Everything that was great about the earlier versions is still there, but so much more has been added. New examples, new illustrations, and new ideas about designing attractive, easy-to-read publications. Jan's distinctive writing style is complemented by literally hundreds of illustrations which bring his words to life in a clear and unambiguous way. If you're responsible for creating print materials that succeed, Editing by Design belongs belongs next to your bed and next to your computer.