Decoding Design by Maggie Macnab
Decoding Design: Understanding and Using Symbols in Visual Communication is a new book that aims to discover the hidden meanings inside common corporate logos and designs. Having recently received a copy, it’s clear that author, Maggie Macnab, cares about presentation. Considerable expense was added to the print cost by showing a little interactivity on the front cover, as shown in the photo below.
A little about Maggie Macnab:
Maggie is past president of the Communication Artists of New Mexico, teaches logo design and symbolism as visual literacy for designers at the University of New Mexico / Albuquerque, speaks for conferences and universities, and gives workshops on creating more effective, engaging and aesthetic visual communications based in universal principles.
She is passionate about design inspired by nature and the creative problem solving process.
You can view double page spreads of the book on the Decoding Design website, and I’ve also taken a few photos (shown below).
If you missed the short presentation video embedded at the top of this post, you can view it here on YouTube.
I wish Maggie all the very best with her latest design book. You can save more than 30% today on your own copy from Amazon.com.
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Looks interesting David, will check it out further. Also quite good to have the video clip to help sell the book, haven’t seen it being used in this way much, works well. Thanks, Gareth
Looks like a good read. I’ll have to swing by my local bookstore and thumb through it.
I really like seeing logos dissected to see what makes them work.
Should be good, thanks.
Jeremy Davis’s last blog post…What I Hate About Becoming a Designer
Gareth,
The YouTube clip is a great addition to the book’s marketing. Definitely a nice touch.
Jeremy,
I hope you find it in your bookstore. I’ve not had the opportunity to read much, as yet, but am looking forward to doing so.
I’m interested – the 30 percent discount looks good too. The cover design is very striking and would really stand out on a store display, especially with the interactive wheel, and tactile too.
I always find it interesting to see sketches by logo designers using lined paper! I don’t think I would enjoy sketching on lined paper like that….some shots in your post show sketches on paper like that…I always found it odd that some use it.
Brian Yerkes’s last blog post…Obama versus McCain : Web Design War
Looks like a great read. The dissection of logos is always fascinating, but this seems to go a stage further by looking at the use of age old familiar shapes and patterns. Definitley on the ‘must buy’ list.
Are you going to put this into your Logo Design Love?
Rafie’s last blog post…Web Poster: Deen Intensive 2008
Tracey,
It is a nice discount. Amazon usually seem to offer a fair chunk off the RRP (from my limited experience anyway).
Brian,
I find sketching on grids helps with sizing and alignment, but am equally comfortable using plain paper or any nearby scrap. As long as I get the idea recorded before it’s forgotten.
Steve O,
Using nature to illustrate iconic designs makes for a great topic. Definitely.
Rafie,
I’d thought of adding a little icon to the sidebar of LDL, where other books are listed, but won’t be duplicating any content. It’s my aim to keep posts between both my blogs different. Only related by subject.
It’s such an incredibly pretty book. Going straight on my wish-list!
For the Brits out there – it’s £16.89 at the moment.
Thomas Wright’s last blog post…New site – tdwright.co.uk
That book sounds facinating! I love knowing why things work so that I can reproduce the results in my own designs! But you never said what YOU think about the book, David.
Did you find it useful?
Did you learn anything new?
Were there things you didn’t agree with that the author supported?
Most importantly, did you find it valuable enough to buy it? (It sounds like it was a desk copy)
LaurenMarie – Creative Curio’s last blog post…The Quick and Easy Guide to Color Correction Part 1
Another good recommendation David, thanks again.
I have added it to my list, if only I had some more time though! I bought the last book you recommended but haven’t even managed to open it yet!
Shaun’s last blog post…Help Firefox create a Guinness World Record!
A really great book! Maggie is a wealth of information – and was great to hang out with at the recent HOW Design Conference.
Lauren,
Having only had the book a few days, I’d prefer to read more before offering a review. That said, my first impressions are that Maggie really knows what she’s talking about, and the books seems to be an excellent addition to my (small) library.
Shaun,
You bought ‘Marks of Excellence’? If so, I hope you get around to reading it soon. I realise there’s a lot of content in there though.
Jeff,
It would’ve been great to attend the conference. Perhaps it’ll cross the pond one day.
Yeah, I got it from Amazon on your reccommedation shortly after your post about it!
I had a quick look at the time and it does look excellent, I’m sure I will get around to reading it eventually. Once I get this site redesign out of the way anyway.
Shaun’s last blog post…Help Firefox create a Guinness World Record!
Thanks for the tip! I got the book and started reading it. Love it, even
if I find it (on the first 20 pages at least) a touch too much on the “esoteric” side.
What I love about it so far: It reminds me of thinking a little bit further when thinking symbols and design. Excellent tip.
Andy’s last blog post…The other side of the moon
That looks like a great book. Your blog is great as usual David. :)
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Andy,
Great to know that after buying the book, you love it. Thanks for commenting.
Beth Ellen,
Been a while. How’s things with you? All good I hope.
I am well David, thank you. I have been away due to health issues, surgery but am recovering well and just busy now with projects around home. I still want to learn to do logos. :)
I’m very glad you’re well after surgery, and I hope it didn’t cause much pain. I’ve been quite lucky where hospitals are concerned, not having spent much time in them at all.
If you think I can ever help in your quest to design logos, do let me know!
I missed this David.
Yes, this is a must have book, it’s quite complex in it’s simplicity and there is so much interesting bits of information, also, an easy read.
I was honored when the author approached me to feature some of my work in it.
The book is well worth it.
- Raja