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A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good Hardcover – June 1, 2005

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

Design is all about the perception of size, shape, and color.

A fabulous and fun introduction to the concepts of design

A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn't Make It Good takes a most creative approach to introducing young (and not-so-young) readers to the fundamental elements of design. Using simple shapes, lines, and a sense of humor, this book explains why complicated doesn't make it good-and why that matters. Mark Gonyea opens up the world of design and makes it accessible to young artists and non-artists alike.

A Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

Discover teachers' picks. Discover%20teachers%27%20picks.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5-Starting with two circles, one red and one green, symmetrically arranged against a field of white, Gonyea shows how changes in size, shape, and color alter perception. In 10 brief chapters, he covers concepts such as the difference between straight and diagonal lines, the usefulness of using a 1:3:9 design ratio, the clarity of contrast, and the impact of warm and cool colors. One of his strongest examples pits a traditional smiley face against a psychedelic version, reinforcing the subtitle. Less successful is the chapter "Letters Are Shapes Too," in which he pairs some letters with design terms. For example, he states "A is for Angles," but doesn't show or describe what angles are and why they're worth mentioning. By way of conclusion, the author builds a scene with planets and a spaceship, reviewing his major points. His minimalist approach to text and composition makes this book an effective advertisement for his message about the beauty of uncluttered design. It also makes the title accessible to children who are able to grasp the visual impact of formal elements, but are not yet ready to deal with the psychological effects as explored by Molly Garrett Bang in Picture This: How Pictures Work (North-South, 2000). The humorous tone and hands-on approach add to the appeal and usefulness of an offering on an important topic about which little else exists.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Mark Gonyea was born in upstate New York and spent the majority of his childhood consuming cartoons, video games, and monster movies. Little did he realize this was to be the essential groundwork for a career in cartooning and graphic design. He lives in Vermont.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Henry Holt; 0 edition (June 1, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0805075755
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0805075755
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD290L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 0.01 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.34 x 0.62 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 18 ratings

About the author

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Mark Gonyea
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Born in northern New York seven years before I saw Star Wars for the first time. While spending the better portion of my early life watching tv, going to movies and playing video games, little did I realize this was to be the essential ground work for a career in cartooning and graphic design.

I now live and work in Vermont even though I don't ski.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
18 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's teaching method simple and understandable. They say it teaches basic design principles in a clear way that's useful for adults and kids learning about art and design. The illustrations are simple shapes and colors, making the book easy to follow.

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5 customers mention "Teaching method"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's teaching method engaging and simple. It presents design principles in a clear way for adults and kids learning about art and design. The author illustrates each topic and idea with simple text and illustrations. The book is suitable for teaching children of different ages.

"...of creating a good design and a balanced composition so simply, step by step... all of my kids will be able to follow it...." Read more

"Very good instruction for kids learning about art and design. I love that the author illustrates each topic and idea very simply and clearly...." Read more

"This is an entertainng and deceptively simple presentation of the principles that can be useful for adults as well as for children...." Read more

"Again, the author presents design concepts with very simple text and illustrations. This book is can be used to teach children of many ages." Read more

4 customers mention "Design"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the book's design. They say it's the best design book they've read and the illustrations are simple shapes and colors.

"...The book breaks down the rules of creating a good design and a balanced composition so simply, step by step... all of my kids will be able to..." Read more

"...They had a good time and their design projects improved...." Read more

"The book is fine. But when I pay 21$ for a NEW book, I don’t expect it to come used, worn and with Denver Public Schools stickers all over it." Read more

"...the author presents design concepts with very simple text and illustrations. This book is can be used to teach children of many ages." Read more

Not what I ordered
3 out of 5 stars
Not what I ordered
The book is fine. But when I pay 21$ for a NEW book, I don’t expect it to come used, worn and with Denver Public Schools stickers all over it.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2006
    This is the best design book I ever read! I stumbled across it at our public library last year... I knew right away it was a book I had to add to my collection! I'm an elementary and middle school art teacher, and I plan to use this book with several of my classes... including my 6th grade in middle school! The book breaks down the rules of creating a good design and a balanced composition so simply, step by step... all of my kids will be able to follow it. With only a few words per page, Gonyea uses the simple illustrations to really get his point across. Most illustrations are simple shapes and colors. At the end of the book he brings together all the elements mentioned earlier and illustrates how all the elements work together to create a balanced composition. This is a must have... great gift even for first year art majors!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2016
    Very good instruction for kids learning about art and design. I love that the author illustrates each topic and idea very simply and clearly. I learned a lot about design just reading this to my kids!
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2006
    This is an entertainng and deceptively simple presentation of the principles that can be useful for adults as well as for children.

    I purchased this book along with Molly Bang's "Picture This" to use as a review of design principles for my college class in research for stage scenic design. The class is concerned primarily with research and not design itself. I was looking for a way to summarize design principles since the course considers design only indirectly. I thought that I would read these two books in one class period in the same way that librarians read picture books to grade school children.

    My class loved the book as I read it to them. They laughed and I learned something too. They said that they would never forget the 1-3-9 ratio which is repeated throught the book as a useful graphic tool. They had a good time and their design projects improved.

    I am waiting for Gonyea's next book because inspite of the fact that "complicated doesen't make it good", I am still looking for a little more 'complicated'.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2014
    This was a gift and I know the person liked it. I did not see it before it was shipped but was told it was a 5 star book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
    The book is fine. But when I pay 21$ for a NEW book, I don’t expect it to come used, worn and with Denver Public Schools stickers all over it.
    Customer image
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I ordered
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
    The book is fine. But when I pay 21$ for a NEW book, I don’t expect it to come used, worn and with Denver Public Schools stickers all over it.
    Images in this review
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    Customer image
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2014
    Again, the author presents design concepts with very simple text and illustrations. This book is can be used to teach children of many ages.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2014
    My son absolutely loves this book. He always names it when asked what his favorite book his.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2006
    This is a great book to teach basic principles of design in a simple, yet understandable way. It can teach ages from kindergarten to adult. I wish every elementary classroom could have a copy to help kids with their art projects!
    One person found this helpful
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