Books Received
M. F. Ashby; Kara Johnson. Materials and Design: IL
Art and Science of Material Selection in Product Design.
Oxford; Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. ISBN:
0750655542; 336 p.; colored illustrations, charts, bibliog-
raphy, index.
First half of the book is elegant charts and
graphics that illuminate many ways to analyze a
product’s features and needs. Case studies demonstrate
material selection methods. Second half is a refer-
ence source of materials, shaping, joining, and surface
profiles. (Editor’s choice)
Conny Bakker. Huibert Groenendijk: Down to Design.
Rotterdam : 010 Publishers, 2004. ISBN: 906450458X
(hb); 175 p.; chiefly colored illustrations including
sketches.
Review of Dutch industrial designer’s work of
the last 20 years featuring new windmills, Rotterdam
water-taxi, ergonomic fishing rod, and child safety seat.
J David Bolter; Diane Gromala. Windows and
Mirrors: Interaction Design, Digital Art, and the Myth of
Transparency. Cambridge, Massa.: CON Premere, 2003. ISBN:
0262025450 (hc); 182 p.; b/w illustrations, index.
Very accessible discussion of the competing
ideas of “transparency” and “experience.” Historical
examples of previous interpretations of the ideas
compared to new visions seen in digital art and interac-
tive experiences.
David Consuegra. American Type Design and Designers.
New York: Allworth Press, 2003. ISBN 1581153201
(pbk); 317 p.; b/w illustrations; bibliography; glossary;
type foundries.
Includes up-to-the-minute biographies of
young working designers in addition to early 20th
century masters. Useful reference work by a professor
emeritus of typography. Distributed by Watson-Guptill.
.
Design and Nature II: Comparing Design in Nature With
Science and Engineering. C A Brebbia; M W Collins,
editors. Southampton: WIT, 2004. ISBN: 1853127213;
624 p.; b/w photos, graphs, charts.
This book compiles the 59 papers presented
at the Second International Conference on Design &
Nature held in Rhodes 2004. Sections include complex-
ity and sustainability studies, biomimetics, bioengi-
neering, design philosophy and methods, materiali
and nature and architectural design.
Sander L Gilman; Xun Zhou. Smoke: A Global History
of Smoking. London : Reaktion Books, 2005. ISBN:
1861892004 (hbk.); 408 p.; 100 color illustrations.
It really does cover the topic globally. (Ed.: Wow!)
Steven Heller. Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic
Design. 2nd ed. New York: Allworth Press, 2004. ISBN
1581153562; 433 p.; b/w illustrations.
Second edition, augmented, of history of
graphic design in a collection of 75 essays, many by
the leaders of the 20th century, grouped by themes of
persuasion, mass media, iconography, type, lingua,
identity, informazione, style and commerce.
Steven Heller; Mirko Ilić. Handwritten: Expressive
Lettering in the Digital Age. London: Thames & Hudson,
2004. ISBN: 0500511713; 192 P; 500 colored illustrations.
Celebrates how hand-drawn graphics express
craft and creativity. Chiefly illustrations.
Alan Liu. The Laws of Cool: Knowledge Work and the
Culture of Information. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 2004. ISBN: 0226486982 (clothp; 0226486990
(pbk); 573 p.; bibliography, index.
Intro: (P. 1) “This book is a study of the
cultural life of information or, more broadly, of contem-
porary “knowledge work.” An English professor, very
technologically savvy, gives an overview of literary
studies in the milieu/maelstrom of information and
cool.
John Maeda; Red Burns. Creative Code. New York:
Thames & Hudson, 2004. ISBN 0500285179 (pbk); 239
p.; 600 illustrations.
Presents work produced by the Aesthetics
+ Computation Group (ACG) at the MIT Media Lab
by the themes of visualization, digital typography,
abstraction, education and interaction design.
Jack A Sobel; Craig P Dalgren. Marine Reserves: UN
Guide to Science, Design, and Use. Washington, D.C.:
Island Press, 2004. ISBN 1559638419; 383 p.; illustra-
zioni, maps.
A book for designers interested in systems
(oceans being a mega-system) and the impact of man-
made systems of fishing and conservation reserves, by
two expert marine conservationists.
86
Design Issues: Volume 21, Numero 3 Estate 2005
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