Design Books

This book is a very good resource to be kept in any interior design library as it adds up to all the technicality of the job and help remind us with all the little details.

This book made all the difference for me in my Interior Design studies. The course that I took was intensive, and if I had not discovered and utilized this book, I would have probably scored much lower on my desk-crits, and my practical exams. Because of it's wonderfully portable size, I take it with me everywhere. It is easily carried, yet filled with pertinent information from cover to cover. Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors contains a wealth of information, and I am grateful to the author for having written this book. It is, and will remain a cornerstone of my Design library.

This book has been very helpful for me. It reviews perspective drawings, elevations, and sections before leading into the construction documents. It provides sufficient examples to match the text explanations. I consider this a good buy. It has served as a great reference/instruction guide for me.

This a great book for the basics of how to create Construction Drawings. It has everything you could have questions about as an Interior Designer learning how to create Documentation for a project. I highly recommend this book. It lays everything out in an easy to understand format and has great pictorial examples.

This is a handy reference tool that goes over the basics and more, covering equipment, title blocks, various tags and elevation markers, material representation, and graphic representation of everything from doors and windows to wall sections. There are separate chapters on Floor Plans, Elevations, and Sections. Later chapters go ino Reflected Ceiling Plans, Electrical Plans, Furniture Plans, Finishes, and Schedules. There is a checklist of things to remember following every type of construction drawing discussed; this serves to reinforce the most important information in any given chapter. I found the check lists to be a great learning tool, and used them to double-check my class assignments before turning them in.

One of the things that I appreciate about this book is that it was written clearly and was easy to understand the first time through, but with additional readings I continue to get more out of it. It is the book I find myself returning to when I need answers. Some of the more complex information is formatted into tables and these tables can be particularly helpful--there is a terrific section on paraline and axometric drawings, for instance. There are even step-by-step instructions on how to create one- and two-point perspective grids.

Some of the illustrations are a little dated, and some information is not as complete as I think it should be. The information on lettering, for instance, is particularly light, and I found myself needing to purchase another book to really understand how to develop my lettering technique. The information on material representation is also not as complete as it probably should be. Still, this is a very worthy reference book. It is the only required textbook in at least five classes and with good reason: it provides the basics and more, enabling it to continue to earn its place on the bookshelf well after one has completed Drafting 101.

The photographs in this book will open minds to the creative possibilities of embroidery & provide endless inspiration for all enthusiasts.

Recommended highly for anyone interested in textiles

Contributions from thirty-eight textile artists, each providing a piece of work and describing their inspiration and techniques.

This dazzling display of some of the very best in international embroidery demonstrates convincingly that this form of needlework is capable of taking its place among the fine arts. Depicting the work of 38 artists from Britain, the European continent, North America, and Australia, the photographs in this book will open minds to the creative possibilities of embroidery and provide endless inspiration for all enthusiasts. The range of work covers abstract, realistic and geometric modes of expression. Accompanied by statements by each of the artists about their influences, personal approaches and techniques, the vivid illustrations reflect a broad and colourful diversity in their international flavour and in the individual motivations and personal strengths that lie behind these glorious creations. The works display a variety of techniques, from hand stitching to machine embroidery, quilting, appliqué, canvas work (needlepoint), assemblage, dye and paint techniques and printing, in the service of an equally wide range of decorative and expressive purposes. For example, in the abstract linear structures of Emilia Bohdziewicz or the illustrative hand-stitched pieces of Helen Daniel, in Tom Lundberg's use of symbolism and dream imagery as well as Tilleke Schwarz's affinity for simple, strong folk art, the embroidery works shown here represent, collectively, the most exciting and innovative ideas in the field today - seasoned by a willingness to incorporate in new ways some of the methods and media of other crafts and disciplines. This exquisite volume will delight and absorb all lovers of form and colour and those who revel in the possibilities of stitch and fabric manipulation, and will serve as a guide to some of the newest and freshest embroidery art from around the world. Anne Morrell is a Professor of Textiles and former Head of Embroidery at the Manchester Metropolitan University. In addition to her research interests in historic and ethnic textiles, particularly of the Indian sub-continent, she has taught for more than thirty years and has published extensively in the field of embroidery and craft textiles. Her own embroidery work has been exhibited in various museums and in touring shows on four continents.

A showcase of contemporary embroidery , with a wide representation of styles, some artists preferring to work within established embroidery traditions, others going beyond the standard definition of their craft.

Finally, a book not on how to design, but rather the experiences of many famous and wonderfully talented Costume Designers. This book gives a glimpse into the real world of Costume Design. I hear she is going to re-do the book in order to have it published again. How much information will change, I do not know. Either way, it is a very unique book for the subject matter and a fascinating read.

This book is great, if you want to be a costume designer or just interested in it this book is for you. It has a lot of good pictures and just really awesome!

This book is ideal for anyone interested in fashion or costume, and the creative process that goes into the creation of design. Landis, a costume designer herself, interviews most of the best costume designers working in film today. So unlike other books on costume design, where you get one person's opinion on the craft--and that person is usually a critic or academic who doesn't really have experience working in the field--here you get straight information direct from the creative people themselves.

The pictures are fabulous, so I think this book has appeal for anybody interested in clothes, movies, or design. Obviously, it will be a necessity for anyone interested in costume design or interested in being a costume designer.

Although there is a section on Landis' work on such movies as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Coming to America, she has obviously expertly edited the interviews that make up the text of the book. It seems as if the reader is sitting in the living room of these famous costume designers, chatting casually about how they got started, what inspires them, and some of their most interesting professional experiences.

Besides Edith Head, how many costume designers can you actually name? This book is a phenomenal collection of interviews with some of the best working film costume designers. You get a rare insight into what it's like to design for the stars, collaborate with the director and other craftsmen/women on a film set. Hollywood is well represented, but international designers get their due here as well. Designers describe what it's like to design for the much-lauded period films and the often-overlooked costumes of contemporary films (the author is herself an Oscar-nominated costume designer for "Coming to America"). The book includes lots of color photos and illustrations. You don't have to be a film historian to appreciate it.

This book is invaluable for anyone interested in learning about costume design--from the designers themselves. Fourteen highly accomplished designers discuss their craft in highly engaging and informative interviews, conducted by the author, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, herself an Academy Award-nominated costume designer. This is the kind of stuff that is usually neglected in "Making Of" film books and Hollywood history tomes. The interviews are augmented by hundreds of color and black-and-white photographs and costume sketches, which in themselves are more than worth the price of the book. Highly recommended!

I thought that the book was a book on making cowboy hats. It was not, it is a history of hats. It is a nice book, just not what I had thought it was.

We own and wear a lot of western attire. This book shows different styles of western hats and who wore what style and why.

Bought this book for my Dad who always wears a hat. It was a big hit!

Ritch Rand made a hat for me in 1994 and I'm still wearing it today. His book is like his hats- authentic, of the excellent quality and dedicated to the history of the Old West. If you believe that a hat says something about the person who wears it, if you are of the opinion that a hat is more friend and traveling companion than garment, then this book is for you. Read the book then get yourself a hat!!

If you would like to know any, and everything about cowboy hats this books for you.

I've used this book in teaching a tech club of 4th-8th graders. Several students have also taken the book home and built robots from it. The plans are good, and the descriptions excellent. It is also helpful in using NXC to program the mindstorms.

I would hate to be without it now!

I've been waiting for more than 2 months to get this book. Finally I got it from amazon a few days after the book released.

I have 8 NXT book, nothing is as details as Daniele's Book. The best NXT book so far.

There are 6 robots describes in this book. From the concept and then step-by-step assembly it and even the guide line to program it. So you not only able to build the robot, but also teach you how it works.

The cream-of-the-soup of this book of course is the JohnNXT ...... About 1/3 of the book focus on this great Robot. If you plan to build JohnNXT, this is the only book you need.

I'm really impressed with Daniele, I cant wait to the next book "Lego Rubik Utopy (LRU)".

Hi,

One of the better books at this moment for the Lego Mindstorms NXT robotic set. This book is clearly written and despite the black and white images, the building instructions are also very clearly written.

This book is obviously written by people who know what they are doing and motivated to reach the highest standards.

After a short program in the Nxt-G programming language, they started to use the NXC programming language for the rest of the book. What makes this book so outstanding, everything is very well documented and everything is explained in great detail.

This is also an easy and pleasant to read book. And many times you find here what is missing in other books. For me, esspecially the introduction of NXC was very usefull. I wanted to use C for a long time, but I did not found the answers I was searching. This book takes its time to show you the mechanics behind th programming language. It teaches you clearly how to construct event tables and how you can visualise the design process, structuring your thaughts.

Also the walking models are very interesting. It gives you a clearly understanding about the problems of let a robot succesfully walk.

What I do missing is coverage of the acceleration, gyroscopic and compass sensors. It should be nice if those sensors also where covered in this book. But it is almost impossible to cover everything and an author has to draw a line.

The projects are well choosen and all very interesting. Personally Quasimodo I find the less interesting robot. While NXT AT-ST is in my opinion a very nice project to understand a walking robot. But I have to be honest, at this moment I am building the AT-ST robot. I did not have the time to build the other robots. Nevertheless, I took a quick look and i found the other projects also very impressive.

This book is a must have for every serious Lego Mindstorms NXT builder. You definatelly will refer back when building your own creations. I gave it five stars because it is well deserved.

Congratulations for the author and everybody worked behind the scenes of this book. A job very well done!

I wish you all very much reading and building pleasure. This book will surely touch your creativity and imagination.

Friendly greetings,

Bad_Wolf

I bought this book for my grandson's 11th birthday. He is thrilled with the book and is trying to learn the code. We thought the program for each robot was available to just download from the internet, but we couldn't find such an easy method. He will have to type in the code from the book himself which will help in the learning process. At this point in time, though, this programming may be a bit too complex for him.

If you're searching for some exciting NXT projects and ideas--or would simply like to build JohnNXT, a replica of the famous Johnny 5 robot--you will enjoy Daniele Benedettelli's book Creating Cool MINDSTORMS NXT Robots. The book presents helpful ideas that you can use in your own inventions and carefully integrates them in a variety of robots with detailed building instructions. In fact, these very features are why I've given the book five stars: challenging robot projects, excellent discussions of useful concepts and ideas, and exceptional building instructions.

Most of the robots seem intended for more advanced users looking for a challenge; in other words, these are generally more complex robots. For example, there are several walking robots--including three bipeds (two-legged robots), one of the most difficult types of robots to create. And with the exception of the massive, multi-NXT robot "JohnNXT" (chapter 8) and a remote control (chapter 9), you can build all the robots from the parts in a single retail LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT set. All the programming in the book is done in NXC (Not eXactly C), an unofficial text-based language with a C-like syntax.

Along the way you'll find in-depth explanations of robotics concepts and helpful descriptions of the robots. Besides an entire "theory chapter" on building biped robots (chapter 1) and another such chapter on finite state machines (chapter 3), the robot chapters themselves include explanations of concepts such as hysteresis, writing a multitask program, and quadruped (four-legged) walking as well as information on the robots' functionality and history. The author also does a good job of presenting and explaining the programming. Although prior NXC experience is helpful, such experience is not required.

The BIs (building instructions) are outstanding, which is important since they are a major part of the book. The author used advanced BI techniques, including complete electrical cables and callouts, and Ldglite to render the images, creating BIs that are remarkably "LEGO-like." I found that the BIs were generally very easy to follow even though many of the steps were complex. Such clarity is invaluable for a book that is filled with building instructions.

I admit that I didn't build the famed JohnNXT robot. Why? For starters, I don't have all the necessary pieces! All the same, I'm glad to see that the author included the robot because a number of readers will want tackle this enormous project.

In conclusion, this book is ideal for you if you're a more experienced NXT user looking to broaden your robotic horizons--while having lots of fun. Nevertheless, even if you're new to the NXT set, you would still enjoy the book. Either way, after working through the projects and grasping the concepts, you should be well-equipped to create your very own cool NXT robots.

The books came to me in like new condition. Thanks for your prompt service. I would order from this company again. Great service.

I liked reading it. Was simple to understand. I got a lot of info. on starting a web page. The only thing is it shows you how to use a program to get a web page going but its only 2 programs so if you don't have the programs that it helps you with than don't buy this book.
The programs are Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 and Microsoft FrontPage. It also helps you learn about some basics about photo editing and some graphics. I got some good use out of it. I just wish that it had the info. on my program I have. Other than that its a great book very informative about the basics of running your own web page.

i generally have found the for dummies series to be helpful, and this book is no exception -- you can sit down, thumb through it, and create a photo album online quickly without having to wade through any technical jargon or fluff. i'm no slouch in the web development department and even i found lots to like about this book -- it has helped me explain certain concepts and steps to my less technical family members. i'm including it with my standard baby shower package from now on (which also includes an aromatherapy relaxation candle, lip moisturizer, charmin-to-go, dove facial cleansing wipes, hand sanitizer, and other small items that new moms appreciate).

If you've ever been bugged for photos from the family reunion, or wanted to show off your new kid/cat/car, this book actually makes it seem easy. I know, I know, putting up your own website has a reputation like dragging all your neighbors in and making them sit through your vacation slides used to. But this book shows you how you can still show off a little, without boring everyone to tears. Actually, you can do some pretty neat stuff, which can be really fun when your family is scattered all over, and you don't feel like running up the long-distance bills just so you can keep up on current events.

Very highly recommended.

As with the other For Dummies books, this book is intended for beginners and absolutely minimizes the jargon. At the most basic level the book provides a series of templates that can be used with a fill in the blank approach to get a site up and running quickly. Then it branches out to increasing the creativity by designing your own pages. At this level there is almost no mention of dynamic database driven sites. This is building a static web site with pictures and text. This is a book to get you started.

Most of the book is on showing you how to do things using Microsoft's Front Page. But on the CD is a trial version (30 Day limit) of Dreamweaver MX 2004. In addition, the CD includes:

Family Tree Maker
Contribute
Fetch, and
WS_FTP.

If you're a complete beginner to web design and programming, here's a good way to get started.

I haven't personally read the book, but my instructor said the book has great ideas for activities.

I would recommend amazon.com to anyone that needs to get a used textbook or new textbook because you receive the textbook really fast and most of the textbooks are in good condition too.

I purchased this book for a class I am taking and now plan on keeping the book for future references. It has a lot of useful information and many websites listed in it to help plan lesson plans from preschool through elementary. I will use it in the future just as a refreshner on classroom organization and to help re-develop yearly lesson plans.

this book has almost everything that the 9th edition has and is mush ceaper. Marcia A Mcmanus

I recieved my book promptly and my book was in great condition. I would buy from again.

OK, I give this four stars because it IS good. BUT, be careful! Jill MacKay co-authored another book on this subject. It is frustrating to purchase a "new" book only to discover that it is filled with many of the same patterns and images from another on my shelf. This book is like a rerun of McKay's part in "The Pattern Companion". For someone who has never picked up that book, this, I think, is the better choice to purchase. There are many clever ideas here - some new ones, as well. I only wish I had known that half of the book was already in my possession. I wouldn't have purchased this one.

If you have thought of exploring mosaics and want interesting and exciting new approaches and sound technique this book will do it.

I've never written a review before but I felt compelled to spread the word about this book. It's incredible! Every design featured in this book is a masterpiece of creativity. After viewing the art, I can't wait to get started on a project of my own. And the best part is that each design in the book is explained out step-by-step from materials needed to simple techniques. As if that wasn't enough, the back of the book even has templates so you can recreate the exact design if you wish. For inspiration, you can't beat this book.

This is a great book for inspiring creative ideas for making outdoor mosaics. Well written, beautifully photographed, the book shows original problem solving techniques not found in other "how-to" mosaic book...particularly in the construction of 3-D objects. Ms MacKay is a talented writer and mosiac artist.

This book is a great read for aspiring mosaic artists and for beginners. The beautiful pictures show what is possible, the text is well written, and the "how-to" part is easy to follow.
This is a book for those who want to venture beyond the commonplace in mosaics.

Lena

How can crime be bad and yet so good! Look inside the cover of these pages for the answer. Not much reading required but plenty of illustrations. And what illustrations!! Cigarettes, dangling from shadowey faces, killer guns begging for victums, and behind every crime there's a "good" women to lead him on to both heaven or hell. These images can usually sum up the classic Crime Movie Poster. In cronological order the images take us from the birth of this gendre to it's present. This is no small feat, as the first poster is dated 1913! That's how many years? Page after page is loaded with poster art that grabs the eye and makes you want to view the film. Vivid coloring shows the excellent printing quality of this volume. One only needs to turn the pages to discover "the stuff dreams are made of".

Absolutely stunning! Superb graphics of some of our favorite movie posters! Highly recommend.

How can crime be bad and yet so good! Look inside the cover of these pages for the answer. Not much reading required but plenty of illustrations. And what illustrations!! Cigarettes, dangling from shadowey faces, killer guns begging for victums, and behind every crime there's a "good" women to lead him on to both heaven or hell. These images can usually sum up the classic Crime Movie Poster. In cronological order the images take us from the birth of this gendre to it's present. This is no small feat, as the first poster is dated 1913! That's how many years? Page after page is loaded with poster art that grabs the eye and makes you want to view the film. Vivid coloring shows the excellent printing quality of this volume. One only needs to turn the pages to discover "the stuff dreams are made of".

Every last shot heard in the world of motion pictures is displayed here. From Pre-code films like LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT to the Code-in-your-face PULP FICTION, Bruce Hershenson captures the poster art of these films in splashy high quality color. A bonus is that Bruce always includes lobby card art, cherished by many a collector, but not displayed often.

Everyone has their own favorite film genre (animation, action and adventure, science fiction, etc.). This one is mine. If you are the least bit interested in the jaw-dropping beauty of what has become a lost art -- the exercise of drawing images associated with the advertising of a Hollywood film -- this is the book to have. No other genre, in my opinion, was more dark and foreboding and in turn experienced a burst of creativity than posters associated with the film-noir period of Hollywood, which roughly ran from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s. This book is part of movie poster maven Bruce Hershenson's exhaustive multi-volume series of books highlighting the history and beauty of what much of mainstream America has only in the last ten years begun to recognize. And that is movie posters are a "popular art" form that can stand proudly next to all other styles of art from gothic to modern, from expressionist to impressionist. Great film art borrows from all of these styles and this volume, which focuses only on posters associated with crime and film-noir films, is my favorite. It illustrates innumerable examples of the ranges in style, despite the superficial expectation that all art from this genre was the same. It was not. From Gilda to This Gun For Hire, Hershenson and Allen have built an incredible archive of images in all of his books, capturing a period (when all posters were drawn by hand and then printed, as opposed to today's method of using a montage of photos and manipulating them digitally and printing them by the thousands) that would otherwise be lost forever. A fine book for any collector (get the hardcover edition if you can, it's harder to find; if Amazon doesn't have it, it's available from Mr. Hershenson directly at mail@brucehershenson.com.

The book is like a garden in the pocket. In lieu of visiting Cuba under the present regime and suffer the soul wrenching disappointment of today's reality, I can instead peruse through its pages and mitigate the heart-sickness I still feel after fifty years of exile. Highly recommended to those who still remember with gratitude the sights and sites of their former piece of Paradise.

Signed:

Andrew J. Rodriguez
Author: "Adios, Havana," A Memoir.

First of all, Amazon should start stating the SIZE of their books. This one is slightly used and large (MY COPY), no problem; the pictures inside are all very well done. The photographer, Andrea Brizzi, is no slouch, waiting for the "golden hour" in many exposures, they are warm and well detailed, and just plain excellent, altough some interior shots could have had a bit more fill flash. No amateur or pseudo-expert photography here. Print quality, despite the fact that this is a large soft cover book, is superb. Even the printing ink smells bood. BUY THIS BOOK!!

WONDERFUL PICTURES AND YES, THE PAPER IS EXCELLENT QUALITY. DEFINITIVELY A COFFEE TABLE PIECE. CAN ANYONE SAY COHIBA? THE TEXT IS VERY CLEAR AND TO THE POINT AND INFORMATIVE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. ARCHITECTURE YOU NEVER THOUGHT EXISTED THERE.

great book. awesome pictures and paper quality. Very good price in amazon.
Thanks.

Lots of beautiful photography (by Andrea Brizzi) for anyone who dreams of Cuba and would like to feel the cobblestones of Old Havana underfoot, taste the mojitos in the lobby bar of the Hotel Nacional, hear the strains of the mariachi band at sunset, and learn about the history of our most enigmatic, so-close-yet-so-far neighbor through it's architecture and the very readable text by Rachel Carley.