This is a great little book. I've got a certificate in web design and I've always considered myself very artistic. I know when something looks good or it doesn't. But what I didn't know was why it did or didn't look good. Also a lot of my work was more trial and error.

So I picked up some great tips from this book and now I get things done quicker (with less experimentation) and they look more professional. Plus I've got some fancy terms I can use when talking about design with my friends (or complete strangers). ( )

Contrast,

Repetition,

Alignment,

Proximity

Leave it to the reader to make the acronym.

I think the author said "Don't be a wimp" that you can tell she really means it. ( )

What the other reviews don't tell you... is that Robin Williams not only boils the essentials of desktop design down to a handful of sensible and easy-to-grasp concepts, she does so in a most entertaining and engaging way. This is a book you could read and enjoy even if you weren't looking for beginner's design tips! Reading this book has absolutely helped me take my self-taught design skills to the next level. I recommend buying and not borrowing, however, since it has so many tips and tricks, you'll want to have it handy for future reference. ( )

This is a great book if you never had a background in formal design. I came into web design from a programming background, so this was a great primer on style and common practices and principles. It focuses on print design, but a lot of the same principles apply to web design as well. ( )

Excellent guide and inspirational, to boot! It will get your creative juices flowing. ( )