Designa: Technical Secrets of the Traditional Visual Arts by John Martineau

Designa: Technical Secrets of the Traditional Visual Arts Reviews

• 
  Manintheboat

  Um, how do you pronounce this book? Does is rhyme with "vagina?"
  Amazing book though, despite my childish observations.
• 
  Tiffany Rankin

  I love this book. It's great on several levels. For the lover of art and design, this is a great read that explains the art and science behind what we view as appealing. As a designer I also appreciate the step by step instructions in creating some seemingly complex designs. In my opinion if one is using it as a reference book it might be a bit of a struggle to replicate some of the images in here for a beginner. However, as in anything practice makes perfect and there are more than enough examples for that.
• 
  Adriana

  Consisting of 6 books on related subjects and an Appendices and Index section, it's small enough that you only get the very basic of information on each point within each topic.
  However, they are all great starting points if you're looking to know the basics of some classic (and ancient) techniques.
  Do be prepared to read a lot about math, geometry, and complicated equations. They make up the biggest part of each technique.
  The best part of this book, though, is without a doubt the very last section. It's a treasure trove if you're looking for a quick and easy to follow listing of basic artistic elements, techniques, and terms.
• 
  Sula

  This book is more a collection of images showing nice design, than really providing any technical understanding. The first two 'books' do show some underlying construction to the designs but do not really explain how they were achieved. Sometimes the construction lines do not actually make sense with the design shown. A fair amount of the book is more examples than technical explanation, e.g here's some design work with leaves, here's some with symmetry and so on. Beyond the first two 'books' it is very gimmicky and relies on the illustrations for their real value. From what I can tell, most of the illustrations are not designed for the book but taken from books no longer in copyright, sadly often with no references to allow further reading. They tend to be reproduced rather on the small side too.
  
  Intrigued by a few things in the appendices: instead of explaining how the pattern of a net was created (why is this under Celtic art anyway?!) the informative description tells us 'Nets haul life from the depths, they gather and enfold. Creative thinkers use the net of the mind to catch creatures of imagination with as much stealth and purpose as any hunter'! Also amused by the fact that the 'Useful Recipes' section in the appendices includes how to make lime - as most of us have the means to heat materials up to 900 C and would find it handy to be able to make lime at home - and also a 12th Century recipe for Vellum - for those goat skins you happen to have lying around!
• 
  Sarah Bergius

  "Designa" ist ein kleines Coffeetable-Buch, das eine Übersicht über die traditionellen bildenden Künste bietet. Symmetrie, keltische und islamische Muster, Perspektiven, optische Illusionen und den goldenen Schnitt.
  Das Buch ist optisch sehr ansprechend und wundervoll gestaltet. Die verschiedenen Beiträge sind von Experten geschrieben und definitv informativ.
  Das Buch geht fachlich (und vor allem mathemstisch) sehr tief ins Detail. Das kann natürlich einerseits gut sein, für unwissende Interessierte wie mich wird es aber streckenweise etwas zu kompliziert. Auch fehlt für mich der übergreifende rote Faden, der die Themen und Kapitel miteinander verknüpft.
  Vor allem für Künstler und Inspirationssuchende ist das Buch mit Sicherheit sehr empfehlenswert. Für Laien ist es jedoch etwas zu fortgeschritten.
• 
  Paige McLoughlin

  Celtic and Islamic design, curves and symmetry, repeating patterns, spirals, rosettes, golden ratios and fractals. Elements of design some very old some very recent. Very short and charming book on the arts and design.
• 
  David Ultis

  I especially enjoy influencing meaning of forms in design, so this book always returns a sense of value to the forms of drafting practical models in my daily works.
• 
  Anna

  It won't teach you how to draw the things, but it's a beautiful little reference book.
• 
  Nachtreich

  Vista la quantità di testo a fronte della quantità di illustrazioni (unico motivo per il quale acquistare il volume), è comprensibile come nessun capitolo sia realmente approfondito.
• 
  Elizabeth Rose

  Each of the six books that make up Designa is written by a different author on a specific subject. Since they were originally published separately, there is a little overlap from book to book, but not much.
  Book 1 is Celtic Design. It offers numerous examples of the iconic winding knots most identified with Irish rock art and illuminated manuscripts. Explanations of how such designs were/are created are clear and practical.
  Book 2, Islamic Design, delves into the geometry of the abstract tiling patterns that adorns medieval mosques and the winding patterns of illuminated copies of the Koran from the same era.
  Book 3 discusses different kinds of Curves in art and architecture from wrought iron to paisley patterns.
  Book 4, Perspective, veers into more cerebral territory, dealing with three-dimensional illusions in two-dimensional media as well as naturally occurring illusions like mirages and rainbows.
  Book 5 explores the concept of Symmetry in every possible way. Different kinds or visual symmetry and more abstract notions of mathematical symmetry are given equal time.
  Finally, Book 6 explains the pervasive Golden Section. expressed by the Greek letter "Phi", this same proportion appears over and over in botany, anatomy, painting, and even music. Numerous examples are given on all topics.
  
  The only problem I had with Designia is that it's not quite long enough for full and clear explanations on every point. I think the authors presupposed a certain level of mathematical and/or drafting skill that I personally lack, so I was unable to follow some of the more complicated ideas. Nevertheless, I wish this book's mixture of practicality and abstract musing (or something like it) had been incorporated into the way I was taught math back in high school. I might have appreciated more of it.
• 
  Alina

  For those interested in learning the technicalities behind art, i.e. math behind the art, this book is perfect for you. As a mega-book composed of six smaller ones, you'll get to explore different eras and cultures of art, from European to Islamic to Geometric and Natural. Additionally, the illustrations provided are beautiful and well-captioned to be easy-to-understand.
• 
  Jennifer

  Beautiful pictures, interesting concepts, but the text got a bit confusingly technical and sometimes repetitive. This coming from someone with a math degree! I found the appendix of how-to's even more useful than much of the text.
• 
  Hans Marijnissen

  Very interesting, beautiful pictures and graphics.