Buy the Design Method

DESIGN IS A PROCESS THAT LEADS TO AN OUTCOME.

Feeling uninspired? That shouldn’t keep you from creating great design work. Design is not about luck, inspiration, or personal expression. Design is a disciplined pursuit aimed at producing sensible, functional work for clients. In The Design Method, you’ll learn how to create quality design work on a regular basis that consistently pleases your clients using the same method that we do at our creative agency: smashLAB. The Design Method will teach you a proven, repeatable process for solving visual communication problems.

THIS IS THE BOOK I DESPERATELY NEEDED 15 YEARS AGO

We started our agency, excited by possibility, but were hardly prepared for all the trials we faced. At times, we struggled, but through these efforts, we learned so very much: From how to suss out a client’s budget, to ways of naming our files properly, and even how to salvage a project that was going off the rails. Over the past seven months, I’ve worked to document every one of these findings in The Design Method. It wasn’t easy to organize so much content into just 240 pages. In fact, I’ve never worked so hard to give away so much information. Nevertheless, I’m convinced you’ll get a lot out of this book, and that makes me happy!

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Ways to conduct research and gain insight into your clients’ situations

A process for establishing strategies and plans for your projects

How to develop a concept and visual direction for each client/job

An iterative approach to prototype, test, refine, and produce design

Techniques for presenting and documenting creative work

Tips for making your design studio operate efficiently and consistently

ACCLAIM FOR THE DESIGN METHOD

“The book is dense, intelligent, and bravely opinionated. When designers are given nothing but frosting and pretty fluff, it is refreshing to see a book that challenges perceptions and informs us.”

—SEAN ADAMS, PARTNER, ADAMSMORIOKA

“This book is for every designer on the planet. The Design Method is proof positive that it is possible to make timeless, beautiful design that actually succeeds in the marketplace.”

—DEBBIE MILLMAN, PRESIDENT DESIGN, STERLING BRANDS

“If you want to expertly navigate the exploding potential that design now holds, this is the best new guidebook I know.”

—BRIAN COLLINS, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, COLLINS

“Eric Karjaluoto has a wonderful way of writing about design, which is engaging, conversational, and understandable. While this book is helpful for anyone interested in design, it is also a pleasure to read.”

—PAULA SCHER, PARTNER, PENTAGRAM

“Everyone likes to complain about design, but almost no one is leading, teaching, and talking about how to do it better. Thanks, Eric, for giving us a book we can share with those that need it—us!”

—SETH GODIN, AUTHOR OF THE ICARUS DECEPTION

About the Author

I’m Eric Karjaluoto. I’m the creative director at smashLAB, as well as a founding partner of the agency. Over the years, I’ve helped a broad range of clients including The Vancouver Aquarium, the University of Minnesota, and The Nature Conservancy with their strategic, design, and communication challenges. I also wrote Speak Human, and regularly post about design on my blog erickarjaluoto.com.

WHY NOT GIVE IT A READ?

There are countless beautiful design books you could buy, and they’d all be fun to browse. The Design Method isn’t that kind of book. It’s neither fun, nor beautiful. Instead, it’s practical, orderly, and applicable. You won’t read it to be “wowed.” You’ll read it because you are a good designer who produces appropriate work for your clients—and you want to do so even better. This book will show you how!

Get it now from AMAZON.COM, BARNES & NOBLE, or from the fine folks at NEW RIDERS.