Monday, June 6th, 2011...9:10 am
Book Review – Logo Design Love
Logo Design Love is one of the hottest books on the market for designers. There is a reason for this – it’s a solid book with good information and it has an amazing marketing campaign behind it. But, after reading it, I’m wondering if it’s really as amazing as the all of the hype surrounding it. The book left me with mixed feelings and kind of a 70/30 sense of what this review should be like. Usually, I either love a book or I don’t want to have anything to do with it. This one left me somewhere in the middle and not feeling strongly about either side.
70% Great!
So let’s start with the positives. First of all, let me just get one thing out of the way. This is the first and only technical book that I have ever read from cover to cover. Many times I have picked up books and quickly lost interest only to go find the information I needed via the Internet. But with this book, I read it all. Every single page. So, that right there should tell you something and I’d like to give kudos to the publishers for marketing it well enough that I chose to pick it up in the first place.
The book is very well written. Author David Airey does a really great job of talking TO his audience rather than talking AT them. He also has a way of getting his point across without the over-use of technical jargon or using the book to boast about his own achievements (and if you follow David, then you know that he has plenty to be boastful about.) Because of these things, the book is very easy and even enjoyable to read as David gives you a step by step guide of not only logo design but also of working business practices. David also spends some time talking about where he went wrong and covering what not to do along with what to do. I loved that. The personal stories helped me to connect to the book and the information being delivered.
Complimenting David’s writing, the book is scattered with multiple design image examples that help to illustrate points and the designs come from established designers and design companies. By using examples from these professionals, the reader can get a real sense of what it’s like to work as a brand identity artist. But, the real hook of the book, the reason of why I read it from cover to cover and why I believe this book is as popular as it is, comes in the first four to five pages of the first chapter. In fact, I think those few pages may have just messed with my head forever and I know that I’ll never forget them.
Here’s something else that I liked about the book – the information given was 100% solid. No fluff, no fancy extras, just real, to the point, get-in-get-out helpful information. Too many times I have seen technical books run off on tangents making you wonder how you got from point A to point Q and what steps you somehow skipped in-between. This book doesn’t do that. It’s well organized and doesn’t miss a single step which makes it easy to refer to should you ever need to go back over something.
30% Not So Great
Ok, so here’s where I’m getting hung up. There is not a single piece of information or advice in this book that was new to me. This left me feeling a little uninspired and a little disappointed. Now, I’m not saying that I know everything there is to know about logo design. Far from it in fact. But that’s why I picked up this book – to learn. So, I read the book, only to discover that there was nothing in it that I wasn’t already doing or hadn’t already read somewhere else. Now, that does not mean that the information might not be relevant to someone else. But since this is a one-sided review, my side, I just didn’t get that much out of it that I could use. What I would love to see is a “Logo Design Love 2″ book that covers the things that designers don’t discuss too often like contracts, an in-depth look at the research process, how to negotiate for brand expansion designs (ie. business cards, stationary, etc.), design principals that make for outstanding logos, how to find out if the design you love was already designed by someone else, and working with internet based companies that often times want a more complex design. This is the book that I would find to be most helpful and I think the two books combined would be a powerhouse of information for any designer. Sadly though, this book doesn’t exist and I am left with a great guide… for beginners.
The Bottom Line
If you are a beginner, go out and get this book. Make it your logo bible. If you are not a beginner, borrow the book from a friend because it’s still worth the read but not worth the purchase. If you are an expert, skip this book and please write me a book that I can learn from.
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If you own this book or have read it already – I would love to hear from you!
What do you think of Logo Design Love?
Maybe you should write the Logo Design Love Book 2.
Hello Firgs,
First, thanks very much for picking-up a copy, and second, great of you to share your thoughts on the content (especially what you wanted to read that wasn’t there).
I’m fairly sure I won’t write a follow-up title. Not another “Logo Design Love,” anyway. Perhaps one based upon my third blog, “Identity Designed,” or one that’s aimed at self-employment in design. The latter would look at your suggestions (contracts, negotiation, research, etc.). I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way for others to learn from.
Thanks again.
Hi David!
Thank you for coming by to comment and for being a good sport about the review. Like I said, you’re a great writer and no matter what, I’m really glad I picked up your book. Self employment in design is a grand passion of mine – teaching freelancers how to be more than freelancers but business owners is my true love. I’m excited to hear what you have to say on the topic.
Would you consider doing an interview with me for this website? Or perhaps being a guest on my podcast show DRTpodcast? I’d love to talk to you and get to know you as an author, designer, and person. If you think you might be ok with this, let me know and we can set it up.
Thanks again! I look forward to reading more from you.
~Firgs
It’d be a pleasure to have you feature me here, Firgs. You’re more than welcome to send across some questions.
Quick tip for your WordPress install: The ‘subscribe to comments’ plugin can really help keep chat flowing — it’s one of the first I’d include on mine.
Great tip David! I’ll install it right away. Thanks for that!
How does ten questions sound? Fair?
I look forward to it.
I, on the other hand, could learn a lot from this. It’s going in the Amazon shopping cart. Thanks, girlfriend!
Much appreciated, Dawn. I hope you enjoy the read.
The Logos I create are more of a cartoon object, but I do like Logos! Just wish I was better at it. Maybe I should buy the book? I wonder if its available for my iPad? Thanks, Dave
It’s available for Kindle, David, so you can read it through the Kindle app for iPad. Alternatively, my publisher Peachpit/New Riders sells an electronic version, which might be a PDF (not 100%).
I’ve recently purchased this book for my Kindle, must say it’s a great tool for those who are looking at setting up your own design business. I especially like David’s take on quoting and understanding your own commercial worth as a designer (which is where I’m up too). A definite must if you’re a designer looking to branch out on your own.
Happy Reader
On the other hand, I’d have to agree with Firgs regarding the 30% Not so great, it has very little information on contracts, an in-depth look at the research process, how to negotiate for brand expansion designs (ie. business cards, stationary, etc.), design principals that make for outstanding logos- but at the price Amazon sells it, it’s worth every bit of it’s 70% Great rating. I’m looking forward to your future books David, as I’d much rather learn from someone else’s mistakes then make them all myself
Thanks for letting us know your take on it Louilee. It’s always good to hear another perspective on things.
Thanks very much, Louilee. If you have a specific question that wasn’t answered in my book you’re very welcome to send me a message:
http://www.davidairey.com/contact
Thank you so much for allowing me to ask you specific questions. I’ll be in contact shortly.
Not much of a logo designer and I can learn a lot from this book; I’m halfway done with it and I love it, with your 30% this book will be 110% perfect
Thanks to David for a great book! And thanks Firgs for your review great points 
Thanks for coming by to comment!
Hi,
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Thanks,