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The Principles of Beautiful Web Design by Jason Beaird

I read this book using iBooks on an iPad; this review is for the first edition of the book printed in 2007. There is an updated "Second Edition" available that appears to have some additional content.

This book is a really quick read at around 180 pages. I appreciate the format of the author walking through the process of creating the design for a web site from the ground up.

I really liked the chapter on color theory and the proper use of a color wheel, I always struggle with choosing colors that "work."

The new edition of the book appears to be a nice upgrade to the first edition and I look forward to reading it sometime soon.

From the publisher:

Tired of making web sites that work absolutely perfectly but just don’t look nice?

If so, then The Principles of Beautiful Web Design is for you. A simple, easy-to-follow guide, illustrated with plenty of full-color examples, this book will lead you through the process of creating great designs from start to finish. Good design principles are not rocket science, and using the information contained in this book will help you create stunning web sites.

Understand the design process, from discovery to implementation Understand what makes "good design" Developing pleasing layouts using grids, the rule of thirds, balance and symmetry Use color effectively, develop color schemes and create a palette Use textures, lines, points, shapes, volumes and depth Learn how good typography can make ordinary designs look great Effective imagery: choosing, editing and placing images And much more

Throughout the book, you’ll follow an example design, from concept to completion, learning along the way. The book’s full-color layout and large format (8" x 10") make The Principles Of Beautiful Wed Design a pleasure to read.

I rate this book a 7 out of 10 and recommend the second edition of the book to anyone beginning web design.

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