Design Elements - A Graphic Style Manual (Timothy Samara)

One of the captions for this book reads "Understanding the rules and knowing when to break them"

 This book includes a preface 'Graphic design what is it?' and an introduction including '20 rules for making good design'. These 20 rules are helpful reminders and set the stage for the rest of the book. The first rule states, simply, 'Have a Concept'. Basically the book gives examples of good design and dissects the elements and analyzes them so we can understand why the designer has done what they have and the concept and rules being used behind it.

This book is a great overview of how designers use space, colour and type to create the final form. In a nutshell this book tells us (in a witty way) "Be decisive. Do it on purpose - or don't do it at all".