By Neil Leonard, Frédérique Santune and Andrew Way
216 pages, softcover, $39.95 
Published by Bloomsbury Visual Arts 
bloomsbury.com

Design is not neutral. And with technology constantly changing, Web and Digital for Graphic Designers provides a compass for navigating this landscape. In their publication, authors Neil Leonard, Frédérique Santune and Andrew Way present readers with a history of graphic design that spans the past 20 years and looks ahead to the future. From the origins of Apple as a household name to daily work tools, this book provides context for how print design evolved into the digital landscape. Readers can connect with personal narratives and portfolio examples that showcase design tools, wireframes, site maps, CSS and interaction design.

The authors further engage readers with frameworks for ideation, including the Six Thinking Hats for problem-solving and brainstorming. Readers can take these tools to develop business best practices and elaborate on the skills needed to build and sustain working client relationships. The book also provides strategic insights on how to establish one’s own definitions of success, and what the responsibilities of a designer are in a business. We are reminded of the role of designers in creating accessible design, and the impact of design in persuasive behaviors and dark patterns. However, instead of being prescriptive, the book leaves readers to define their own ethics and morals on their projects. “The main intent of the Internet is to communicate information, and design should not impede or distract from this,” the authors write. They have ensured that this reference guide is one any designer should keep at hand. —Sabrina Hall