A Smile in the Mind: Witty Thinking in Graphic Design

Overall: the text in the book is great. Thoughtful and well-written. But, it was very straining to look at endless amounts of pictures, that usually require more context (than is given) to be fully understood (and to be funny). The presentation of graphical wit in book format is difficult, as the authors acknowledge, but I still think the authors could have squeezed in some explanations with punch lines to make the presentation witty as well. As it is, the reader has to do all the work to squeeze the wit out of each example.

My view is that this book tried to be too ambitious. Instead of picking only the best wit to be found in each category of wit (the book makes some kind of divisions), the authors have put in many many *small* pictures, none of which are elaborated on. I just felt my enthusiasm/creativity drained by trying to check out all of them.


a smile in my mind   October 3, 2003
21 out of 21 found this review helpful

This book helped me out a great deal when completeing my Graphic Design degree. It displays a variety of different types of wit, and so many things that are so simple and obviously so effective. It opened my mind to a new world of ideas in design and is a great source of inspiration. It is great to have a flick through when you feel as though you have hit a brick wall! Definitely a must for any design student.